The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-02-23
GOOD SAMARITAN
 CARES FOR BIRDS

Newborn, N. C., Feb. 23-A tag bearing a number of verses from the Miner, Ringsvilie, 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. Keen CT 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 birds are the best friends. He said he has built a pond for the feathered tourists and that he feeds them 500 bushels of corn each year during their two months stay at his place.
 MT Miners letter, in part, fol- lows:
 Thank you for having reported finding the tag now nave tags returned to me of wild ducks and geese from North Carolina to Hud- son Bay In several instances the tags have been found by Indians in the Far North after shooting the birds and they have taken them to Hudson Bay agents, who forwarded them to me.
 T have had tags returned from twenty-three different states and provinces, the farthest south being Guydan, Louisiana. and the farthest west being Englef1eld, Saskatchewan
 "I try to tag all the birds that spend some time at my place. Forty per cent. of those that I 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 l am writing you there are about 75 wild guese and 40 wild ducks -eeding with in 30 feet of me They are keeping a 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 apPar- entity told others, until their little flock grew into a small cloud. In fact, I 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 I 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 strange 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.
 ''It is a great sight to see all these birds together. People for miles around have heard of what I am do-
  the sight. Even these strangers can come within forty or fifty feet of the wild birds without causing them any fright. Not single bird ever has 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, l I have seen men shoot and wound a duck or a goose and I have seen the bird make a desperate effort to reach my place. Sometimes they succeed and permit me to doctor them. At other times they fall to the ground be- fore they can reach the safety zone.
 s'I 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 a halt to this de- wont be many years before geese and ducks are hard to find. l am trying my best to give the birds what pro lection I can. My system of tagging them is part of this plan. I have re- ceived letters from many hunters who have written me that they up- hold me in my work.
 '"There is always fascination in overcoming prejudice and dislike. Wild birds, of course, consider all men to be their natural enemies. It has been mighty hard for me to con vince them that I am their friend. However, that conviction now seems to be spreading among them rapidly. of new birds come here every year. I can always tell when a strange bird arrives. It seems very shy. Not so with the old timer, how ever. He comes sailing in as fast as he can, honking a welcome and pro- ceedS to stuff himself on corn
 ..I have one ma1lard duck, which was matched 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 hines,
 My friend, to see my pets return to me year after year for food and protection after they have evidently shied around and outwitted thousands of hunters who hid in ambush for them, and to see wild geese come home bleeding and with legs broken, makes me feel that my work is really worth wi1ile''