The Bird Study BookPearson, T. Gilbert (Thomas Gilbert)
Science
The Bird Study Book
Pearson, T. Gilbert (Thomas Gilbert)
Birds; Birds -- Conservation
_Congressional Sanction._--In view of the fact that some persons
contended that the President had over-stepped his authority in making a
bird reservation, a law was drafted, and passed by Congress,
specifically {193} giving protection to birds on lands set apart as
National bird reservations. The legal difficulties thus removed, the
way lay open for the creation of other bird reservations, and the
Audubon Society seized the opportunity. Explorations were started to
locate other Government territories containing important colonies of
water birds. This work was quickly extended over many parts of the
United States. Hunters of eggs and plumes were busy plying their
trades wherever birds were known to assemble in great numbers, and the
work had to be hurried if the birds were to be saved.
[Illustration: The Downy Woodpecker is fond of suet]
Mr. Frank M. Miller, of New Orleans, reported a case in which five
thousand eggs had been broken on one Louisiana island inhabited by sea
birds in order that fresh eggs might subsequently be gathered into the
boats waiting at anchor off shore. No wonder that friends of water
birds were profoundly concerned about their future welfare, and hailed
with delight Mr. Roosevelt's quick action.
Mr. William Dutcher, President of the National {194} Association of
Audubon Societies, was so much pleased with the results achieved by the
Federal reservation work of 1905, that he declared in his annual report
that the existence of the Association was justified if it had done
nothing more than secure Federal bird reservations and had helped to
guard them during the breeding season.
That year President Roosevelt established four more bird refuges. One
of these, Stump Lake, in North Dakota, became an important nursery for
Gulls, Terns, Ducks, and Cormorants in summer, and a safe harbour for
wild fowl during the spring and fall migrations. Huron Island and
Siskiwit in Lake Superior, the homes of innumerable Herring Gulls, were
made perpetual bird sanctuaries, and Audubon wardens took up their
lonely watch to guard them against all comers.
_Florida Reservations._--At the mouth of Tampa Bay, Florida, is a
ninety-acre island, Passage Key. Here the wild bird life of the Gulf
Coast has swarmed in the mating season since white man first knew the
{195} country. Thousands of Herons of various species, as well as
Terns and shore birds, make this their home. Dainty little Ground
Doves flutter in and out among the cactus on the sheltered sides of the
sand dunes; Plovers and Sandpipers chase each other along the beaches,
and the Burrowing Owls here hide in their holes by night and roam over
the island by day.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account