294 Bird -Lore 



In April, the Society sent Mr. Ernest Harold Baynes on a lecture trip 

 to western Massachusetts and the Connecticut valley region, for two weeks, 

 to help our local secretaries by arousing interest and to secure members. 

 Over 800 members were gained, a little more than 500 being juniors. — Jessie 

 E. Kimball, Secretary. 



Michigan. — The Michigan Audubon Society has extended the work of 

 lectures and of prize competitions in the schools of the state during the past 

 year. The prizes given, in which the Audubon Society has participated either 

 as donor or judge, aggregated about $1,500. As a result, much greater 

 interest is shown in bird study in the schools, and more active work is 

 done in bird protection. To further stimulate efforts in this line, the Michi- 

 gan Society has joined with Wisconsin and Illinois in the publication of 'By 

 the Wayside.' 



Our Society has constantly advocated the abrogation of spring shooting, 

 and has taken advantage of every opportunity to bring that, and the advisa- 

 bility of requiring a resident hunters' license for Michigan, before organi- 

 zations that show an interest in the conservation of wild life. We have joined 

 with the Michigan Association for the Protection of Game in endorsing pro- 

 gressive legislation for game protection. 



One of the most important of these questions is the provision for a game 

 commission which will take the enforcement of our game laws out of politics 

 and, we hope, improve conditions generally. 



Mrs. Anna Walter, of Marcellus, has continued her writing and lecturing, 

 and in various ways has brought bird study and bird protection before the 

 people of the state. County game warden Charles Daniel has prosecuted 

 Audubon work with marked results. 



We have been endeavoring to have a petition circulated requesting the 

 legislature to forbid the sale of birds belonging to the same family as those 

 now protected in our state. The millinery trade is lined in opposition. The 

 present inadequate law makes it next to impossible to seize bird plumage in 

 the stores. 



During the past year, bird protection has been much more generally en- 

 dorsed by the press than heretofore. The national discussions regarding conser- 

 vation have had a marked effect for good in this state. It has reached that stage, 

 however, where active discussion is prevalent and interest is rapidly increas- 

 ing. The next step will either be action or reaction, and much depends on the 

 coming legislature. 



Financial assistance from the National Society has helped the Michigan 

 Audubon Society in emergencies, but many opportunities are lost because of 

 lack of funds to take advantage of opportunities. 



Our Society has investigated numerous claims of disco\-ery of the Wild 

 Pigeon in this state, all of which were without result. 



