Page:Bird-lore Vol 04.djvu/159

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There are several plans now under consid- eration. some of which it is hoped trill be successful. We need all the literature hearing on our cause that any Society or person can send us.

SARAH L. Pc'rVul. Seminary.

Audubon Society of Missouri

Under the auspices of its president, Mr. Walter J, Blaker and Mr. August Reese. this Society has been con- rlucting a careful investigation of the true condition of allilual life in Missouri, at the same time Entieat’ol’ing to find the cause of the tower-idem The result is issued in n fotlrrpage circular containing both the questions pllt to various observers and tile hunters, boys who shoot, and the nuns

secretary,

decrease.

answers. —market and plume-

enforcemcnt of thc lalv. hearing the blame in this as in other states.

The followng quotations. conclusions and suggestions are pertinent and suggestive of the conditions existing. though unacknowl- edged in many other states, for even where satisfactory bird laws obtain their enforce» ment is too often regarded as fanaticism.

"Reports furn led us, unquestionably reliable and accurate, almost stagger human belief. it prol‘eslltat song and insectivorous birds decreased 62 per cent and game birds at the appalling rate of nearly 5o per cent within the past ﬁfteen years. Deer are practically exterminated, excepting in a felv inaccessible regions, Does any person doubt, unless swecping reforms are in» augtlrated at once. that a few years hence will not witness the total annihilation of our birds and game?

“Marin anti Plume-humeral. In study- ing these reports. we find it an indisputable fact that the market and plume-hunterstands preéminent and alone as the greatest factor in the destruction of our birds and game. He simplv reaps nature's products, slws whatever is of any commercial value to him in and out of season and does not consider the reproduction of the dihercnt species of any consequence and importance.

" Sprmmm. Numerous reports, from cer» tain districts of the state where game is still fairly numerous, denounce in forcible lan- guage the enormous slaughter of game and birds by wouldrbe sportsmen, simply because the opportunitl s to kill presented themselves. A true sportsman does not pride himself on the ninonntoi game killed.

Bird- Lore

but practices moderation and deplores wan- ton destruction and waste. He is a lover of nature‘s creations, a close observer of an ever-changing landscape: the giants of the forest. the murnnlring of a silvery stream, the camp meal at the mouth of some spark- ling spring are closely associated with and play an important role in his pleasures and recreations a-l’ield.

" BuJ'J II/lm Slzmll. The outcry against the ltavor‘ wrought by boys persecuting and kill- ing birds, especially in or nearcities, is very general and bitter. Probably no other agency of destruction has contributed so largely to the absence of birds so necessary to the anima n of suburban landscape. With the opening of spring. heralded by the arrival of our feathered friends who have come to greet us with their cheerful songs and twitter, an army of boys will be found with bean-shooters or riﬂes eager to kill whatever birds may be in sight. Relentlessly are they persecuted. until it appears as if all birds had vanished from the face of the eurlh. Thickets and meadows are searched fol' the homes of the nesting birds and eggs collected and destroyed. ‘ Not that theyare willfully wicked or cruel. but because they are thoughtless. and have not been properly taught or trained.’

ll Eirg/ir/l Sparrrnor. The English Spar- rows have increased remarkablyr Accord- ing to reports. they are the arch enemies of those birds most useful to agriculture. They wage an incessant war against all birds that are inclined to make their homes with us. Various methods have been employed to check and diminish their numbers, but un~ successfullyr Recently, farmers in adjoining townships in Ohio inaugurated a side hunt. with the result that over three tons of Spar- rows were killed, It seems that this method may be adopted elsewhere. with beneﬁcial results.

" lVonvcrt/arremznl of 1/12 Gama Loews. Great indignation is expressed at the non- enforcement of existing game laws. It is reported that they are violated openly and with impunity. and prosecutions have been made only in a few cases. This has been the indirect cause of greatly reducing the inhabitants of our forests and ﬁelds. Furthermore, existing game laws are very unsatisfactory to a majority of the sportsmen and persons harlng the welfare of our birds and game at heart. and they express their desire that the next Legislature will exercise due diligence in enacting more compre- hensive and effective, yet liberal bird, and game laws. It is a recognized fact through- out the country that the fundamental principle of all bird» and game-protection is effective bird and game laws and their enforcement.