^°l'^^n l^LTCHER, Report of Committee on Bird Protection. I 27 



The nests of the Noddies possibly could be counted, being built upon 

 the baj cedar bushes, but to accurately count those of the Sooties, on the 

 sand under this thicket, would be next to impossible. 



The opportunities for bird-photography upon Bird Key are simply 

 amazing. The Noddies are perfectly fearless, and the Sooty Terns, 

 though more nervous, are yet very tame indeed. I could focus, even upon 

 the latter, on their nests, at a distance of only three or four feet. 



As the warden will be able to make a more complete report, I will not 

 attempt to describe the habits of the birds. 



Upon my return, stopping at Key West, I called upon Commandant 

 Bicknell, in command of the Naval Station. He was very kind, express- 

 ing sympathy and great interest in the work of bird protection, regret- 

 ting that many of the people of Florida seem "determined to make of 

 their beautiful State a lifeless, treeless desert as fast as they possibly can," 

 and promised to do all in his power to prevent this sad issue. 



I also made a tour through the Key West markets, and found one stand, 

 kept by a negro, where eggs of the Sooty Tern, locally called "Egg Bird," 

 were on sale, at 15 cents a dozen. The man had only a few dozen on 

 hand, and said they were brought from the Bahamas. 



During my short stay on Bird Key warden Burton stopped several 

 parties of marines from the fort in attempts to gather eggs, and was 

 doing his work faithfully and intelligently, entering into the spirit of it. 



Bird lovers will profoundly sympathize with him in the tragic death of 

 his little son upon the lovely key, sacrificed in the cause of bird protection. 

 Respectfully submitted, 



Herbert K. Job. 



Our warden in Monroe Comity, Mr. G. M. Bradley, has been 

 continuously employed since the last report, during which time 

 he has cruised hundreds of miles along the coast and among the 

 keys where thousands of birds still breed. He has also patrolled 

 on foot the swamps where boats could not penetrate. On one 

 occasion he just escaped being bitten by a large cotton-mouth 

 moccasin snake. He has every part of the territory under his 

 care posted with warning notices and has watched and warned 

 many boat loads of cruising tourists and hunters. Many visits 

 have been made to the city and island of Key West, which is in 

 Monroe County, although it is over 70 miles from his home- 

 His excursions have extended as far north as Chokoloskee on the 

 border of Lee County, 60 miles away, and eastward his patrol has 

 extended to Key Largo. There is no doubt that it is well known 

 in all that district that a deputy sheriff is continually on the look- 

 out for game and bird law violations and the moral effect is excel- 



