State Reports 



339 



secure members, distribute literature and pledges, post warning notices and 

 attend to legislative work. 



Pledge adopted by the Iowa Audubon Society: 



"I HEREBY PLEDGE MYSELF, To refrain from wearing the plumage 

 of birds other than game-birds, domesticated fowls or the Ostrich; To discourage 

 the destruction of wild birds and their eggs; To encourage the study of birds and 

 nature in schools. "—Mrs. William F. Parrott, Secretary. 



Louisiana. — As a direct result of the activity of the National Association 

 of Audubon Societies on the coast of Louisiana, fully 75,000 Royal Terns, Fors- 

 ters Terns, Black Skimmers and Laughing Gulls were, during the past season, 

 added to the stock of birds living on the Gulf coast. 



This year has been a fatal one to the birds. Just at the height of the breed- 

 ing season on, May 30, an unprecedented high tide submerged almost all the 

 breeding islands. The consequence was that, instead of the 250,000 birds which 

 we expected to show to the credit of the National Association, only a fourth 

 of that number were raised. If it had not been for the warden service main- 

 tained by the Association, the birds would also have suffered severely at the 

 hands of the pirates and egg-stealers haunting these waters. Under the circum- 

 stances, and until our State Society is in a position to assume this responsibihty, 

 we sincerely trust that the National Association will maintain tl: ^ :sent warden 

 service, and, if possible to do so, extend its limits and usefulness. 



On the east side of the Mississippi river our State Society controls a bird- 

 breeding area of land and water approximating 750 square miles. On the west 



AUDUBON PATROL BOAT NO. 4, ROYAL TERN 

 Employed to protect birds on the Gulf Coast 



