ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 



749 



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WATER BIRDS ON THE WILD-FOWL POND. 



THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK AS A BIRD 

 REFUGE. 



THE most important means for preserving 

 avian life, after active protective legisla- 

 tion, is the establishment of reservations 

 where birds ma} - live and nest unmolested, and 

 benefit by the opportunity for numerical recup- 

 eration. There are now many of these refuges, 

 established by governments, societies and indi- 

 viduals, and the good accomplished through them 

 is very great. 



The readiness with which birds accept prof- 

 fered protection and food is a saving trait. Al- 

 most any tract in which conditions are at all 

 favorable, and in which birds are able to find 

 protection, shelter and a reasonable abundance 

 of food, is appreciated and frequented by the 



wild flocks. Especially is this true in the case 

 of large cities, for many an exhausted waif 

 drops into the welcome green of a park and 

 avails itself of the chance for reviving its jaded 

 strength. 



As a city park, the Zoological Park is not an 

 unusually large area, although it contains 261 

 acres. It is the fortunate combination of open 

 fields, dense woods, running brooks and shel- 

 tered lakes that makes it an ideal bird refuge. 

 Within its limits, during the summer, about fort}' 

 species of resident birds nest and rear their 

 young in peace and quietude. But it is during 

 the bleak days of winter, when the strangers 

 from the north come to seek shelter, that its 

 value is most apparent. Chickadees, nuthatches, 

 woodpeckers and creepers feed upon the suet 



MALLARD DUCKS, WILD-FOWL POND. 



