The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-04-06
By WILLIAM l.. ALTDORFER.

Bird slaughter has become greater than
ever before In the history of the world.
especially in America. To prevent the
absolute extinction of our wonderful
bird life Uncle Sam has taken the mat
ter into his own hands, and from now on
will see that his beautiful bird citizens
have as much protection as the other
citizens of his domains. Congress has
placed q new law upon the statute books
which will result in giving both game
and insectivorous birds the protection
that bird lovers all. over the land have
been fighting for for the last twenty years
The new bird law became effective
March 4, 1919, but the regulations to en-
force the law will not be in force until
they have been passed upon by Uncle
= Sans bird experts and approved by the
President The bird men at Washing
ton are now working upon the new rules.
and expect to have them ready shortly
before the beginning of the hunting sea-
son this year.
An appropriation of $4,000 was made to
initiate the new law by the last Con-
gress Its main provisions call for the
protection of all migratory game and
insectivorous birds which do not remain
permanently within the borders of any
State or Territory, which means prac-
try. There are few birds that live perm
anently In any State. AS a rule they
are beautiful little wanderers with no
fixed home. They pass from one State
TO smother as the fancy strikes them,
and probably remain in one place only
long enough to breed. Most Of our feath-
cred citizens, except the sparrow, usual
ly hunt the warm climate. During the
hard winters OF the North they migrate
m oil VI
again they return TO their old stamping
grounds in the North.
New Departure in America.
This is the first time in the history
of the United States that anything OF
the kind has been attempted. 1t is
an entirely new departure for the
general government TO undertake, yet
the countries of the Old World have
had such laws in operation for the
past decade. For many years the va
rious States of the Union have passed
laws that prevented wholesale slaugh-
ter of bird life. but as a rule these
state laws conflict; one State specifies
4 certain closed season. while another
designates an altogether different
closed season.
II led to confusion and the ultimate
determination of all bird life in the
country. There was only one thing
that could be done to save the rem
nants of the few birds left. and that
was for Uncle Sam to step in and call
a halt.
Henry w. Henshaw is Uncle Sans
chief bird man at Washington. He is
Chief of the Biological Survey, the
bureau created by the government for
the sole purpose of the scientific study
Of bird life. Naturally very kind
hearted. DR.. Henshaw became much
interested in the work, and now II is
his pet hobby. From Investigations
made under his personal direction, he
became convinced that the situation
had become desperate. and something
had to be done.
For a number of years ii has been
apparent to me that the small game
of the United States was rapidly dis
appearing" said he in discussing the
new law and his plans for putting ii
into operation. One of the most i'm
portant remedies suggested, and which
has at last been enacted into law, was
the protection of birds by Federal au