The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-09-16
FEDERAL PROTECTION OF Mi,
GRATORY BIRDS.

GRATORH BIRDS.
Reference has been made in these
notes several times during the past
three years relative to the need of n
federal law which would protect migra-
tory or interstate birds. IT is Il matter
Of congratllation on the part of all
who love birds from the practical or
aesthetic standpoint that such q meas
ure is soon to be law and become OH
erative oct. /. 1913. With Il 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 n summary of its
requirements These will be read With
interest and digcsteu. for they are
henceforth paramount 70 all state laws
covering the same subject For pug-
poses Of administration the country is
divided into two zones Zone No. J.
which is considered the breeding zone.
comprises those states wholly or in
part north of latitude 40 degrees ana
the Ohio river Zone No. >, which is
termed the wintering zone. includes all
states lying south of the boundary
mentioned. The new law makes six
clasSifcations Of migratory birds, as
follows: (al Anatidae. or waterfowl. in
| GLIDING brant. wild ducks geese ami
| swan; Oh Gruidae, or cranes. including
| little brown. sandhil and whOoping
| cranes; (cl Ralinae, or rails, includ
! ing coots. galinules, sora and other
| rails: Id Lumicolae, or shore birds. in
| Guiding ayocetS. curlew doWitchers,
| godwitS. knots. oyster catcherS, phula-
| ropes. plovcr. sandpipers, Snipe, stiitS.
| surf birds. turnstones. wilet. wood
| cock and yellow legs; (e) Colubidae, or
| pigeons. including doves and wild pi-
geons; % migratory insectiyorous
| birds bobOlnkS, catbirds chickadees.
cuckoos, tycatchers, groSbeaks. hum
| ming birds, kingets, martins, meadow
| larks. nighthawkS or bull bats, nut
matches. orioles, robins, shrikes, swal-
lows, swifts. Hangers. titmice, war
| blers thrusheS, vireoS waXWiugs.
whippoorwills. woodpeckers, wrens and
all other perchng birds which feed en-
tirely or chiefly on insects.
| Among the several wise provisions
of the new law attention may be call
| ed 10 the following: Spring shooting
| of the above named migratory birds is
absolutely prohibited; it is made I'm
| lawful 10 shoot birds, game or other
wise. between sunset and sunrise even
during the open season; shooting of
migratory birds on the Mississippi riy-
or between New Orleans and Minueap-
| oils. the Ohio river between its mouth
aud 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 cN
| ception of reedbirds or rice birds, on
which there is an open season during
| September and October in Delaware.
| Maryland, the DlStflct OF tofUUplh,
Virginia and South Carolina When
the new regulations 20 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 10
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 regl-
! lationS with Il view TO receiving Sug-
! gestions as to changes, but il is safe
to assume that the proposed law.
| which needs but the signature of Pres
| ident Wilson to become law. viii be
come operative substantially in the
| form as above outlined