Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-01-08
SANCTUARY FOR
MIGRATORY BIRDS
Most Advanced Step in Vermont
for Conservation of Game
Resources

Montpelier, Jan. 6.-Linus Leavens. fish
and game commissioner, accompanied by
an engineer from the state engineers Of
flee left this afternoon for Essex juno
ton. where they will spend the night, and
tomorrow morning will go to the mouth
of the Lamoille river to survey the land
which the commissioner has recently
bargained for to be used as n resting and
feeding place for migratory birds. It is
the first sanctuary that has been made
of this kind in the northern States and is
done under recent treaty formed be-
tween this country and Canada for the
benefit of migratory birds. This IL con-
sidered by sportsmen as the most advanc-
ed step that Vermont has taken in many
years. relative to the conservation of
game resources
The land to bic surveyed is in two tracts,
portions of 1t being on either sides of the
Sand Bar road from Burlington to the
"Heros." There Is a portion of the land
that Is an island in the Lamoille river.
There are some 900 acres of land in the
tracts. 1t Is estimated there Is about $1,000
worth of timber on the reservation. The
land belonging to S. Thompson Of Milton
and DR.. Jackson and +. A. Wells of Bur-
lington.
Mr.. Leavens has been working on the
project for some time. 1t is probably the
best thing of the kind that has been orig
/ mated in this section of the country in
the interest of the birds that travel north
each summer and is done under the acts
! or 1917. In bringing about the matter Mr..
! Lcavens associated himself with the fed
! eral government by securing the assis-
lance of the United States Bureau of
Biological survey and n survey for a site
FOR sanctuary for the migrate DRY birds
was made by G. w. Fields of the bureau
last summer, with the result that he re-
ported to T.. w. Nelson, chief of the bu-
rcau, that the site named above seemed
best fitted Of any he found in the state
and that 1t had many Of the features Of
an ideal resting and feeding place. The
sanctuary when established will be on the
line that the birds used in travelling north
or south.
This is place where all species Of
ducks that migrate feed, while it Is ex-
pected that other species will be induced
TO rest there. II is also planned by Mr..
Leavens to make the sanctuary attrac-
tive for native wild ducks so they will
find a nesting as we'll as resting and
feeding place. Many fur-bearing animals
will be found in that locality and espe-
cially it is expected that the muskrat
will abound there.
Spring shooting of pickerel that has
been enjoyed for some years as we'll as
all other shooting will be discontinued so
that the birds will have the best possible
opportunity for resting and feeding in the
flight north. A cottage will be erected and
a caretaker will have charge of the prop
erty. Propagation Of native birds will be
conducted. including the ring-necked
pheasant. favorable cover for ruffed
grouse is expected. while woodcock are
found there meaning the native species
The advancement of this sanctuary will
be watched by sportsmen with a good
deal of interest for the fish and game
league has endorsed the action taken and
it is the first thing of this kind that has
been started in Vermont. 1t is expected
that considerable will be realized from
trapping of fur-bearing animals under
restrictions and supervision.