Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-07-29
NEW YORK's sO5.oOo.oOO WORTH or
Eugene Sladc Biabeo in Harper's
Weekly)

Weekly)
There are 1000 sea-aulls flying about
New York harbor. They have been
counted by the Audubon society. They
arc the scavengcrs OF the waters OF the
metropolis. The law protects tho birds.
and TO kill one means in flnos and costs
tho sum Of $50. so that tho total valu-
ntion Of tho 5000 which make their tenn
porary homes In tho harbor is t6.j62 500
Every year these gulls migrate The
old ones havo regular established nest
ing places. where they go every year to
breed. A favorite locality of the CulIs
for this purpose IL a cluster q small
islands in Lake Champaign called the
-Four brothers. As the crow, or gun
flies, these islands are about eight miles
southwest of Burlington. VT, and arc
located off tho coast Of the lake Mt
Willsboro Point. They are very small.
non" moro than three or four ncres IN
extent. md are the property Of Edward
Hatch Jr. Of New York. Mr.. Hatch be-
lcves In tho efficacy Of the gull as
scavengor to such an extent that no pro-
tccts the birds that come to his ISLANDS
10 hatch their young ana employs war
dens to guard them. The islands belong
exclusively to the gulls and they nave
become TO uscd to protection That IN" old
are remarkably tame From iol to 1900
young gulls are reared thcro every sum
NOR. and all Of them mako their way to
New York harbor. following the course
Of The streams tributary TO the Hud-
son.
Tho Eula orc OF no value save as scav-
enccrs, yet fer this purpose they are
worth oil tho protection that can he
Givcn them. IT has been claimed thai
without tie gullr there would be an cpl
dc'"ic In TIE metropolis. caused by tho
decavine matter Tint floats throuSh
every sewer into the hornor and Is tossed
about by tho tides.
Injured 90 all sor's OF lnclemcnt wealth
or, tho Suls build 'Ne'psc'ves nosts
which arc Of tho f'rroitst construction.
vet always concealed after fashion rroin
prying eyes ond wild winds and wavcs.
From two to four eggs arc iaic and Tho
period Of incubation &c fortnight Tho
little fellows fresh from tho egg almost
lmediately swell mp to several times that
size Just as soon al thtir feathers dry,
and within few DAYS nrc on the wing
developing very rapidly. They are vora-
ciOrs eaters and begin TO scramble for
themselves almost NJ soon MS they are
ont of the shell The only place on or
near Lake ChanDlniu where they breed
ia the -Four Brothers Islands. whore con-
ditions are .dca' Sheltered from the
winds by high banks and a heavy growth
or trees and undorcrowth, their nests are
found everywhere. An Interesting fea-
turc of the'r migration TO the Islands to
breed Is the annual corning OF tho sum
mer residents with their launches ard
othor plsasur. craft. With the first foot
Of the whistle tho gulls rise en- masse
and circle about the boat with shrill
screams seeking TO drive off the intrud-
ers. Occasionally n mother. more bold
than others will swoop down within n
foot Of mans head, often striking him
with n wing as she swecps by and utter
Ing scream that will come nigh to dr.v-
ing him out Of his wits II he has been I'M
aware of tho birds approach. After a
week or SO. however. the birds become
accustomed to tho human inhah
and rarely rise in flight unless the APP
proa Oh IS too near for their apparent
va fety.
There Is a caretallrr on each island
whose duty II is TO cfoUnt the birds and
their nests and to make as close an nc
counting as possible OF the number rear
ed each year. Strangers are not permit
ted ia land on any OF the Islands and
tho gulls seem to recognize their friends
and not to fear for their safety while
nesting. The old ones. it has been
proven. return each year to nest. but tho
young Of each seasons hatch seek other
places for tho same purpose, ana no
man has Yet been able to tell what be-