Report of the Secretary 399 



Many of these birds, however, gathered this year to breed on Ten-Pound 

 Island and Two-Bush Island in the immediate neighborhood. On Metinic 

 Green Island, Maine, there was, formerly, a large colony of Wilson's and 

 Arctic Terns, with a few Herring Gulls. The Gulls have greatly increased in 

 numbers, and the warden reports that the past year they drove away prac- 

 tically all the Terns. • 



The above are simply a few notes culled from the many reports of the 

 wardens and bird-students who, during the season, have visited the islands. 

 However, these statements cover practically all accounts of unhappy occur- 

 rences regarding the birds in question. 



One or two of our Egret colonies in Florida were shot into before our war- 

 dens went into camp, and some damage was done. It should be borne in mind 

 that many of these rookeries are in very isolated regions, and that some sea- 

 sons the birds return to their breeding-grounds much earher than others. It 

 is often difficult to be informed of their arrival sufficiently in advance to give 

 protection as early as it is needed. Otherwise our Egret and Heron colonies 

 seem to have had a good season. 



In May the Secretary visited Craney Island in Core Sound, N. C., and 

 here, in a Heron rookery, discovered about 60 Snowy Egrets nesting. Special 

 mention of this is made because of the fact that this colony is located about 90 

 miles in a straight Hne farther up the coast than Snowy Egrets have been 

 known to breed for many years. It is clear that this group of birds is an over- 

 flow from the protected rookeries farther south. Who knows but what, with 

 continued guardianship, these birds may some spring be seen carrying sticks 

 over the swamps of New Jersey, as they did a century ago! 



Reports of the wardens of the various protected rookeries show that in 

 the aggregate something over 1,043,000 water-birds bred in our various pro- 

 tected sanctuaries. This estimate covers 40 species, including Gulls, Skim- 

 mers, Terns, Egrets, Herons, Ibises, Pelicans, and a few Guillemots, Eider 

 Ducks, Florida Ducks, Limpkins, and Puffins. Innumerable small birds and 

 various migratory shore-birds also found protection in these guarded areas. 



In all, forty-six wardens were employed during the year, and patrol- boats 

 were provided for three additional Government wardens to whom no salaries 

 were paid from the Association's funds. During the year, we placed in com- 

 mission a new warden patrol-boat on Klamath Lake, Ore. Another patrol- 

 boat, to be paid for by the income from the Mary Dutcher Memorial Fund, is 

 being built for work on the Pelican Island Reservation, Fla. 



LIST OF WARDENS ON GOVERNMENT RESERVATIONS SUPPORTED IN 

 PART BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF AUDUBON SOCIETIES 



T. J. Ashe, Key West and Tortugas Reservations, Florida. 

 Wm. E. Lowe (Assistant), Tortugas Reservation, Florida. 

 J. J. Furber, Klamath Lake Reservation, Oregon. 

 We furnish a patrol-boat and pay for repairs. 



