M o nthly B ulletin 11 



Mr. Ernest Harold Baynes gave his lecture "Birds in the Nesting Season" 

 illustrated with many very beautiful stereopticon slides. Mr. Baynes is an 

 old favorite with Massachusetts Audubon Society audiences and he fully 

 lived up to his reputation. 



THE HEATH HEN 



The fire which about a year ago swept across the Heath Hen Reservation 

 at Marthas Vineyard proved more disastrous to this remnant of a once noble 

 gamebird than was at first supposed. It is probably true as at first stated 

 that the fire killed but few adult birds, but it almost completely destroyed 

 their cover and feeding grounds, leaving them through the winter with but 

 little shelter from the inclement weather and from their worst enemies. 

 Goshawks rarely seen in any number on the island seem to have received 

 uncanny knowledge of an opportunity for easy prey and to have flocked 

 thither. Mr. Day, the able warden in charge, shot a number of them during 

 the winter and their presence is no doubt responsible for a considerable loss 

 among the birds. Other causes seem to have worked in the same way and 

 whereas a year ago it was confidently stated that there, were a thousand or 

 more of the birds on the island it is now feared that hardly a hundred remain. 

 That puts conditions back where they were when the attempt to reestablish 

 them was begun some years ago. While this is discouraging it does not spell 

 ultimate disaster, but something must be done to give the birds a surer and 

 more adequate protection. 



