200 DuTCHER, Report of Co7n>nitfee on Bird Protection. ft"'' 



was on the ground to lead the fight against them. The leaven is 

 working, however, and I should not be surprised if we were strong 

 enough to abolish spring shooting of water fowl in two years more. 

 At any rate we will try it with better hopes of success than we had 

 this year. 



"Although no new Audubon societies were organized in Wyo- 

 ming in 1903, public sentiment favoring bird protection has 

 increased throughout the State. 



"The effect of protection upon the wild birds could not be more 

 pronounced than in Cheyenne, except in a locality where birds,, 

 under similar conditions, were more abundant. During the breed- 

 ing season a number of the common forms are gradually assuming 

 the aspect of indifference to man which is characteristic of the 

 common fowl and pigeon, fearlessly occupying boxes and coigns of 

 advantage about out-buildings, porches, etc., or nesting in the 

 trees and vines of the dooryard. Foraging about the lawns in the 

 immediate presence of the children of the household, is a daily 

 occupation of the Robins. It has been surprising to observe how 

 soon these common favorites respond to the laissezfaire treatment 

 and show their confidence in immunity from molestation. The 

 fearlessness, one might almost say domesticity, of the Robins in 

 Cheyenne is a matter of common knowledge among the people 

 who are becoming pardonably proud of an uncommon condition, 

 and jealously defend the law and doctrine which makes it 

 possible. 



" The Wyoming Society offers no suggestion for future work of 

 the National Committee. Our population is sparse, and scattered 

 over an area of about 98,000 square miles, and we are not in 

 financial condition to offer aid to National work, although greatly 

 interested in it. No doubt that a wide circulation of the educa- 

 tional leaflets would greatly assist us in the formation of new 

 societies, but we are not now able to afford them in any considera- 

 ble quantities. 



"I hope the time will come when the annual report of the 

 National Committee on bird protection can be published in quan- 

 tity and given wide circulation through the Audubon Societies. It 

 would materially encourage and aid bird protectionists every- 

 where." 



