1^2 DuTCHER, Report of Committee on Bird Protection. I Jan. 



Warden work. — No wardens were employed by the Thayer 

 Fund. 



Audubon work. — The Society seems to have become moribund. 

 This is to be regretted, as the necessity for active protection and 

 educational work was never greater than at the present time, nor 

 was there ever a period in the history of bird protection when so 

 many people are ready to take an interest, if the matter is prop- 

 erly presented to them. The National Committee is small in 

 numbers and has so large a field to cover that it necessarily 

 depends upon local effort to accomplish local good. 



Michigan. — Legislation. — As proposed in the last annual 

 report, an effort was made to amend very slightly Section 14, 

 Public Acts of 1 90 1. The amendment passed the House but was 

 not successful in the Senate, therefore the non-game bird law is 

 unchanged. The next session of the legislature will be in 1905. 



Wardefi work. — One warden was employed to guard a very 

 large colony of Herring Gulls, which occupy a rocky island in the 

 northwestern part of Lake Superior, just south of the International 

 Boundary. These birds had an uninterrupted breeding season 

 and consequently a normal increase. 



It was discovered that a taxidermist of Detroit was preparing 

 for millinery use gulls and terns contrary to law. The matter 

 was brought to the attention of the proper authorities, and they 

 interviewed the party, who did not deny the fact, but promised not 

 to offend any longer. 



Audubon work. — During the present year the Michigan Orni- 

 thological Club was reorganized. One of its objects is the study 

 and protection of birds. It publishes a quarterly journal devoted 

 to birds and is thus doing a valuable educational work. 



Minnesota. — Legislation. — During the session of 1903 the 

 A. O. U. model law was adopted. The next session of the legis- 

 lature will be held in 1905. 



Warden systetn. — No wardens were employed by the Thayer 

 Fund. 



Audubon work. — The Secretary reports : " During the year 

 several articles on care and protection of birds have been pub- 

 lished in our papers, upon request of the Society. 



" A society has been organized by Mrs. Mary E. Lewis at 

 Grand Rapids, Minn. 



