The Audubon Societies 



313 



HONOR TO ABBOTT H. THAYER 



It is not generally known that the sys- New York 2 



tem of protecting by wardens such of our r:.^^. J.^i^^ey 2 



birds as breed in colonies was originated North Carolina 4 



by the artist, Abbott H. Thayer. Florida 4 



In speaking of Mr. Thayer's efforts in Texas i 



this matter, Mr. Dutcher wrote in The Auk Michigan i 



(1901, page 76) : "The thought of this 



special [warden] protection was his alone, Mr. Thayer's efforts ceased only in 



and his unflagging and unaided energy and 1905, when the National Association was 



tact secured the sinews of war, a fund of incorporated, and its officers were able to 



over $1,400, with which wardens were raise funds in other directions, and thus 



paid; without this fund, nothing could relieve him of what was a loving, though 



have been accomplished. Where he burdensome, service. Mr. Thayer's in- 



should have received encouragement {i. e., terest in this phase of bird-protection has 



among the ornithologists) he met with always been intense. I recall that one 



discouragement, for he was told that it year, when it appeared that the amount 



was impossible to raise any funds for the of money subscribed was not sufficient to 



work. By his personal courage and faith meet the needs of the Committee, Mr. 



he accomplished what others said could Thayer, although in no sense a wealthy 



not be done." man, promptly sent his personal check for 



The moment, however, that Mr. Thayer $1,000, upon receipt of a letter from Mr. 

 brought his plans to Mr. Dutcher, he Dutcher telling him of the financial situ- 

 found he had come to the right man. Mr. ation. 



Dutcher kindled at once, saying: "If you To Dr. George Bird Grinnell will ever 



will raise the money, I will see to getting belong the credit of having created the 



the wardens," and he soon began doing his term "Audubon Society'" and for starting 



full share of the money-raising, also. A the first Audubon movement, in 1886; 



good deal of it came through advertising while the name of William Dutcher will 



in the newspapers. be held in memory by the bird-lovers of 



This was the beginning of the warden this country as the man who later founded 



system to protect colonies of water-birds, the National Association of Audubon 



which has had so many interesting de- Societies, gave it form and purpose, shaped 



velopments. For five years Mr. Dutcher its policies, and directed it into many of the 



and Mr. Thayer continued to gather sub- lines of activity still pursued. The extent 



scriptions annually for this purpose, and of a man's usefulness to a cause often 



the funds increased in amount each year. depends upon his ability to instill enthusi- 



In the spring and summer of 1904 the asm into the minds of others, and, by 



Protection Committee was enabled by drawing additional workers into the field, 



means of the "Thayer Fund," to employ multiply the activity of his own hands, 



thirty-four wardens, that were distributed Such a leader was William Dutcher, and 



as follows: one of his earliest and most useful co- 



j^jj^jjjg jQ workers was Abbott H. Thayer, naturalist 



Massachusetts i and artist. 



