482 Bird - Lore 



thirty-five of these islands have been occupied by breeding colonies, not 

 including several small ledges, where scattering pairs overflowing from near-by 

 colonies gather to nest. The Association has continued to exercise a guardian- 

 ship, as usual, over these birds, to protect them as far as possible from eggers, 

 and from possible raids of Indians, who annually sell Gulls' wings in the towns 

 of Nova Scotia. 



In addition to those watching the Maine colonies, the Association's line 

 of wardens extends southward along the coast, stationed at various places in 

 Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey. Three others are stationed in 

 Florida, and two in Louisiana. These latter are employed jointly with the 

 Government to guard some of the Federal bird-reservations of that southern 

 territory. Colonies of birds at various points inland, notably on Moosehead 

 Lake, Maine, and in Lake Michigan, are protected in like manner. 



The wardens make many reports of their work, and, in addition, we fre- 

 quently receive special reports from ornithologists who visit these regions. 

 It is, of course, highly interesting to note the extent of bird-life found in these 

 great bird-communities, and to observe how far the Association is successful 

 in protecting the feathered inhabitants from their human enemies, in order 

 that they may have normal increase from year to year. 



When the colonies are small, it is possible to determine with accuracy the 

 extent of the bird-population. Where, however, many thousands of birds 

 assemble on one of these rookery islands, any account given of their numbers 

 must be more or less in the form of an estimate. For several years the Secre- 

 tary has made it a point each season to visit a few, at least, of the guarded 

 colonies. From observations made on these occasions, he feels justified in 

 saying that the report showing the numbers of breeding-birds here submitted 

 is very conservative. 



In the fourteen colonies of Herring Gulls protected during the past sum- 

 mer, it is estimated that there were 59,420 adult birds inhabiting the islands; 

 in the eleven colonies of Common and Arctic Terns, 50,240; and in five colonies 

 of Black Guillemots, 1,540. Among the other more numerous species, we may 

 mention Least Terns, 9,550; Forster's Terns, 5,225; Royal Terns, 17,500; 

 Cabot's Terns, 3,800; Clapper Rails, 5,000; Puffins, 600; Eider Ducks, 100; 

 Leach's Petrels, 5,000; Laughing Gulls, 118,400; Mergansers, 200; Pelicans, 

 4,500; Ospreys, 200; Louisiana Herons, 25,700; Black-crowned Night Herons, 

 3,000; and Black Skimmers, 15,500, in addition to large numbers of Willets, 

 Caspian Terns, Spotted Sandpipers, and Wilson's Plovers. 



The enumeration above does not include, of course, many thousands of 

 land-birds, which, in these isolated spots, are apparently in no special danger 

 of human disturbance; nor does it include the tens of thousands of Wild Ducks 

 that in certain seasons of the year are found on some of the guarded 

 reservations. 



The income from the Mary Dutcher Memorial Fund has been expended 



