The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-02
MEANS TAKEN To
PROTECT BIRDS
Wilson Approves Regula-
ton Under Bird Act
BASIS OF REGULATIONS
Wallace Declares Federal Migratory
Bird Law Has Been Passed After
Hard truggles-Announce
Game Wardens Later

N"s"I " oaoNho law
Montgomery. October 1--(speclal }
Commissioner John II. Wallace, Jr. Of
the state game and fish department to-
day received telegram from DR. r. s.
Palmer, In charge of game preservation
department. bureau of biological survey,
Washington. ID. G., to the effect tina t
President Wilson has approved the regu-
lation drawn under the migratory bird
act.
The open season on snipe and water
fowl, which includes duck, wild geese and
brant. is from November ! to February
following. The open season on wood
cock is from November to January /.
The open season On plover is from No
vember to February l following.
The new federal law does not in any
sense effect doves or any resident birds
native to Alabama.
Basis of the Regulations
In carrying out the statutory require
ment of due regard to the zone of tenn
perature, breeding habits times and line
of migratory flight" the following are
some of the more important principles on
which the regulations have been based:
To limit the list of migratory game
birds to species properly so called and 10
eliminate species too small to be consid-
cred legitimate game or too rare to be
longer hunted for SPORT or profit. This
list has been made to conform as closely
as possible with the statutory definitions
of game.
To prevent spring shooting.
To protect migratory birds between sun
set and sunrise.
To provide protected fight lines along
at least three of the great navigable
rivers.
To make the seasons approximate tely
equal in length in different parts of the
country.
To limit the hunting seasons to a max
imum of three or three and one-half
months.
To regulate these seasons according to
latitude and times of migration and 70
adjust them so that there may be rea-
sonable opportunity of securing 80 days
shooting of any species at given place.
To provide separate seasons for water
fowl, quail, shore birds and woodcock. The
woodcock seasons are made to conform as
nearly as possible with the seasons yfor
upland game under state laws, so that
there may be no opportunity In close sea-
sons to hunt quail or grouse under the
guise of shooting woodcock i
To curtail hunting at the end instead of
the beginning of the open season in the
interest of both the birds and the sports
men.
To utilize all the protection now accord
I Iot. e.tn IN ll
and extend these seasons where neces-
sary.
Effect of the Regulations
The probable effect of these regulations
may be briefly stated as follows:
/. Uniformity In protection of migratory
game and insectivorous birds in the sew
eral states.
3 Protection of birds in spring while en-
route to their nesting grounds and while
mating.
g. Uniformity in protection of migratory
birds at night
A. Establishment of protected migration
routes along three great rivers in the
central United States.
s. Complete protection for five years for
the smaller shore birds and other species
which have become greatly reduced In
numbers.
G. Reduction of the open season on MI
gratory game birds but in most cases
not more than 25 to so per cent.
T. No change in existing conditions be-
fore the first of 1914
Night Shooting
The regulation prohibiting night shooting
Is intended to bring about uniformity in
provisions now in force In most states
protecting waterfowl other birds at
night, or within certain hours between
sunset and sunrise, so that the birds may
be unmolested on their roosting ground
and may have time to feed after sunset or
before sunrise. 1t will make no change
in existing law in abeut one-fourth of the
states; it will make existing regulations
clearer in nine states: it will add an
hours protection, more or less, in the
morning and evening in about one-fourth
of the states, and it will regulate night
shooting in IA states which now have no
restriction of this kind.
InsectivorOus Birds
This regulation simply makes uniform
the protection now accorded these birds
in more than 40 states. 1t protests the
robin, the lark, and other birds In the
few states in which they suffer from an
open season. 1t attempts no change In
existing regulations regarding the issue of
permits for collecting birds for scientific
purposes.
Mr.. Wallace stated that the federal MI
gratory bird law had been passed after
struggles on the part of bird and game
protectionists lasting more than 10 years.
Game wardens who will repreent the
United States government for Alabama