Vol. XX 



1 Ditcher, Report of Committee on Bird Protection. lOQ 



United States, and coupled with the provision of the Alaska law, 

 gives practically uniform protection to non-game birds throughout 

 the region north of the United States and west of Hudson Bay, 

 with the single exception of British Columbia. 



During the coming legislative season it is proposed to make an 

 active effort to obtain the passage of the A. O. U. model law in 

 the following States : California, Georgia, Kansas, Michigan, 

 Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Ore- 

 gon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and 

 West Virginia. 



The accompanying map (PI. IV) shows how large a part of the 

 United States still requires legislative work. The Committee 

 urges upon the members of the Union and of the Audubon 

 Societies resident in the several States mentioned above to make 

 the passage of the A. O. U. model law ^ their personal interest. 

 A citizen of a State has a far greater influence in such matters 

 than an outsider, no matter how well intentioned and sincere his 

 efforts may be. Create a sentiment by speaking or writing to 

 your senator and representative and urge the merits of the bill 

 and the vital necessity for its passage. Get as many as possible 

 of your friends and neighbors to do the same, get the press and 

 clergy to take up the subject, and likewise the farmers' clubs. In 

 this manner the voice of the people will be heard from all parts of 

 the State and the intelligent legislator will carry out the wishes of 

 his constituents. 



The subject of bird protection long since passed the emotional 

 stage, and while there may still be connected with the growing 

 movement some pure sentiment, it cannot be considered any 

 longer sentimental, but is founded on cold facts. 



Careful investigation has proved that birds are of great economic 

 value, and to the end that this important asset of the State and 

 Nation may be preserved, the Audubon movement exists in this 

 country. 



While the Audubon Societies and the American Ornithologists' 

 Union are struggling to preserve the bird life of our own country, 

 is there not a broader view to take of bird protection ? Should 



1 The model law is given in full in the report for 1902 (Auk, XIX, p. 59). 



