The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1912-07-18
Saving The Seagulls and The Eg'

rets.
Twenty years ago the gulls anC
terms OF the Atlantic seaboard were
in imminent danger of extinction by
the milliners' agents Hundreds Of
thousands OF these birds had beer
slaughtered in the breeding season
and some species had almost dis
appeared.
Mr. Abbot H. Thayer started {;
subscription fund to pay WardenS
TO protect the birds during the
breeding season, and then the Ma
tional Association of Audubon So
cieties took over the work. Under
the care of this organization the
birds have increased wonderfully
numbers. When the work was be-
gun there We're on the New Eng.
land Coast only about 30 pairs OF
laughing gnlls which bred on Musk
eget Island. Now there are more
than a thousand there and they ar,
spreading along the coast TO Tho
Gulf OF Maine. The increase of the
herring gulls and the terms under
this protection has been phenomena
Even the least tern or sea swallow
which was nearing extinction i'm the
East is increasing,
AT the beginning a strenuous at
etmpt was made to save the herons
and especially the white egrets, Eg-
grets formerly were scattered thro'
the United States in large numbers
in all suitable localities from the
Hudson River to Oregon and from
Florida to California. The efforts
made to protect them came so late
that Notwithstanding all that could
be done to save them they continued
TO decrease until about three years
ago William butcher, President OF
the National Association of Audu-
bon Societies leaned to the belief
That nothing could save them from
determination. The plume hunters
had killed three wardens, shot out
the heronries that the wardens were
employed to protect and had man
lged to shoot up other heronries
While the wardens We're temporarily
lbsent. until probably only few
hundred birds We're left In the
United States and these We're seat
tered far and wide. When Mr.. Dut-
,her was suddenly stricken down,
Mr.. 7. Gilbert Pearson, Secretary of
the National Association gave up
the attempt to protect the egrets
agalns the Indians and desperadoes
of Southern Florida and he and
the directors OF the association turn
ed their energies toward other
States In the attempt TO save the
few birds left.
Thus far the enterprise has been
successful beyond expectation. Last
year about three thousand egrets
were known 10 be In existence and
this year there are at least five
thousand In known colonies scatter
ed through the Atlantic, Pacific
and Gulf States.
Protection In the South Atlantic
States was so successful last sum
mer that from twelve to twenty
egrets appeared In Eastern Massa-
chnsctts and remained here tho
greater part OF two months. No
such number has been seen here
within the memory Of the Oldest i'm 4
labitant, and II is reported that 4
'ew are here again this year. The
Association has succeeded IN secur +
ng the passage Of laws in many
'tates making the sale OF the plum
,ge Of these birds Illegal, and II this
work IL sustained financially the
public sale OF the plumea viii be
topped throughout North America.
The egrets are fast being exter
IN every part Of the world
where they exist. and II they can be
Protected here the time may come
shen the United States alone Of all
ounirias Ia the world can boast 81
wing examples 81 these beautiful
peeles.
win the American people support
his bencficeni work BY contributing
Iberally toward IL or shall We see
he egrsts disappear an aid vas,
ofdes Of the passenger pigeona7
Edward Howe Forbush.