The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1920-05-28
Our National Bird Threatened
With determination Through
Lack of Protection.
$500 KILLED IN ALASKA
Bounty Offered by the Territory Re-
suits in Heavy Slaughter in Two
Years-our Largest Bird
Of Prey.

WaShlngt0n.-lne Dald-headed eagle,
or the American eagle, as 1t is more
popularity known, the country's ma
tional bird and emblem, is rapidly be-
Ing exterminated. Unless something I
is done, ornithologists point out, to
prevent the destruction of this great |
bird. which is now going on, 1t will
become so scarce that ii may ulti- |
mately become extinct.
1t is in Alaska that the American
eagle Is most abundant today, and II
Is there that the finest specimens are
to be found. 1t is in Alaska, too, that
the eagle Is in the gravest danger of
determination. In April. 1917, the ter
| .itorial legislature Of Alaska placed
4 bounty of so cents head for every
eagle and other birds of prey killed.
Up to the end of April, 1919, in less
than two years, it Is estimated that
5000 eagles have been killed. They
were, 1t was maintained, destructive to
game, salmon and birds.
1t was only recently that ornithOlO-
gists awoke to the gravity of the sit
uation confronting the eagles. The
American Ornithologist union, an Or
ganization of about 1000 members
composed of naturalists and scientists
scattered everywhere throughout the
United States, has now become arous-
ed to the danger. The Museum of
Natural History and other scientific
institutions is interested in the pres
ervation of the eagle, and ornitholo-
gists everywhere are anxious to do
something to save the bird from elimi-
nation.
, Not Prolific Breeder.
: The bald eagle is anything but a pro
life breeder; it raises not more thar
: one or two young in a brood every year
| The birds build their nests in big tree:
I or in tall cliffs along the sea coasts
y Their nests are 3 or feet in diameter
5 and are very conspicuous. In huntin,
4 the birds natives seek the nests. TIL,
Y old birds will fight to protect thei
) young, and when the nests are attack
!. ed they hover about them. In thi
o manner the parent birds are shot b
i natives who then dispatch the youn
4 eaglets. The eagle is not a very cley
err or wary bird, neither is he fas
fiier, and it Is not always Difficult
matter for hunters to Stay him.
"The bald eagle" an ornithologis
t said, although bird of prey, is nc
: as destructive as has been represented
II Smaller birds such as the hawk
u far more damage. 1t feeds on ifs
preferably, and principally on dea
: fish. 1t will sometimes pursue ifs
3 hawk in order to steal the fish whic
i the latter has captured from the waite
II The bald eagle is useful since it d
e Stroys jackrabbits, ground squire
u and other destructive animals.
l. 1T is not so much because Of
v alleged destructiveness, but because
y desire to obtain the bounty that
a Is being hunted and slain so widely
u Alaska. He is our largest bird
III prey, and in many respects the mo
vi striking and most splendid. MAJ
" false tales have been told ana Giro
" lated about him. He has beei, p
u tured as ferocious when, in truth,
q. has no natural enemies. He might
- tempted to carry off very you
lamb, but tales Of his carrying
babies or young children are untr
and unjust.
IN Our National Bird.
S. HE Is our national bird. He {
re- pears on our coins and currency.
sat our country's coat Of arms and sea
Eat his golden replica tops the stafs
by