276 



ORDERS OP BIRDS— DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS 



Reproduced from Recreation Magazine. 



A HAVEN OF REFUGE. 



An Object Lesson in Bird-Protection. — As a fitting conclusion to our studies of the ducks 

 of our interior rivers, lakes and ponds, we present a remarkable instance of what bird-pro- 

 tection can accomplish. The picture of the pond described might well be entitled — " An 

 Oasis in the Great American Desert of Game Destruction!" By the courtesy of Mr. G. 0. Shields, 

 Editor of Recreation Magazine, we reproduce from that periodical for June, 1903, the above 

 illustration, and the following description by Mr. Charles C. Townsend, which appeared under 

 the caption, "A Haven of Refuge." 



"One mile north of the little village of Mosca, 

 Colorado, in San Luis valley, lives the family of 

 J . C. Gray. On the Gray ranch there is an artesian 

 well which empties into a small pond about 100 

 feet square. This pond is never entirely frozen 

 over and the water emptying therein is warm 

 even during the coldest winter. 



"Some five years ago Mr. Gray secured a few 

 wild-duck eggs, and hatched them under a hen. 

 The little ducks were reared and fed on the little 

 pond. The following spring they left the place, 

 to return in the fall, bringing with them broods 

 of young; also bringing other ducks to the home 

 where protection was afforded them, and plenty 

 of good feed was provided. Each year since, 

 the dueks have scattered in the spring to mate 

 and rear their families, returning again with 

 greatly increased numbers in the fall, and again 

 bringing strangers to the haven of refuge. 



"I drove out to the ranch November 24, 1902, 

 and found the little pond almost black with the 

 birds, and was fortunate enough to secure a pict- 

 ure of a part of the pond while the ducks were 

 thickly gathered thereon. Ice had formed 

 around the edges, and this ice was covered with 

 ducks. The water was also alive with others, 



which paid not the least attention to the party 

 of strangers on the shore. 



"From Mr. Gray I learned that there were 

 some GOO ducks of various kinds on the pond at 

 that time, though it was then early for them to 

 seek winter quarters. Later in the year, he as- 

 sured me, there would be between 2,000 and 3,000 

 teal, mallards, canvas-backs, redheads and other 

 varieties, all perfectly at home and fearless of 

 danger. The family have habitually approached 

 the pond from the house, which stands on the 

 south side, and should any person appear on the 

 north side of the pond the ducks immediately 

 take fright and flight. Wheat was strewn on 

 the ground and in the water, and the ducks wad- 

 dled around us within a few inches of our feet 

 to feed, paying not the least attention to us, or 

 to the old house-dog which walked near. 



"Six miles east of the ranch is San Luis lake, 

 to which these ducks travel almost daily while 

 the lake is open. When they are at the lake it is 

 impossible to approach within gunshot of the 

 then timid birds. Some unsympathetic boys 

 and men have learned the habit of the birds, and 

 place themselves in hiding along the course of 

 flight to and from the lake. Many ducks are shot. 



