22 THE MAKING OF BIEDCRAFT SANCTUARY 



. . . 192,7 , . . 



A Ne^w Responsibility 



The fact that a piece of ground has been set apart for a 

 song bird Sanctuary, from its very inception places a sort of 

 rotary responsibility upon its managers to keep the place true 

 to its name. 



In the beginning cats and predacious Hawks headed the list 

 of undesiral)les, for this gathering place of birds was like pass- 

 ing word that here was a market place where food might be had 

 for the catching. Then other birds than Hawks when judged at 

 close range in a space of ten acres were found undesirable — 

 at least in the nesting season — Blue Jays, Grackles, Screech 

 Owls and Crows, while the wandering Shrikes of winter proved 

 a menace to the residents and confiding visitors at the feeding 

 stations, even those under shelter of the porches. 



Turtles would seem to he harmless in a Bird Sanctuary and 

 lent added interest to the pond when the several species sunned 

 themselves on the log anchored among the lily pads, but what 

 happened! The wild Mallards brought out a sturdy brood, but 

 one by one they began to disappear ; as the water was an unlikely 

 hunting place for cats and the reeds and overhanging shrubs 

 offered protection from Hawks — what? 



The warden watched and soon discovered that the larger 

 turtles, coming silently from below, caught the ducklings by the 

 legs, pulled them down, drowned them and afterward ate such 

 portions as they wished ! Exit turtles ! Always to be on guard 

 and yet always just to the rights of the destroyer has proved no 

 light responsibility. 



One thing, however, is certain ; in some mj'sterious way 

 word of our Sanctuary has spread among the wild folk, so that 

 an alien tribe has, within the year, claimed its protection as a 

 dwelling place rather than as a market. In spite of its nearness 

 to railway, high school and surrounding houses Reynard the Fox 

 has climloed the prickly fence and established himself so 

 craftilj' that a brood of cubs, beautiful as young collies, has re- 

 sulted. Traps are unavailing and while three adults and a cub 



