The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-02-21
Haven For Wild Fowl

Newbern, N. c., Feb. 1S.-A tag
bearing number of verses from the
Scriptures and the name of James
Miner, Kingsville, Ontario, found tied
to the leg of a wild duck killed re-
Gently by Clyde Keener of Trenton,
Jones county, near here, has brought |
to light the existence of a haven for
wild fowl on the north shore Of Lake
Erie to which the feathered tribes |
flock in huge numbers. Keener wrote |
Miner advising him of the finding of
the tag.
The latter in an answering letter
stated that wild ducks and geese stop
at his farm during the course of their
migratory journeys and that he and
the girds are the best of friends. He
said he had built a pond for the feath-
cred tourists and that he feeds them
600 bushels of corn each year during
their two months stay at his place.
Mr.. Miners letter, in part, follows:
"Thank you for having reported
finding the tag. l now have tags re-
turned to me off wild geese and ducks
from North Carolina to Hudson Bay
In several instances the tags have
been found by Indians in the Far
North after shooting the girds and
they have taken them to Hudson Bay
agents, who forwarded them to me.
81 have had tags returned from 90
different states and provinces, the
farthest south being Guydan, Louisi-
ana, and the farthest West being En-
| glefield, Saskatchewan.
81 try to tag all the birds that
| spend some time at my place. Forty
per cent of those that l tag in the
fall return to me the following spring.
Others stay here all the time, in spite
of the fact that the weather grows
very cold. AS am writing you there
are about 75 wild geese and 40 wild
ducks feeding within 80 feet of me.
They are keeping small hole open in
the pond and they are depending on
me for food.
"It took me several years to get the
birds coming. At last, however, a
small bunch came and they apparent
ly told others, until their little flock
grew into a small cloud. In fact,
have seen the wild geese rise up so
thick that you could scarcely see
through them, and their honking could
be heard over a mile away.
During the last six or seven years
have fed them in the months Of
March and April 500 bushels of corn
When the birds stop off here they
seem to leave all fear behind them.
Even strong birds, visiting my place
for the first time, let me come within
a few feet of them. They evidently
have been told by the old timers that
there is no danger.
at is great sight to see all these
birds together. People for miles
around have heard of what am doing
and thousands have come to see the
sight. Even these strangers can come
within forty or fifty feet of the wild
birds without causing them any fright.
Not a single bird ever has been shot
on my premises and the feathered
tourists seem to know that when they
stop off here they are on neutral
ground.
"Of course this is not so with re-
gard to the surrounding territory, over
which | have no jurisdiction. l have
seen men shoot and wound a duck or
a goose and I have seen the bird
make desperate effort to reach my
| nft
permit me to doctor them. At other
times they fall to the ground before
they can reach the safety zone.
II am opposed to deliberate slaugh-
ter of ducks and geese just for the
sake of shooting them. We've got to
be careful and call halt to this de-
struction, for unless we are careful it
won't be many years before geese and
| ducks are hard to find are hard to
find. l am trying my best to give
the birds what protection I can. My
system of tagging them is part of this
plan. l have received letters from
many hunters who have written me
that they uphold me in my work.
There is always fascination in ov-
grooming prejudice and dislike. Wild
birds, of course, consider all men to
be their natural enemies. 1t has been
mighty hard for me to convince them
that / am their friend. However, that
conviction now seems to be spreading
among them rapidly. Hundreds of new
birds come here every year. can al
ways tell when stronge bird arrives.
1t seems very shy. Not so with the
old timer, however. He comes sailing
is as fast as he can, honking well
come and proceeds to stuff himself
on corn.
81 have one mallard duck, which |
was hatched and raised by domestic |
fowl in 1912. She has now migrated |
and returned to me each spring and
has raised four families in five sum-
mers-two eights and two mines.
M r.. i l.