14 THE PROTECTION OF WILD BIRDS IN ESSEX. 



G. ' The flood has destroyed the Wild Ducks' breeding ground, but with 



other birds it has made no difference ; last season was very fair 

 with other shore birds.' 

 H. ' Ducks and Coots plentiful at first There have been more of some 



sorts that frequent this part. I can speak from being an eye- 

 witness to seeing hundreds of young birds— Ducks and Coots- 

 hatch where I was, and having no fresh water, they all perished ; 

 for aftf-r about one week there wasn't a young one to be seen, only 

 dead ones, and as June came the old birds left, all but now and then 

 one took their departure, and there are but few returned at present.' 

 I. ' The shore birds did well last season, and there seems an increase of 



the same, but a decrease in Wild Fowl this season, owing largely, 

 I believe, to the very high tides which prevailed all the summer, 

 damaging the nests.' 

 K. ' There was a fair quantity of shore birds last season. There has 



been a great decrease in Wild Fowl, through and owing to the 

 great floods of last season. There are hundreds of Wild Fowl eggs 

 destroyed by laying on the saltings. If they were disturbed when 

 building their nests, they would go and build on the fresh marshes. 

 As there are a lot of saltings in my district, that would be the 

 means of preserving them.' 

 L. ' I think the shore birds had a fair breeding time last year, and that 



there is an increase in all the small class. Wild Ducks are not 

 nearh' as plentiful as usual, but this is, I think, owing to the flood- 

 ing of their breeding grounds by the sea breaking over last 

 November year.' 

 " .-Vnother correspondent reports: — 'A much larger number of Ring 

 Plover ; you can see them at any time ; a year or two ago you could hardly 

 see one. The island that Mr. Bu.xton and yourself went to look at has all 

 gone to sea, and the birds have taken up their abode there, any amount of 

 them, and all kinds, so it looks like the birds making their home there ' He 

 also reports the breeding of Sheldrake and Oyster-catchers ; and says that 

 there has been a great increase in the number of Dab-chick." 



" It seems probable that the young duck died in the flooded grounds 

 rather from want of food than from want of fresh water. Any observations 

 on this point would be of interest. " 



Mr. Russell reports that i6 persons were prosecuted under 

 the Wild-bird Acts in Essex in 1898, and all but one were con- 

 victed. He also says that several suggestions have been made 

 to him, and quotes the following as worthy of consideration by 

 the County Council and the Home Secretary for adoption in 

 Essex : — 



"I. That a list of birds should be drawn up to be protected all the year 

 round throughout the county.' Such a list would necessarily be 

 confined to those which are both harmless and easily distinguished. 

 It might include the Kingfisher, Woodpecker, Nut-hatch, the 

 Swallow tribe. Goldfinch, Barn Owl, &c. 

 I As above-mentioned, wo would reconiinciid that a list should be published of those 

 birds not protected.— Ed. 



