The Audubon Societies 



319 



Mrs. Bath has also exhibited what 

 influence may be gained over wild water- 

 fowl by a quiet and habitual kindness that 

 displaces their suspicious fears. She has 

 tamed Grebes, Gulls, and certain wild 

 Ducks, so that they recognize her and do 

 not flee upon her approach. Coots hasten 

 to flock about her when she calls, and she 

 has taught some of them — wild birds — to 

 take food from her fingers. She has so 

 impressed the people of the town of 



held them up for the inspection of the 

 Pelicans, and they at once became very 

 much interested. By careful coaxing, they 

 came a little nearer each day. Finally I 

 coaxed them to eat from my hands, and 

 after days of patient working with them 

 I was delighted to have one of them fly 

 on the dock and stand and look at me. 

 Fortunately, I had a fish in my hands, 

 and I held it so the Pelican could see it. 

 He seemed determined to get that fish. 



MRS. BATH AND HER FRIENDLY PELICANS 



Klamath Falls with the propriety of safety 

 for wildfowl in the close season that last 

 year more than fifty wild Ducks were 

 hatched on the river-banks within the 

 limits of the city. This friendly public 

 influence was strongly tested when six 

 White Pelicans came to town, and seemed 

 inclined to settle there. Mrs. Bath relates 

 what followed: 



"I immediately cautioned everyone to 

 be extremely careful not to frighten them 

 in any way. They seemed to be full- 

 grown, and, as near as I could tell, were 

 probably early spring birds and parents, 

 as it was about the first of August when 

 they came. I got some live chubs and 



and followed after me the distance of a 

 block. I finally gave him the fish, and 

 stood perfectly still, and so gave him 

 plenty of time to walk to the edge of the 

 dock and get back into the water. I knew 

 then that he would come back. 



"He came every day about the same 

 time, and I always was there with a"^fish 

 for him. After ten days of patient working 

 with him, I was rewarded by having the 

 rest of the band come on the dock, and 

 now they follow me anywhere." 



We extend to Mrs. Bath hearty compli- 

 ments and congratulations upon the pluck 

 and the success with which she has man- 

 aged her diflScult role. 



