Reports of Special Agents 307 



formerly lived on wild fruits and berries have taken to a civilized diet, and this 

 has naturally caused complaint from farmers and horticulturists. Birds that 

 were unknown to the ordinary fruit-raiser, such as the Varied Thrush and 

 Lewis Woodpecker, have suddenly been discovered, and have aroused com- 

 plaint, — the former because it eats grapes, and the latter is known as the ' Apple 

 Bird,' because it frequents apple orchards. 



The complaint has come from certain quarters that birds are doing more 

 harm than benefit, and, at the last session of the Oregon Legislature, a bill was 

 introduced which permitted farmers, orchardists and gardeners to kill any 

 bird they thought harmful. Such a sentiment was aroused against the birds 

 by a few fruit-growers that the bill passed both Houses, and would have become 

 a law had the members of the Audubon Society not made a strong appeal to 

 the Governor, who vetoed the bill. 



In order to forestall evil bird-legislation, we have begun a systematic work 

 of education throughout this part of the country. A series of Bird Leaflets are 

 being prepared, and will be published under the authority of the University 

 of Oregon. These are to be used at teachers' institutes, and, in connection with 

 the Leaflets of the National Association, will spread the interest among the school 

 children . D uring the past year, a series of lectures have been delivered in eight differ- 

 ent towns and cities throughout the state, in order to arouse greater interest in the 

 study of bird life. These lectures are also to be given before the various granges 

 and other societies. Considerable publicity work has been done by articles in 

 newspapers and magazines, such as ' School and Home, ' and ' The State Grange 

 Bulletin.' 



The past year has marked the beginning of systematic work, in bird protec- 

 tion in the state of Washington. Several bird lectures have been given, and on 

 April 20, at the conclusion of a lecture in the assembly hall of the Seattle High 

 School, the Washington Audubon Society was organized. This has since grown 

 to be a thriving organization, and will undoubtedly have a wide influence in 

 protecting the birds of the state. Your agent has also given public illustrated 

 lectures on the subject of bird study and bird protection in Illinois, Michigan, 

 Minnesota and Indiana. — William L. Finley. 



REPORT OF JOHN B. WATSON ON THE CONDITION OF THE NODDY 

 AND SOOTY TERN COLONY ON BIRD KEY, TORTUGAS, FLORIDA 



During May, June and July of the present year (1907), which are the import- 

 ant months in the nesting season of the above-mentioned Terns, I acted as 

 warden of Bird Key. While serving in this capacity for the National Associa- 

 tion, I was at the same time engaged in a scientific study of the habits of these 

 birds for the Marine Biological Laboratory of the Carnegie Institution. The 

 scientific report of this work will naturally first appear in the archives of the 

 Carnegie Institution. I wish, in the present connection, to extend my thanks 



