Saving of a Pond, and Resulting Bird List 179 



its way, and houses on the other two sides. Only two blocks 

 from the Illinois Central depot and Main Street, this little 

 spot of not more than three acres was, it seemed, a favorite 

 stopping point of all migrating- birds. The varied conditions 

 of the land about it gave to it a variety of bird life which I 

 doubt is equalled by any place in the county of equal area. 



So a letter was written to Mr. Smith telling him about the 

 use the birds made of the place, and asking that he should 

 stop the cutting of the trees at once, and give his permission 

 to allow those members of the Naturalist Club, who would, 

 help improve the general appearnce of the spot and make it 

 a Bird Sanctuary. His reply was very favorable. He hadn't 

 realized that it had any value as it was and merely thought 

 that he would have it cleaned up. But with the letter from 



Mrs. he changed his mind. Orders were given at 



once for the chopping to be stopped, and permission was 

 readily granted for cleaning up the place and making it a 

 Bird Sanctuary. In time, it was thought that the City Im- 

 provement might be able to buy the place, and then it would 

 always remain a place of natural beauty, and a valuable asset 

 to the bird student. At present all that was done was to 

 place the project before the Calif or Naturalist Club and to 

 create an interest in the spot among all who were interested 

 in birds. 



For a number of meetings the Junior Nature Study Club of 

 the city met at the Pond, and spent their time in hauling cans, 

 old stoves, etc., out of the Pond, and taking them all to one 

 place, where they would be covered with ashes. It would not 

 take long, then, for the plants to cover the ashes, and stopping 

 further dumping of rubbish in the Pond was attended to. A 

 sign was at once ordered, which would be hung by chains 

 from some of the willows which faced the railroad track 

 near-by, so that all strangers coming into the city would be 

 greeted by this sign, showing the enthusiasm of Charles City, 

 Iowa, over bird-life. As yet the sign has not been hung, and 

 there is a great deal to do, but we have hopes that the day will 

 come when the Pond, with its immediate surroundings, may 



