CHAPTER XIV 



GOVERNMENT RESERVES FOR THE PROTECTION OF 



BIRDS 



In addition to the national and provincial parks which 

 have been described in another chapter, there have been 

 reserved in different parts of Canada by the Dominion Gov- 

 ernment, alone or in co-operation with the provincial govern- 

 ments concerned, certain areas as reserves for the protection 

 of birds, particularly the migratory species of wild fowl and 

 shore-birds. 



Saskatchewan and Alberta. — The greatest number of these 

 are to be found in the provinces of Saskatchewan and Al- 

 berta. The reservation of these areas is of very great im- 

 portance on account of the inevitable destruction of the 

 former breeding and feeding places that has taken place, 

 owing to the agricultural development and settlement of the 

 western plains which formerly constituted the haunts of a 

 very large proportion of our migratory wild fowl and shore- 

 birds. Unless such reservations were made, there would 

 undoubtedly be a continued and marked decrease in the 

 numbers of these birds, which the international treaty for 

 the protection of migratory birds is intended to prevent. 

 Consequently, the policy of establishing and maintaining 

 such bird reserves or sanctuaries is an integral and important 

 part of the work involved in carrying out the intentions and 

 provisions of the treaty. 



The steps that have been taken by the Dominion Govern- 

 ment in the establishment of reserves for the protection of 

 birds in Western Canada up to the present time are as 

 follows: 



By Order in Council of the 8th of June, 1887, certain 

 islands and land adjoining the northern portion of Last 



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