The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-01
LIVESTOCKPRODUCTTONSH BEN GOODSHAPE
Protect Migratory Birds

Perhaps migratory birds will never again be seen in such vast flocks as when the early settlers pushed their way westward, but specialists of the bureau of biological survey, United States De- partment of Agriculture, believe their numbers are now increasing year by year. Widespread interest in their preservation, prompted by American sportsmen who saw the birds would be exterminated by unchecked destruction, is thought we'll Justified when it is considered that the birds food and economic value amounts to many millions of dollars annually. Growth of sentiment for the conservation of so valuable resource by preventing destruction, through spring shooting, of game birds and by other protective meas ures. has been notable in the last half century.
 1 In 1900 only nine states had laws Sro- l hibiting all-spring shooting, while in 1918 there were 31. Only three states now af- ford no legal protection. Uniform and adequate preservation was first given attention by the federal government in 1904, when a bill was introduced in Con- gress, but failed to become law. The subject, however, was kept before Con- gress almost continuously until the en- actment of the migratory bird law in 1913
 
 on the United States Department of Az riculture the power to fix closed seasons during which it would be unlawful to capture or kill migratory birds This law did not provide for effective enforce nient, but it exerted a wonderful influ- ence upon the public mind, and it's pass Age laid the real foundation for more
 equate protection. Fully 95 per cent
 the sportsmen abided by the regula
 ms established under this law and re-
 lined from shooting during the closed
 asons.
 The result was almost instantaneous. Waterfowl and other migratory game birds not only showed at once marked increase in numbers but owing to the cessation of spring shooting, remained un- Ho1eStedr in ever increasing numbers to breed in places from which formerly they had been driven every spring by inces- sant gunning. At the end of the five years during which this law was in opera 5 tlQns state game commissioners and lead ing sportsmen were practically unani- nous in their expression that wild fowl were more abundant than at any time in. the preceding 25 years.
 The marked improvement under this law iristilled new spirit into the advocates of bird conservation, and showed the won derful possibilities under a federal law broad and comprehensive enough not only to protect the birds during the mat ing and breeding season, but to equalize hunting privileges and opportunities by more uniform state laws.
 To protect birds further treaty affect ing birds migrating between this country and Canada was concluded in 1916 be- tween the United States and Great Brit ain. Altogether 537 species of migratory birds sfe included in the various families rfoteSfed by the treaty. It provides for con t0uous protection for migratory fn- na inc irdc md rfoi, atI, tSN game birds. The hunting season for
 ther migratory game birds is limited
 a period not exceeding three and one |af months between September 1 and
 March 10 of each year, except shore birds in certain northeastern states, where such hunting season must be between August 1s and February 1. Regulations promul- gated under the act of Congress approved ' July 1, 1918, to give effect to the treaty, established open seasons on shore birds 's4h such northeastern states from August 1s to November 30, and with this excep fion no migratory game birds can be , hunted in the United States between Feb ruary and September b, inclusive, of each year. The treaty does not, however, include some valuable birds, such as quail. pheasants, grouse and wild turkeys. TEese remain wholly within the juris1tc- tion of the states. Approximately 220 species of migratory birds are also ex- Fcluded from the terms of the treaty, be- cguse they are not specially named cr do not feed chiefly or entirely on insects. The federal laws for the protection of migratory birds are expected to go a long way toward insurng a supply for all time, but the interests of the states are so inseparably related to the interests of the national government that all efforts to conserve these birds must be ordi- mated for full success, federal officials point out Much already has been done along this line. The open seasons for wild fowl in 25 states have been made to con- form to the federal seasons, and in many 8 other states game commissioners and S sportsmen have manifested a spirit cf CO., operation in game conservation that fndi- cates a general sentiment favoring uni- formity in state and federal laws.