Semi-weekly herald., 1910-01-06
PRESERVES CREATED
IN SCORES OF BIRDS

William E. Curtis, Correspondent of
the Chicago Record-Herald.)
WASHlNGTON-As one of the fea.
lures of the administration policy for
the conservation OF the natural re.
sources OF the country iiftyseven bird
preserves have been created by proc.
lamation of the president of the United
States In order TO prevent all shoot.
ing of song and plumage birds for the
market. The recent demands of fash.
ion for plumage to decorate hats has
caused an unprecedented slaughter
OF birds, but that has been very large
iy checked by the action of the federal
government and the cooperation of
the several states under the leader.
shf - the Audubon societies Each
yefons me pe0U-s,axas. as.-4,..4--------------
of birds, both from humane
and economical reasons. The slaughter
of wild geese and other fowls which
live upon worms and insects has cost
the farmers OF the United States hun
dreds of millions of dollars and has
compelled them to devise some other
means of protecting their crops from
pests, now that that which nature
provided has been recklessly de-
stroyed. The hunting license system.
whereby funds are provided to pay
for the employment OF wardens and
the enforcement of the laws, is now
in operation in all but one or two
states, and the practice of caring for
is spreading. A similar awakening is
manifest regarding non-game birds,
and farmers, who realize the efficient
service they render voluntarily In the
protection of crops, are demanding
laws for their preservation.
The fifty-seven bird preserves are
chiefly government lands, of little or
no agricultural value, upon the sea
coast and fresh water lakes in North
Dakota, South Dakota, Michigan, Min
nesota. Wisconsin, Oregon, Washing
ton, Montana, Utah. Arizona, Idaho,
New Mexico, Louisiana, Florida and
Alaska. The action OF the federal gov.
ernment Is limited to states where
there are public lands. but several OF
the states have already taken similar
action, and It is expected that others
will undoubtedly follow. These pre-
serves are intended TO be sanctuaries
where colonies OF birds may take ref
uge during migration and the breeding
season, and they have already demon
strated the efficiency OF the plan as
means OF increasing bird life. Sew
eral OF them comprise areas of marsh
land that have ever been the breeding
ground of wild fowl One of then
embraces several of the western isl
| ands of the Hawaiian group, and con
tains one OF the largest breeding col
onies OF sea birds In the world. Other.
consist of reservoir sites of reclama
tion projects, where the little artificia
lakes will doubtless attract man!
birds.
The Carnegie Institution has sen
experts to the Tortugas Keys reserva
tion, opposite the Florida coast, u
make an investigation OF the habit
and history Of sea birds. the problem
OF migration. the homlng instinct AM
other phenomena Of bird life. Th
first results of this inquiry wer
published recently and can be OF
tanned upon application to the secre
tary Of the Carnegie Institute. WASH
ington. d. G.
The department or agriculture Is In
porting game birds and stocking se'
eral Of the preserves with pheasant'
partridges and wild duck. Nearl
thirty thousand Hungarian partridge
we're brought from Europe during tn
year and liberated in different part
OF the United States.
| There was such = destruction Of -