250 PUBLIC PARKS OF IOWA 



in literature there is much refinement of learning but little genuine 

 faith or reverence. 



We have gone far away from things elemental, from things primitive 

 that are deeply associated with and inseparable from healthy, normal, 

 vigorous life. We need to get back to the things we have lost and cer- 

 tainly a good beginning would 'be to assist in the effort to get congress 

 to appropriate money to enforce the federai migratory bird law and get 

 so far as (possible the song birds and waterfowl that have been slaught- 

 ered so ruthlessly for half a century. 



This, then, is an earnest appeal to everyone to write to the Iowa sen- 

 ators to support the effort to raise $100,000 for the purpose of enforcing 

 the federal law. 



And for fear of appearing two-faced the writer of this article must de- 

 clare that ever since he has been able to carry a gun he has hunted 

 ducks and geese and other game birds, and that he has sat by the hour 

 in a howling northwest wind near the edge of some prairie pond in the 

 hope of getting one or two shots at ducks that might chance to come 

 his way. He must say further that there is no sport or pastime that 

 rests nearer his heart than duck shooting, but in spite of it all he will 

 gladly put up his gun during the spring season to the end that the 

 birds may be restored to something like their former numbers and that 

 his children's children may see the sandhill crane in the sunset glow 

 and hear the ducks and geese passing northward in the night. 



Let us all respond to Mr. Hornaday's appeal. Iowa Forestry and 

 Conservation Association. Report 1914-15, pp. 25-30. 



IOWA'S WATERFOWL, SHORE AND MARSH BIRDS. 

 By J. A. Spurrell. 



In the days before the settlement by white people Iowa abounded in 

 wild ducks, geese, swans, and all marsh and shore birds native to this 

 section. Many of these birds tored abundantly in the state, especially 

 in 'the northern part. This condition continued until about forty years 

 ago when a rapid decrease began. 



At the present day, but few ducks and no wild geese and swans breed 

 in the state, while most of the shore and marsh birds must go to the 

 far north to breed. Furthermore, if the present craze for the drainage 

 of all swamps and marshy lakes which can be drained, continues, it will 

 be only a short period until no wild ducks can breed in the state. All 

 their resorts will be drained. Ducks cannot breed on the open lakes, so 

 much sought by human beings on hot summer days. The ducks require 

 a tangle of reeds, and marshes plants of our swamps and swampy lakes, 

 to furnish shelter for their nests, also to furnish food and protection for 

 their young. 



When Iowa has drained all her marshy lakes and swamps, she will 

 be in the position where she raises no ducks, protects no ducks (under 

 the present state law the ducks will migrate north receive no protection 

 because they are out of the state during close season) and yet Iowa 

 takes large toll from both the northbound and southbound flocks. 



