CHAPTER XIV 
GOVERNMENT RESERVES FOR THE PROTECTION OF 
BIRDS 
In addition to the national and provincial parks which 
have been described in another chapter, there have been 
reserved in different parts of Canada by the Dominion Gov- 
ernment, alone or in co-operation with the provincial govern- 
ments concerned, certain areas as reserves for the protection 
of birds, particularly the migratory species of wild fowl and 
shore-birds. 
Saskatchewan and Alberta.—The greatest number of these 
are to be found in the provinces of Saskatchewan and Al- 
berta. The reservation of these areas is of very great im- 
portance on account of the inevitable destruction of the 
former breeding and feeding places that has taken place, 
owing to the agricultural development and settlement of the 
western plains which formerly constituted the haunts of a 
very large proportion of our migratory wild fowl and shore- 
birds. Unless such reservations were made, there would 
undoubtedly be a continued and marked decrease in the 
numbers of these birds, which the international treaty for 
the protection of migratory birds is intended to prevent. 
Consequently, the policy of establishing and maintaining 
such bird reserves or sanctuaries is an integral and important 
part of the work involved in carrying out the intentions and 
provisions of the treaty. 
The steps that have been taken by the Dominion Govern- 
ment in the establishment of reserves for the protection of 
birds in Western Canada up to the present time are as 
follows: 
By Order in Council of the 8th of June, 1887, certain 
islands and land adjoining the northern portion of Last 
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