The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-07-22
THE MIGRATORY BIRD LAW.
Iowa Authority Says This Law Will.
Save Water Fowls From Ex-
termination.


Save Water Fowls From Ex-
termination. x.
There was a great cutlery against
the migratory bird law, at one time.
A judge was found somewhere, who
was "forninst it," and many sports
men, who believe that the game
birds were created for their special
benefit and are their private prop
erty, protested vociferously. In the.
mean time, many have been thinking.
it over. And some may have listen
ed to real authorities, who commend
the law, as for instance.
Prof. Ira N. Gabrielson, of the
Marshalltown public schools is an
ardent naturalist. No man in Iowa,
perhaps, is better posted on birds OF
all kinds, including the game species,
than he is. Not only is he we'll post
ed but he is keen observer and
loves to wander afield in all seasons
and takes note of the wild life.
During the spring months he has
been observing the number of wild
die md geese that gathered in the
vicinity of his home city and has
furnished the Marshalltown Times
Republican with the result of his OBJ
servations, in which he declares that
already the enforcement of the mi
gratory bird law has resulted in
greatly increasing the number Of
these game birds. What is true at
Marshalltown is certainly true in all
other sections of Iowa, and the true
sportsman will find much of interest
in the report made by Professor
n ,-|iob ic fn11nwc
"Since the federal law went into
effect have been keenly interested
to see what result, if any, it would
have, on the number and tameness Of
the ducks and geese While there.
has been some shooting | think that
it has been comparatively little, and
by small number of men. The
ducks are tame, and usually allow a
close approach. The flooded condi-
ton of the river bottom this spring
made observation Of them rather
difficult, but several places were.
finally located where a person could.
lie concealed and watch them at a
distance Of from ten to forty yards.
During these times the following
fifteen species of water fowl have:
been watched for longer or shorter
time, as the opportunity offered:
q. Mallard or green head. This
was by far the most abundant spe-
cies. Every small pond and corn
field had it's quota. During the high
water of early March they were here
by the thousands.
80. Caldwell or gray duck. This
species is often called by sportsmen
a female mallard.. 1t has never
been common here, but consider
able number have been observed this
year.
90. Baldpate or widgeon. A
flock of four frequented one small
pond for nearly two weeks where I
saw them every time was in that
region.
"a. Greenwinged teal. Very
common and very tame. Allowed
me to approach very close to them
before flying.
IS. Blue-winged teal. A few
were present but the bulk of them
do not arrive until later.
"6. Shoveler or spoonbill. Head
about the same status as the blue
winged teal. A little later they will
be more common.
~. Pintail. Abundant all dur
ing March.
IS. Redhead Three were watch
ed on the water for over two hours
on one occasion and later flock of
about thirty were found in the same
place.
80. Canvasback. Old hunters tell
me that they have shot this duck
here before, but l met it for the
first time this spring, when a flock
was found on large pond.
80. Greater scaup or bluebill.
This and the next species were very
common. They are hard to distin-
guish except under very favorable
circumstances, as they flock together.
A mixed flock of perhaps 500 indi-
viduals was found on one pond and
watched for a long time.
I'll. Lesses scaup. Common.
"12. Ring-necked duck, or black
jack. Quite common this year.
"13. Rudy duck. A few indi-
viduals found at different times, us
ually with scaup. This duck carries
his tail much like wren and can
not be mistaken for any other.
IA. White-fronted goose. Three
were found on one occasion.
10. canada goose. fefHapS inc
best proof that the water fowl have
not been generally molested, is that
a flock of about twenty-five of these
wary and suspicious birds remained
in this vicinity for three weeks On
every visit to certain locality dur
ing that time, found them at the
same place. The mud was filled with
goose tracks and patch of an acre
or more of that cornfeld was pretty
we'll covered with tracks and feath-
ers.
"This probably does not include
all species of waterfowl found in the
flooded fields and bayous during last.
March but represents those / was
able to find by hiding along the edge
of the flooded region in favorable
places. During the spring saw
what l never expected to see again.
Cornfields filled with ducks and
geese, ponds dotted with them, and,
on days when they were flying, ducks
in every direction. ! think it would
y &1,ok