Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-05-09
STAR WASHINGTON, D. 9. 1soPARr l.
|SC|ENT|STSSTUDY
LIFE OF FLAM|NG0
Expedition to Bird World, Ba.
hama, Obtains Pictures of
the Wonderful Species.

tioIIId, OUldIIIo TtGtui Go VI
the Wonderful Species.
MIAMI. Fla. May (SpeciaD.-The
scientists and sportsmen composing
the personnel OF the Miami aquarium
expedition. sent to Andres Island to
study tho life habits OF the most
beautiful of the larger dcnizens of
the bird world. returned to Miami to-
day on board President Allison's
yacht la Pache. after n most success
full investigation. In the party were
Louis Agassiz Fuertes Of Ithaca. N.
Y. artist and ornithologist: Norman
McClintock of Pittsburgh. naturalist
and bird photographer: James A. AL
lison, president OF the Miami Aqua
rum Association: Carl q. Fisher.
Louis Il Mowbray technical director
Of the aquarium and ichthyologist Of
international reputation: Charles Har-
rison Thompson, hunter and fish eX-
pert: John III. Levi and John Oliver
.agorce of the National Geographic
Magazine.
The yacht La Pache was the mother
ship Of the expedition. and Mr.
Fishers fast cruiser Shadow v was
necessary for scouting among the
small keys and bays to search out
the nesting bird groups OF terms.
tman-o'-war hawks and to aid in To-
ess. tho little known na"'"so col
FlaminEo at Its Last stand.
Tho beautiful fiamingoes. once be-
numerous In southern Florida, but now
unknown to North America, having
passed with the Buffalo and passen-
ger pigeon, have made their last
stand in the new world far in the in
terror Of Andres island. the largest of
the Bahama group. aU shy are the
famtngoes and SO Ill equipped by ma
ture to defend themselves against
the one chance for MISREPRESENTATION
and retire for their nesting season
miles inland from the coast. There
fore to reach their colony it is neces-
sary to traverse miles and miles of
tidal marsh, known to. the native
"swass" means little to the initiated
but spells q maximum Of expended
energy and labor to the explorer. for
it entails wading for miles up to the
foot but soft mari mud, varying III
depth from 10 to 20 inches.
Impressive and Beautiful View.
To carry heavy cameras and motion
picture machines on the back through
such going is no joke. but was sue
cessfully negotiated by the members
Of the party and after days Of search
hamingos finally were located and
the naturalists rewarded by the most
impressive sight to be seen by bird
lovers anywhere In the world. Pic
ture the effect of coming upon a col
ony of several hundred birds, a fam
ing mass OF deep scarlet and geranium
pink. with height upon stiltlike legs.
with their long, slender necks grace I
fully lowering and raising their
Roman-nosed heads as they sought
hov !, "a 70 Ia he Inv evaj
shell known to the scientists as
"cerithium," upon which it lives ex-
clusively.
The wondrous beauty and gradua-
lenges description and affords eye
filing delight never to be forgotten.
Motion Pictures Obtained.
After much trouble to get into |
camera range without disclosing the |
presence of the party blind was es-
tablished, the cameras set up and
the first motion pictures ever made |
Of famingo colony came into being. |
On this occasion, however. the time
was short. for 1t was necessary to |
back track over the miles Of swass
as quickly as possible. The sun was
setting and the only refuge from the !
millions upon millions of mosquitoes
was the "Lapache." With the last rays
OF the sun came great clouds Of
mosquitoes defying every man known
means OF protection, which included |
head nets, thick coats. canvas trousers,
gloves and leggins. which proved of
no avail and words cannot describe
the torment which enveloped the |
jrarty.
AS the birds were not yet ready
to nest and consequently moving from
ono lagoon to another the party was
obliged to go into different localities. |
day after day. undergoing the hard
ships Of the swass, the insects and
heat. but finally completed their in
designations and research into the
habits and characteristics Of this the
rarest and most brilliantly colored of
the worlds largest birds. Much
not only Of the flamingo. but of the |
otker rare birds and fish of the
Bahamas. which with the motion pic !!
lures will be contributed to the
worlds knowledge of the little known |
"out" islands. as they are called.
Last Previous Expedition.
The last scientific party to locate the
ed by DR.. Frank NJ. Chapman of the
American Museum Of Natural History
nineteen years ago. and since that time.
seen. 1t IS estimated that nearly two
thirds OF the number have died or dis
appeared, due to tho fact that at GER
tain times Of the year the bird molts its
wing feathers and cannot fly, therefore
falling easy victims to the negro spong-
ers who como in and STAY them in large
lnumber-young and old, male and fe-
4 male-to add to their diet.
Some years ago the Bahama govern
ment promulgated law protecting the
4 flamingo, but Andres Island is SO far re-
moved and SO fnfrequently visited in it's
distant parts that no real knowledge OF
the birds destruction had reached
Nashua until the return Of the party for
clearance.
IL Arrest for Unlawful SLAUGHTER
While the expedition was at Man
grove Key. Andres Island. it brought
about the first arrest ever made for the
unlawful killing Of fiamingoes, and was
given every assurance by the acting
Il governor that immediate steps would be
taken to protect the birds and enforce
the law, which it is hoped will save the
few remaining for future generations.
II Tho Miami Aquarium Association and
Biological Laboratory will send out sim
liar expeditions from time to time. col
lecting valuable information along scien.
tifc lines, which will be disseminated
throughout tho world.
luANr mi 0PEn cnunnI G