Protection of Migrating Birds in England 



By W. W^. GRANT 



A NUMBER of European ornithologists have been endeavoring to devise 

 some scheme whereby the marked mortality of birds about lighthouses 

 could be reduced. 

 The loss of great numbers of (mostly) spring migrants has been deplored 

 for many years, and Herr J. P. Thijsse (Utrecht), one of the prime movers 

 in this humane project, was of the opinion that many of the deaths were due 

 to the birds becoming bewildered by the light, which would cause them to 



circle around the lighthouse until utterly 

 exhausted, and then be dashed to death 

 on the ground at the base of the light. 

 After many experiments and investi- 

 gations, he came to the conclusion that, 

 if suitable perches were suppHed for the 

 birds to rest on, many useful lives could 

 be saved, and the perches erected at the 

 great Brandaris Lighthouse of Terschell- 

 ing, in Holland, have resulted in the 

 saving of many thousands of birds. 



He was instrumental in inducing the 

 British Government to erect similar 

 perches on some of their lighthouses, 

 including St. Catherine's, on the Isle of 

 Wight, and the Caskets, in the English 

 Channel. 

 ^^ With a view to satisfying myself of 



^^ ^ri^^pBHBB^*^! ^^^ merit of such devices, I decided to 



spend a night at St. Catherine's light. 



On account of the destruction 

 wrought on much government property 

 by the militant suffragettes, the Elder Brethren, who have charge of all the 

 British lighthouses, found it necessary to issue strict orders to all lighthouse 

 keepers to prevent all visitors from trespassing on any lighthouse property, 

 without a written permit. 



I therefore made a trip to London and called on the head Elder, whose office 

 is at Trinity House, near the Bank of England. 



I explained my mission, and although he was most courteous, yet he said 

 I would have to make a written application and have it endorsed by a well- 

 known ornithologist. As I had no difficulty in fulfilling his requirements, the 

 permit arrived in a few days, and I spent the night of September 9, 1913, at 

 the top of St. Catherine's light. 



(294) 



tf r r 



ST 



CATHERINE'S LIGHTHOUSE, SHOW- 

 ING PERCHES FOR BIRDS 



Photographed by W. W. Grant 



