future existence of this splendid game bird demands that 

 it be provided soon with a permanent refuge area in which 

 it will have the tall grasses, fresh water, and protection 

 from shooting that it needs. 



The Everglade Kite and California Condor are endan- 

 gered by dwindling food supplies. The gentle and graceful 

 Kite lives in the fresh-water marshes of Florida and feeds 

 only on a fresh-water snail. As extensive marshes are 

 drained, the snail becomes increasingly scarce. Looking 

 much like a marsh hawk, this very rare bird is often shot 

 by hunters. The growing shortage in its food and needless 

 killings by hunters make the future of the harmless 

 Everglade Kite very dark. 



The once-common California Condor ranged from Lower 

 California to the Columbia River. Today not more than 60 

 birds remain. This remnant of a great race lives within 

 the Los Padres National Forest in California. Because of 

 modern ranching methods and the trend toward grain farm- 

 ing, carrion is no longer as abundant as in the days of the 

 old Spanish ranches. Ranging widely for food, the Condor 

 risks being shot or feeding on poisoned meat placed on the 

 ranges for coyotes and rodents. 



Encroachment of men on its living areas has greatly 

 endangered the Nene, an Hawaiian goose. At one time rather 

 common, the Nene regularly migrated from the sea coasts 

 to the uplands to nest in the kapukas or islands of low 

 vegetation on the open lava flows at the higher elevations. 

 The development of beach resorts, construction of military 

 roads through the uplands, and introduction of domestic 

 animals, particularly dogs and pigs, rats and the weasel- 

 like mongoose, have nearly destroyed the Nene. Probably 

 not more than 50 wild birds remain today. Fortunately, 

 the Nene can be raised in captivity. Some 150 birds live 

 on the Severn Wildfowl Trust in England and a couple of 

 smaller captive flocks are in Hawaii. Recognizing the 

 threat to the Nene, the Congress in 1958 instructed the 

 Department of the Interior to try to save this endangered 

 bird. Consequently, a program of research, breeding, and 

 protection of the Nene (which is the State Bird of Hawaii) 

 in its own habitat has been developed. This work is being 

 done in cooperation with the Board of Commissioners of 

 Agriculture and Forestry, the agency responsible for the 

 State of Hawaii's wildlife. 



NORTHWEST TiSRITORIES 



WOOD iUFFALO 

 NATIONAL PARK 



-^. MB. \ 



i ' ■ 







/ KAN. \ 



( / OKLA r 



/ 



'■^■--^f 



-T 



2,500-mile trip made 

 each year by Whooping 

 Cranes 



Nene living at the 

 Severn Wildfowl Trust 

 in England 



