The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1921-09-14
GAME
REFUGEES SUCCEED
BEYOND BELIEF
Thousands of Acres OF
Marsh Lands Sanctuly
For Wild Birds
FOUR GREAT AREAS
INCLUDED IN TRACT
Many Species of Migratory
Ducks Remain Here to
Rear Young

New Orleans, La, Sept. 1.-THE
establishment of wild life refugees in
Louisiana has been successful beyond
the hopes of its most ardent advo-
Gates. The Louisiana refugees are
among the largest in the world, and
though their establishment has been
recent, wild animals have already
learned that sanctury is to be found
there. 1t is wonderful how wild life
discovers territory that is set apart
for its protection. 1t has been found
in Canada that as soon as the hunting
season opens, wild animals of every
variety seek refuge in the parks set
aside for their protection. On the
Louisiana state game refugees the
same phenomna has been observed
Ducks so wild just outside the limits
of that reservation that one can not
get within gunshot of them, within
the refuge are so tame as to permit
approach within few feet.
There are four Of these refugees
along the gulf coast of Louisiana
Rockefeller tract, $4,000 acres; Marsh
Island, $4,000 acres; Ward McCIheny
1000 acres; state game refuge, 49,
900. In these large tracts of land set
apart as wild life saneutaries, native
birds are propogating rapidly, migra-
tory species are finding secure re-
treats and fur-bearing animals are in
creasing in great numbers. AS these
tracts are cantiagous the same con-
ditions may be safely regarded rs
existing in each, and for that reson
report recently received by the Lou
isiana conservation department is of
public interest in showing what is
being accomplished in the way of
perpetuation of wild life An gaent
stationed on the Rockefeller tract has
written to the department that he has
found countless numbers of white
egrets that have nested and reared
their young on this reservation dur
ing the season. 1t will be remember
ed that a few years ago this snowy
parnt -aisaaasaA4~asas-alig--"-sa
tionaI, were required to preserve the
few remaining specimens. The de-
mand Of women for the plumes of
these birds to ornament their hats
had about wiped out the species and
the end was in sight within a year
of two In addition to the egrets there
are several other species of herons
on the reservation, and ducks have
found they they are not only safe
there, but some of the species re-
main to nest instead of flying to Hud-
son bay to rear their young. Ducks,
migratory and permanent species, are
found in thousands.
The resident birds that are propa-
eating rapidly on these sanctuaries in
clude pied-bill grebe (helI diver),
angling gull Foster, Cabot, and royal
tern, black skinner, Florida cor
morant, brown pelican, summer NAL
lard, wood duck, white ibis, glossy
ibis wood ibis, bittern, blue heron,
large white egret, Louisiana heron,
black crowned night heron, king rail,
clapper rail- Florida gallinule. poule
d'eau, willet, long billed curlew, kid
deer, Wilson polver, oyster catcher
t(rare). Besides these varieties which
are permanent residents of this Sec
ton there are any number of species
of migratory birds which spend either
the summer or the winter season at
the sanctuary.