68 Re-port of Committee on Bird Protection. [ ^f^ 



REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE PROTEC- 

 TION OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS FOR 

 THE YEAR 1900. 



The past year has been perhaps the most notable one in the 

 annals of bird protection since the present Committee was estab- 

 lished. 



As was the case last j-ear, I propose in this report to consider 

 only the work that has come immediately before the Committee. 

 I must, however, congratulate the Audubon Societies on the 

 excellent work they are accomplishing, without which the more 

 serious undertakings of this Committee could not have been car- 

 ried through. The societies now exist in no less than twenty-two 

 States of the Union, and so widely has their influence been ex- 

 tended that we rarely find persons to-day who have not heard of 

 the movement for bird protection, and every proposed act of 

 legislation now finds the way paved for its progress and willing 

 hands extended everywdiere to aid it. 



The strengthening of these existing Audubon Societies and the 

 establishment of additional organizations of this kind in our re- 

 maining States, especially in the South, cannot be too strongly 

 encouraged. The part played by ' Bird-Lore,' and its editor, Mr. 

 Frank M. Chapman, in furthering the work of the Audubon Soci- 

 eties and in maintaining a bond of union between them cannot be 

 too strongly commended. Besides new Audubon Societies in the 

 States of Delaware, Maryland, South Carolina, Florida and Ken- 

 tucky, four established during the year, the Committee has also 

 been informed of the organization at Buffalo, N. Y., of a similar 

 society, ' The Bird Protective Society of America. Referring 

 those interested in the work of the Audubon Societies to ' Bird- 

 Lore,' where their reports appear, we will now consider the work 

 of your Committee during the past year. 



The close of the year 1899 marked a great increase in the de- 

 mand for gulls, terns and other sea birds for millinery purposes, 

 and information reached your chairman of efforts made by milli- 

 nery agents at various points along our coasts to encourage collect- 

 ing for the millinery trade. In one case postal cards offering a 



