4o6 Bird -Lore 



numbers, bird-protection nevertheless concerns itself chiefly with the living 

 bird and its welfare. 



The Audubon Society, when first founded by Dr. George Bird Grinnell, in 

 the year 1886, raised this standard, and beneath its banner hundreds of organ- 

 ized groups of bird-students and tens of thousands of individuals have since 

 enlisted. When the Association was incorporated under the leadership of 

 William Dutcher, in January, 1905, the same ideals were put even stronger to 

 the fore. Bird-protection is today a popular subject in our country. Within a 

 very few years past several of the State Game Commissions of the country have 

 given attention to the problem of non-game bird-protection to an extent 

 hitherto unknown. Many game-protective organizations now find it desirable 

 to include the cause of the small birds in their efforts, which hereto have been 

 confined entirely to such species as were shot for sport. 



One striking evidence is the interest that commercially inclined persons are 

 now showing. Certain real-estate promoters have of late deemed it wise to 

 erect bird-boxes on their vacant lots where home-seekers are sought, and to 

 advertise the fact that active measures are taken to attract birds. Certain 

 commercial schemes have even encroached on the use of the name of this 

 Association to further their ends. 



AFFILIATED SOCIETIES AND BIRD CLUBS 



The activities of the Audubon Societies and bird clubs affiliated by member- 

 ship with the National Association throughout the United States are constantly 

 growing in importance. They are of the greatest value in arousing local 

 interest to a better appreciation of the value and joy of birds to mankind. We 

 keep in touch with all these organizations and their work, and with increasing 

 frequency the Association and the affiliated branches are able to cooperate 

 to mutual advantage. Something of the wide range of activities of these 

 various institutions will be found in the reports which many of them have 

 submitted, and which are published with this report. It will be seen that they 

 have held public bird-exhibitions, given various entertainments, established 

 bird-sanctuaries, fed birds in winter, built and erected multitudes of bird- 

 boxes, organized scores of Junior Audubon Classes, posted notices of bird and 

 game laws, arranged lecture-courses, circulated libraries of bird-books, con- 

 ducted bird-walks, worked for state and national legislation, and carried 

 forward many other Audubon activities. The reports will be found to contain 

 numerous valuable suggestions to those desiring to form a similar society, or 

 who may wish to stimulate further life in one already established. 



During the past year Ernest Harold Baynes, the well-known lecturer, and 

 one of the Directors of this Association, traveled with Percy Mackaye's "Bird 

 Masque Sanctuary," and lectured in most of the southern and middle states. 

 In every town he visited that did not have an Audubon Society or a bird club 



