Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1912-10-10
The Story of an Egret Warden.


emily closed markets of New York and
New Jersey, plumes are as much in de-
mand as ever before, and as long as they
command price greater than their weight
in gold there will always be men willing
TO risk even death TO get them, laws OF
trespass and closed markets notwth-
standing. SO long as this condition OF
affairs continues il will be necessary to
protect egretS by armed patrol, and the
camp OF an egret warden therefore takes
on something of the aspect OF a small
military garrison with its regular watches.
Danger, you ask? Yes, there is, for
the plume hunters callingiS not an hon.
orable one, but rather that OF the sneak
who creeps upon you unawares and
shoots you in the dark or in the back
when you have relaxed little in your
watchfulness. II is not honorable war
fare, but murder for gain. am warden
of a reservation of the Audubon Society
where about six thousand pairs OF birds
breed, and in guarding them from un-
welcome visitors practically lived with
the birds for the four months OF April,
May, June, and July, 1911, during which
time was always armed and on the alert
for plume hunters. They killed warden
on one OF our South Florida reservations
several years ago.
As for myself have not had any Sc
riouS trouble here yet, but fear some this
year, as the egrets are now in such NUM-
bers as to tempt hunters. shall protect
the birds with my life, though, if neceS-
sary, and have ''hunch" that I'll win
| out.
The lawless plume hunter is not the
only menace which an egret warden must
face. The swamps in which the birds
breed are not healthful habitations for
man, and even the completion of this
article was delayed several months be-
cause OF an almost fatal attack OF fever.
There is a fascination about the life,
though, to one who loves the open as
do, and the work is a noble one which |
am proud to be connected with. The
Audubon Society has so many calls on
its treasury that | have been guarding
this reservation for no remuneration other
than my living expenses, making what
outside money can with my pen and
camera, and gathering material for book
on the birds OF Florida, as am collect
ing naturalist.
The Audubon Society has been pro-
tecting the egret for several years now,
and has printed and distributed thousands
of pamphlets describing the cruelties Of
the plume trade which are fairly well
known. Through the efforts of the
Society the legislatures of New York and
New Jersey have passed very stringent
laws regarding the sale OF heron plumes.
These are not as well enforced as one
might wish, but with ten wardens pro-
tecting the larger breeding colonies It
looks now as if the egret will be saved
from utter destruction and that the REM
nant of American and snowy egrets will
increase and spread over the South again
as in days gone by.
Probably the largest rookery OF egrets
in the United States is that OF which am
warden. II is located on Bird Island
about one mile out in Orange Lake in
Central Florida, which has been ''roost'
or breeding place of birds for more than
forty years, and have been told by old
settlers that long ago the greater portion
were egrets, but that as soon as any great
number gathered here the eyer-vigilant
plume hunter swooped down and left a
trail of death behind. knowledge Of the
location of this island was brought to the
attention OF the National Association of
Audubon Societies few years ago, and
the island was finally bought by the As
sociation, thus assuring a protected breed
ing place for these birds for all time.
Here the much sought after and perse-
cuted egret is making an encouraging
stand. Happily, this reservation is easily
guarded against invasion, as an island
in open water in sight of town and rail
road is more readily watched than a
"rookery" in some lonely and out OF the
way cypress swamp. The people living
in the vicinity, too, are intelligent and
sympathetic regarding bird protection,
which is Of distinct assistance
In 1909, when ! first became warden
of this island reservation, there were
only four pairs of egrets here. The fol-
lowing year there were about thirty pairs,
and in 1911 rearIy two hundred pairs
successfully reared their young. showing
how quickly these birds respond to pro-
lection. In a few years at this rate OF
increase egrets will again be seen all over
the State, exciting the wonder and ad-
miration of the thousands of winter yisi-
tors from the North
Spending as did an average OF eight
hours day for two months with these
birds, they became very tame and fear
less and was enabIed.t to see and learn
a great deal about their habits and con-
duct, and TO photograph them at close
range in some very interesting positions.