400 GENERAL ZOOLOGY 



The greatest single act for the protection of our bird life 

 was a treaty entered into by the Canadian government and 

 the United States in 1916. By the terms of this treaty game 

 birds may not be killed in the spring, which is the breeding 

 season, and the sale of migratory birds is prohibited every- 

 where in the United States and Canada. This treaty recog- 

 nizes the fact that migratory birds are not the property of 

 the state where they happen to reside for a few months of 

 the year, and places their protection in the hands of the 

 federal government. Before this treaty became effective 

 water fowl were on the verge of extermination in many parts 

 of the country. Since 1916 there are strong evidences of 

 increasing numbers. 



Our national parks and forests in addition to furnishing 

 a playground for citizens of this country are under an ad- 

 ministration which furnishes protection not only to game 

 animals but to many kinds of birds as well. In addition to 

 the federal government, the various states and numerous 

 private organizations have set apart regions where birds are 

 given complete protection. These sanctuaries, or refuges, as 

 they are called, now number close to one hundred and are 

 scattered over the entire country. Some of them are small, 

 but a few acres in extent, while others cover several thou- 

 sands of acres. In many of the larger sanctuaries wardens 

 are constantly on guard to protect the birds from depre- 

 dations of wild animals and their even greater enemy, man. 

 In some of the private sanctuaries remarkable work has 

 been done. Jack Miner on his Canadian estate feeds thou- 

 sands of ducks and geese, which he claims are not wild 

 except as we make them so. 



Increased interest in our wild life has led to the planting by 

 many persons of fruit-bearing trees and shrubbery to attract 

 the birds. In the winter many find pleasure in keeping feeding 

 stations provided with food to attract the winter residents. 



