The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1920-09-18
BIRD RESERVE AND IR-
RICATION GO TOGETHER
U. s. Biological Man Sees no
Occasion for any Friction;
Birds Big Attraction.

Chief Field Naturalist Vernon
Bailey. OF the u. s. Biological Sur.
vey with Mrs. Bailey. has been
spending several weeks on Malheur
Lake bird refuge. lie was IN town
THURSDAY and was caller at this
Office MIR. Bailey was around the
lake for a sufficient length OF time
to know conditions and make some
common sense observations. lie Il
not prejudiced In his views and
therefore sees that there are other
things TO consider besides the birds
IN dealing with the situation In this
vicinity. While he feels that NAL
heur lake u q wonderful breeding
ground for water fowl. he also roc
oxniEes the necessity o, using the
water Of tho streams for irrigation
purposes TO best advantage. Mr..
Bailey is confident there will be- no
frlction when tho conditions are once
understood.
The gentleman stated TO n member
OF this paper that he had observed
that tho birds do not confipe their
nesting within the boundaries OF the
reserve but they use much " the
meadow land surrounding the lake
anJ even far back from the margin
OF the lake. He said he had found
duck nests out In The ksxc hrusn
Ecweyer. he observed that IN. birds
we're protected during tiit period
BY everyone In tn, country.
II am quite sure the Department
desires TO work In harmony With the
people OF this district In the handling
OF any differences that may arise In
connection with the bird refuge and
i,s effects upon the development OF
the country" said Mr.. Bailey. From
my observations the reserve does not
need the hay lands surrounding the
margin on the south. west and north.
but the stockmen do. therefore they
should be given over to the people
for that purpose. There should be
restrictions ~ 70 hunting within q
certain distance OF the refuge.
though, I think. because the migra-
tory birds should be given a place
where they are undisturbed and may
rest from their long flights even
during the open season."
"The suggestion OF a dyke across
the western part OF the lake 10 con-
troll the depth OF the water and
regulate II for the benefit OF the
stockmen who have hay lands bord-
ering Is one that should appeal 10
tho Department: especially IL II
should be used as a road for this ls
one OF the features now lacking. II
tourists knew they could pass by
the Malheur Bird Refuge on a good
road and view that myriad bird life
you would have an attraction that
could not be- equaled In any part OF
the entire United States"
Mr.. Bailey compares this home OF
bird life In Malheur Lake with the
Yellowstone Park as a National at
traction. lie further stated that he
vas sure the Department would not
tolerate any Interference with the
proposed irrigation project.
Conversation covered other phases
OF the development OF the country
and the matter OF the rabbit peat
was touched upon. Mr. Bailey stat
ed he was preparing a retort tha'
will go direct TO the Department
dealing with the rabbit situation and
be was going TO meet with Ira n
Gabrielson chief OF the Rodent Coz
troll work OF the Biological Survey
as soon as he reached Portland. He
hopes to put the matter up TO the
Department In such strong terms
that II will bring immediate help
from that source. lie indicated that
the situation was 80 pressing that
the Biological Survey would likely
find 1t necessary TO give q greater
aid than at first considered. At any
rate Mr.. Bailey Is going TO use bis
influence toward that end.
The gentleman and Mrs. Bailey
took their departure yesterday morn 1
Ing by way of Bend for Portland
where he goes to confer with Mr., !
Gabrielson and Stanley Jewett.
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