Michigan Ornithological Club 49 



MICHIGAN AUDUBON SOCIETY 



(Organized February 27, 1904.) 



FOR THK PROTECTION OF BIRDS. 



79 Home Bank Building, Detroit. 



Since taking up the work of bird protection, the Michigan Audubon 

 Society has met witn much encouragement, sometimes where least expected, 

 while on the other hand it has been retarded by those who should be helpers. 

 Local secretaries at Grosse Pointe, Muskegon, Hillsdale, Greenville, Smith's 

 Creek and the Counties of Jackson, Oakland and Macomb assert that bird 

 destruction is common. Appeals to the deputy game warden have proved 

 useless. Prosecuting attorneys and sheriffs have not awakened to the situa- 

 tion and it seems no aid is to be expected from them for the present. Mr. 

 Bryant Walker, attorney for the Society, is taking up this phase of the 

 question. 



The Society feels that the work accomplished has been of good service. 

 Five thousand educational leaflets, bulletins and notices have been dis- 

 tributed and a large number of schools and teachers have been reached. Mr. 

 Martindale, Superintendent of Schools for Detroit, is encouraging bird study 

 and bird protection and the school authorities at Muskegon and Grosse 

 Pointe are doing active work. The Biological Survey of the U. S. Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture forwarded 600 bulletins on "Our Common Birds," etc., 

 which have been sent out, while more are promised. 



The Secretary has spoken to four boys' clubs and two adult societies 

 and has posted notices in the woods surrounding Detroit giving a synopsis 

 of the law relating to the protection of birds and the penalties for their 

 destruction. Through the generosity of Mrs. R. A. Newman a stereopticon 

 lantern has been purchased and slides are now being prepared through Mr. 

 Dutcher, the National' Chairman, who has kindly loaned his slides to our 

 Society. One thousand copies of the by-laws of the organization have been 

 distributed and we will be obliged to order more. With the exception of a 

 contribution from Hon. W. B. Mershon of Saginaw, who became a patron, 

 the state has not aided financially, though many promises have been received. 



Rev. Wm. R. Lord of Rockland, Mass., stopped on his way from the 

 Pacific coast to give an illustrated lecture on the "Ministry of Birds," and 

 Mr. Wm. Dutcher promises to give a lecture in the autumn when the 

 Society meets to consider a revision of the state law, which we trust will be 

 such as to commend itself to the next state legislature. For the work up 

 to date especial mention is due Miss Clara F. Dyar of Grosse Pointe for her 

 constant devotion to the work. Jefferson Butler, 



State Secretary and Treasurer. 



