EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT 



Edited by T. GILBERT PEARSON. Secretary 



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

 the National Association of Audubon Societies, 1974 Broadway, New York City 



President Dutcher 



While we are unable to delect any very 

 marked improvement in the physical 

 condition of President William Dutcher, 

 it is much comfort to know that he is 

 surely growing stronger. It is, at this 

 time, his custom to be dressed and to sit 

 up a portion of each day. Many of his 

 friends have written him from lime to 

 time, and he is now able to read and 

 enjoy such communications. Anj- one 

 who may desire to write him may have 

 their letters reach him directly bj- address- 

 ing them to No. qqo Central Avenue, 

 Plainfield, N. J.— T. Gii.bkrt T^.^rsox. 



A Gift of Five Thousand Dollars 



The Association has recently recei\ed 

 a contribution of $5,000 to be used during 

 the year 191 2 in pushing the educational 

 feature of our work among the children 

 of the country. 



The very encouraging results which 

 have been achieved along these lines in the 

 southern states for the past two years, as 

 a result of contributions of Mrs. Russell 

 Sage, have lead a friend of the birds to make 

 it possible for the Association to work in a 

 similar way in other sections of the United 

 States. 



In a letter which accompanied the con- 

 tribution, we learn that the donor "is 

 deeplj' interested in the work of wild-life 

 protection, and believes that the National 

 Association of Audubon Societies is doing 

 more good work for this cause than any 

 other organization." 



We regret not being able to publish the 

 name of this public-spirited member, who, 

 through modesty, has absolutely refused 

 to give us this pleasure. Full details 

 regarding the proposed expenditure of 



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this fund have not been completed as we 

 go to press. We expect to have good 

 reports to make, from time to time, of 

 this new extension in our educational 

 endca\-or. — T. G. P. 



Night Heron Colonies 



The Association lias recentl\' under- 

 taken to obtain information regarding the 

 breeding of the Black-crowned Night 

 Heron within 200 miles of New York City. 

 To date, the following facts have devel- 

 oped: 



A colony of these birds has existed for 

 many years near Roslyn, Long Island. 

 Mr. Frank M. Chapman visited the place 

 in 1899, and at that time estimated the 

 number of nests at 525. In 1907, Mr. 

 Francis Harper thought there were from 

 250 to 300 pairs. Mr. P. B. Philipp visited 

 the place the following year, and reported 

 only 200 nests. In 1910, the colony had 

 shrunk to about twenty-five birds. The 

 swamp in which the birds nested has been 

 reduced in size since that time, by the 

 dying of trees (thus making them unavail- 

 able as nesting-sites for the Herons), by 

 the cutting of timber, and by the con- 

 struction of a road. The swamp has now 

 virtually been converted into a private 

 park. 



Mr. Clinton G. Abbott reports a colony 

 at Bordentown, New Jersey, which he 

 visited yearly from 1899 to 1907. In its 

 most populous condition, he states that 

 there were 150 or more nests. The 

 farmer on whose land this colony was 

 situated was well disposed towards the 

 birds and, while obliged to cut some wood, 

 took only trees from the border of the 

 swamp and, as far as possible, avoided 

 disturbing the birds. He also threatened 

 to shoot any one whom he found attempt - 



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