200 PROPAGATION OF WILD BIRDS 



the Union. The wildfowl should also be protected on their 

 breeding-grounds, wherever these are located. Some breed 

 in the United States, but most of them in the northwest prov- 

 inces of Canada, and it is ardently to be hoped that through 

 treaties with our neighbours, both on the north and south, a 

 comprehensive continental protection and conservation of 

 this important and valuable asset may be made possible. 



Water-bird Breeding Colonies. This splendid movement 

 dates its beginning from the activities of the National Associ- 

 ation of Audubon Societies in protecting the breeding colonies 

 of water-birds, pelicans, gulls, terns, herons, and others, first 

 along the Atlantic Coast, and then more widely. The good 

 work was taken up by the Government, and then protected 

 colonies were made Government reservations, until now there 

 are nearly sixty of such areas under Federal protection at the 

 most strategic points, scattered widely over the country. 

 Since Government appropriations are often lacking to hire 

 wardens and secure boats for patrol, the National Associ- 

 ation of Audubon Societies still furnishes wardens and 

 boats for the service of the Government. Various rookeries 

 of egrets and other water-birds which are not Government 

 reservations are guarded by the National Association and 

 have been saved from devastation. Thousands of individ- 

 uals all over the country are now protecting birds on their 

 own land. The nation is at last becoming awakened to the 

 value and importance of wild-bird life and the need for its 

 conservation, though there is yet much more to be ac- 

 complished. 



