Cbe ^utiubon Societies 



EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT 



Edited by WILLIAM DUTCHER 



Address all correspondence, and send all remittances for dues and contributions to 

 the National Association of Audubon Societies, 141 Broadway, New York City 



Three Belated State Reports for 1909 



Missouri. — Missouri has accomplished 

 much in the past year. The last session of 

 the Legislature enacted a complete new- 

 law which was drafted by the Audubon 

 Society, and was approved by Dr. T. S. 

 Palmer and the National Association be- 

 fore being introduced. The adverse 

 interests made a bitter fight against the 

 bill, and it was passed wholly through the 

 efforts of the State Audubon Society. 



This new law contains the latest form of 

 the 'Model Law.' It provides an annual 

 income from licenses, etc.; appropriates 

 $200,000 for the use of the wirden system 

 for the ensuing two years, and creates a 

 state game and fish commission with depu- 

 ties in each congressional district. We 

 now have the support of the eiitire press 

 of the state, and practically all agricul- 

 tural, sportsmen's and scientific societies. 

 Missouri is once more in the front rank 

 in the protection of her wild life. — H. R. 

 W.M.MSI.EV, Pre side III. 



North D.-\kot.\. — .\lthough the work 

 of the N(jrth Dakota .\udul)on Society has 

 not progressed so rapidly as enthusiasts 

 might desire, the advance has been sufli- 

 ciently marked to admit of no discourage- 

 ment. As a stimulus to greater activity, 

 the society brings to the state, each year, 

 prominent lecturers from various parts of 

 the country. The last lecture was given 

 in Mav. 



.\ctive branches have been established 

 at Minot, Fargo and \'alley City. Re- 

 peated requests from various sources as to 

 the formation of societies proclaim a grow- 

 ing interest throughout the state. Work 

 with the school children is accomplished 

 throusjh the teachers. The societv offers 



Audubon buttons in the usual manner 

 to children who pledge themselves to the 

 protection of birds and nests. Bird-study 

 clubs are encouraged and leaders provided. 

 The society owns a fine collection of bird 

 plates, which are in demand by schools and 

 clubs. The coming year has been marked 

 for an energetic campaign among the 

 schools, and the hopes of the society are 

 high. 



At the last session of the legislature, two 

 laws of interest to the Audubon Society 

 were passed; the one creating a state Game 

 and Fish Board of Control, changing the 

 open seasons, adopting the 'Model Law' 

 for the protection of non-game birds, pro- 

 hibiting spring shooting, protecting shore 

 birds, prohibiting the use of silencers. — 

 Mrs. G. F. Ruedioer, Secretary. 



South D.\kot.a. — The work of our 

 Society during the last year has been lim- 

 ited by lack of resources. We have, how- 

 ever, now paid our debts, and are in a posi- 

 tion to do more active work another year. 

 We have not been idle, however, this year, 

 having done a great deal of missionary 

 work by the distribution of circulars and 

 the promotion of public meetings. The 

 laws passed by our legislature one year ago 

 for the protection of birds have been very 

 well enforced, and there has been a notice- 

 able improvement in the sentiment through 

 the state regarding the protection of both 

 song and game birds. — Ch.arles E. 

 Holmes, President. 



New Legislation 



Fedek.al. — There are now before legis- 

 lators two especially important bills; one 

 is national in its character, and the second 

 refers onlv to llie state of New York. 



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