Daily Kennebec journal., 1913-06-02
Where Wild Fowl Breed.

'pH louT little islands IN stump lake,
Nelson county. North Dakota, a feder-
." - rrs"l'ye. about three hundred
+, and fifty milees northwest of Minncap-
ainse than eleven thousand young
birds were hatched and reared in 1911
/ according to Alfred Eastlake. warden
OF the reserve. MIR. Eastlake, the bird
man OF North Dakota" was instru-
mental in having the islands declared
reserve, and bird life has thriven and
increased there since they We're so
made. in 1905. From earliest territo-
rial days, however, they had been not
ed as breeding ground. and it was
the destruction of bird life that fol-
lowed the visits of exploring parties
that caused Mr.. Eastlake to make APP
pea.s for protection.
A tract embracing northern North
Dakota and a small part of Canada
is said to be a greater bird breeding
section than any other part of the
whole world This is the natural home
of birds. They leave in the winter only
because of their inability to secure
food. They return north as soon as
spring opens to rear their young in
their natural home environment.
The Stump lake reserve is the only
place in the United States where the
white winged scooter ducks breed, but
on the little islands i'll the Matching
season may also be found mallard,
pintail. gadwall, Shower, lesser scaup
and blue winged teal ducks, Canadian
Wild geese, California and ring bill
gulls, black and white terms, spotted
sandpipers, double crested cormorants
and scores of other species of wild
fowl. Says a writer in the New York
Sun.
When the nesting season is at its
hight stump lake is one of the most
beautiful localities in the northwest.
Girdied with green trees and fringed
with reeds, rushes and marsh grasses.
among which the young ducks and
goslings disport themselves, its ample
bosom harbors every variety of aquatic
fowl to which the northwest lays claim.
Interesting indeed is a trip to the
bird reserve lands. AS the skiff APP
proaches the large California and ring
billed gulls swoop up from their nests
and Lover in snowy confusion over the
marauder, While their raucous cries
may be heard for some distance. Oc-
casionally a mother gull will swerNe
down to the water to drive her over
ambitious offspring to place of safe
ty. for the little, odd. fuzzy, gray mot
tied infants swim almost before their
fluffy down is dried from the moisture
of their recently divested shells.
AS the boat grounds upon the gravel
cd beach it is necessary to exercise
great precaution to avoid treadng on
the nests of the gulls and terms, so
numerous are they. The white terms
nest are followed in the pebbles and
closely adjoin one another, each con-
| .aining two or three eggs. Disturbed
| from their brooding, the ferns, like
| fairy birds with creamy plumage, slow
~ beating wings and graceful bodies,
| describe large circles in the air over
! their nursery, keeping an anxious eye
upon the invaders.
| Under foot at every step are scores
| Of wise looking baby gulls toddlng
! about on uncertain legs, absolutely free
| from any manifestation of fear, and
apparently pleased with the invasion of
! their territory, which permits them to
enjoy heretofore forbidden exploring
| privileges.
| On the first island, perehed in mill
! tary array at the waters edge, a regi-
: ment of black funeral curmorants has
a colony of it's own. The solemn-look-
! ing birds take low winged fight at the
| approach of the stningers, leaving
their ridiculous and uncanny appearing
nestlings to the newcomers mercy.
In addition to a breeding ground for
| wild fowl the stump lake bird reserve
| is "A haven Of rest for tens of thous-
9pds of ducks during the hurting sea-
son. AS it is protected, the frightened
birds are safe from slaughter as long
as they remain indianapolis
News.