The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1913-09-25
FEDERAL PROTECTION OF MI.
GRATORY BIRDS.

ReIereICe HIS neen Hlaue III THESE
notes several times during the past
three years relative to the need of a
federal law which would protect migra-
tory or Interstate birds. 1t is matter
of cOngratulation on the part of all
who love birds from the practical or
aesthetic standpoint that such meas
ure is soon to be law and become OPP
erative Oct. |. 1913 With II view to
correcting false reports that have been
put In circulation relative to the terms
and requirements of the new law the
American Game Protection association,
which was largely responsible for the
passage of the law, has distributed cir
cular letters giving a summary of its
requirements. These will be read with
interest and digested, for they are
henceforth paramount to all state laws
covering the same subject. For pur-
poses of administration the country is
divided into two zones. Zone No. ],
which Is considered the breeding zone.
comprises those states wholly or in
part north of latitude 40 degrees and
the Ohio river Zone No. ., which is
termed the wintering zone, includes all
states lying south of the boundary
classifications of migratory birds, as
follows: (a) Anatidae, or waterfowl in
Guiding brant, wild ducks, geese and
swan; CD Gruidae. or cranes, including
little brown, sandhll and whooping
cranes; (c) Rallinae, or rails, includ-
ing cOots, gallinules, sora and other
rails; ID Lumicolae, or shore birds, in
Guiding avocets, curlew, dowitchers.
gOdwits, knots. oyster catchers, phaa-
ropes, plover. sandpipers, snipe, stills.
surf birds. turnstones. willet. wood
cock and yellow legs; (e) Colubidae, or
pigeons. including doves and wild pi-
geons; f) migratory insectivorous
birds-bobolinks catbirds. chickadees,
cuckoos, flycatchers. grosbeaks, hum
ming birds. kinglets. martins, meadow
larks. nighthawks or bull bats. nut
matches. orioles, robins. shrikes, swal
lows, swifts Hangers, titmice. war
bers. thriIshes. vireos. waxwings,
whippoorwills. woodpeckers, wrens and
all other perching birds which feed en-
tirely or chiefly on insects
Among the several wise provisions
Of the new law attention may be call
ed to the following: Spring shooting
Of the above named migratory birds Is
absolutely prohibited; it is made I'M
lawful to shoot birds. game or other
wise. between sunset and sunrise even
during the open season. shooting of
migratory birds on the Mississippi riv-
err between New Orleans and Minneap-
oils. the Ohio river between its mouth
and Pittsburgh and the Missouri river
between its mouth and Bismark is pro-
hibited except during November and
December This is aimed to provide
safe passage for these birds during
their migratory flights. All migratory
insectivorOus birds are protected
throughout the year with the single ex
ceptiOn of reedbirds or rice birds, on
which there is an open season during
September and October in Delaware.
Maryland. the District of Columbia,
virginia anu coutu Naioiiii" w hCh
the new regulations go into effect the
federal government with its well earn
ed reputation for law enforcement will
become the guardian of our interstate
birds. Henceforth there will be no
more ruthless Strengthening of robins
and other highly priced birds during
their winter sojourn in southern states
nor in other sections of the country.
Hearing will be had on the new regu-
lations with a view to receiving sug-
gestiOns as to changes. but 1t is safe
to assume that the proposed law,
which needs but the signature of Pres
ident Wilson to become a law, will be-
come operative substantially In the
form as above outlined.