First Annual Report of The New Jersey 



Audubon Society 



The New Jersey Audubon Society was incorporated December 15, 

 E910, and the initial meeting of the Board of Trustees was held at Newark, 

 December 29, 1910. The Audubon Society of the State of New Jersey, 

 which had previously occupied the field, dissolved December 27, 1910, and 

 the Secretary-Treasurer of that organization turned over to the new one the 

 funds and property of her organization at the Trustees' meeting. 



The New Jersey Audubon Society immediately inaugurated a campaign 

 for increased membership, and soon after introduced in the Legislature an 

 amendment to the plumage clause of the non-game-bird law of New Jersey. 

 Much misunderstanding of, and opposition to, this measure had to be over- 

 come; but it was passed in the Assembly, March 15, 191 1, and by a unani- 

 mous vote in the Senate, April 10, notwithstanding the fact that a similar 

 bill could get but four votes a year before. The bill was signed by Governor 

 Wilson, April 17, and became effective August i. To secure this victory, the 

 members of the Society and the friends of bird protection were circularized 

 several times, as were also the members of the Legislature. Hundreds of 

 letters were written by members and friends to their constituents, the cooper- 

 ation of women's clubs was enlisted, and the Secretary made two trips to 

 the state capitol, and spent several days there working for the passage of the 

 bill. As a result of this legislation, New Jersey now ranks with New York 

 in having one of the strongest laws for the protection of non-game birds ever 

 enacted. 



When this law went into effect, the press of the state and country was 

 immediately flooded with misstatements regarding its effect. Corrections 

 of these reports were at once sent out by the Secretary. 



The campaign for membership has been pushed as actively as possible. 

 A number of members have been very active in this work. At the initial meet- 

 ing of the Board of Trustees, two patrons and two life members were secured. 

 The membership now stands as follows: patrons, 2; life members, 4; sus- 

 taining members, 35; members, 164; associate members, 91; junior mem- 

 bers, 773; total, 1,076. While there is reason to feel some pride and satis- 

 faction in this number of members secured in less than a year, yet the coming 

 year should see a much greater gain. 



Following the recent killing of birds in Montclair, the Society, through the 



