Report of the Secretary 



403 



Malheur Lake, the largest breeding-place of wildfowl in the United States, 

 will probably pass into oblivion in a short time. 



With these deplorable exceptions, the colony bird-life of the country, in 

 so far as has come under the influence of the Association, has enjoyed a pros- 

 perous year. 



SECTION OF BUZZARD ISLAND HERON COLONY, NEAR CHARLESTOWN, S. C 

 WHITE PATCHES ARE YOUNG LITTLE BLUE HERONS 

 PhotoRraphed by T. Gilbert Pearson 



THE 



Reports of disasters through storms have been less numerous this year 

 than usual. The Gulls, Terns, Eider Ducks, and Black Guillemots on the great 

 breeding islands off the coast of Maine have been especially successful. On 

 July I past, the Secretary, in company with Arthur H. Norton, visited Bluff 

 Island and Stratton Island, where we estimated 15,000 Terns were assembled at 

 the time. One pleasing feature was to discover that in addition to the great 

 numbers of Common Terns and Arctic Terns, small groups of Roseate Terns 

 were breeding on these islands. The Gull colonies in Moosehead Lake, Maine, 

 have shown an increase, and those of the Great Lakes appear to have done 

 equally well. Mr. Forbush, who carefully inspected the sea-bird colonies of 

 the Massachusetts coast during July, reported them to be in splendid condition. 



The usual numl)cr of wardens were on duty [)rotecting colonies of Egrets, 

 Herons, and Ibises in Florida. The birds (here seem to have had an average 

 year. No killing was ri'ported from any of the guarded areas. 



On June 12 of this year, the Secretary visited three colonics on the South 

 Carolina coast. Two of these appeared to have been deserted the jiresenl season 

 after tlu- birds had built maii\' nests. No reason could be ascribed. R. I'". Grim- 

 ball, in charge of the Hu/,/ards' Island rookery, owned i)v the .Xatioiial .Associa- 

 tion, stated that his birds evidently left and went several miles to the eastward 



