THE AUDUBON BULLETIN 



being deeply imbedded in a community where the conservation 

 policy had, up to this time, been a rather hazy sentimental idea 

 applicable to others but not to ourselves — as many conservation 

 theories seem to be held. 



But through a steady campaign through the newspapers and 

 by talks by those interested at dinners, clubs and other places, 

 sentiment was gradually changed and the state was induced to 

 make the lake a refuge for the migratory waterfowl. 



For a time much adverse criticism was heard about this ac- 

 tion but that too has died away being assisted quite materially 



by the cordial co-operation of the state game officials and the 

 local game wardens who do not hesitate to impose the penalties 

 on anyone caught violating the law in regard to the shooting of 

 the birds. 



With the creation of the actual lake late this winter the flight 

 of the water fowl soon demonstrated that they would sight this 

 large body of water in this otherwise prairie and dry land terri- 

 tory and would come here. 



At first the birds were timid ,and rightly so, as they had had 

 no protection, but as they continued to come and were not dis- 

 turbed they remained on the lake in increasing numbers. 



The necessity of providing some feed for the birds was soon 

 realized by those most interested in having them stay with us as 

 long as possible and Chauncey M. Powers took the lead in this 

 matter, raising within a few hours one day, a fund for the pur- 

 chase of feed. Fortunately for us, however unfortunate it may 

 have been for the elevator concern, a large elevator had been 

 burned here just a few days before this time and many bushels 

 of grain had been watersoaked but not wholly destroyed. 



Several tons of this grain was bought at a low price — a ton 

 and a half was given by J. M. Allen, head of the elevator con- 

 cern — and under the supervision of Mr. Powers was placed in 

 the shallow water, from time to time, near the county bridge from 

 which the citizens interested in seeing the birds could easily do so. 



In an amazingly short time the Ducks found where the grain 

 was located and, finding that they were not disturbed immedi- 



