NORTH AMERICAN GULLS AND THEIR ALLIES. 3 



Among the birds frequenting these reservations are the glaucous- 

 winged, western, herring, California, and laughing gulls. Thus these 

 reservations protect several of the most important species of North 

 American gulls. 



PROTECTION BY PRIVATE ASSOCIATIONS. 



In 1900, principally through the efforts of Mr. Abbott H. Thayer, 

 a fund of $1,400 was raised for the protection of coast birds, particu- 

 larly gulls and terns, along the Atlantic from Virginia to Maine. A 

 wardenship system was inaugurated, and 23 bird wardens were 

 appointed the first year. The next year $1,600 was raised, 27 war- 

 dens were engaged, and the work was extended to Florida, Louisiana, 

 and Texas. In 1902, $2,000 was donated for the protection of gulls 

 and terns, and about 30 wardens were engaged in watching their 

 breeding grounds. From these beginnings the work of the National 

 Association of Audubon Societies has grown until, in 1913, over 

 $80,000 was spent by this association for bird protection. Out of the 

 large number of guards and wardens employed that year a consid- 

 erable portion were engaged in guarding the islands and beaches along 

 the Atlantic coast, and so extensive has the work become and so 

 thoroughly has it been systematized that there is probably no im- 

 portant colony of gulls or terns throughout the whole extent of the 

 coast from Maine to Florida that is not guarded during the breeding 

 season. On the Gulf coast from Florida to Texas a few colonies are 

 protected, and along the Oregon coast colonies of breeding birds are 

 guarded by State wardens. 



The results of the protection thus afforded have been most gratify- 

 ing. Herring gulls along the coast of Maine have increased decidedly, 

 while laughing gulls are beginning to be common once more in 

 various localities where they had been almost exterminated. 



LEGAL PROTECTION. 



Fully as important for the protection and increase of gulls has 

 been the enactment of State laws prohibiting their killing at any 

 time of year and of laws prohibiting the sale of their plumage. Gulls, 

 with their close allies, the terns, have been among the greatest suf- 

 ferers from the millinery trade. As is usually the case, the birds 

 were shot on the breeding grounds during the height of the nesting 

 season, thus causing the death not only of the parent birds, but 

 insuring the death of the young birds by lingering starvation. A few 

 years ago the public awoke to the barbarity of such slaughter, and 

 after much agitation New Jersey, in 1885, enacted the first effective 

 State law prohibiting the killing of gulls. This example has been 

 followed by other States until now — 1915 — there are 40 States which 



