THE OREGON SPORTSMAN 



is the state wild life refuge of 13,000 acres donated to Louisiana 

 by Mr. Mcllhenny and Charles Willis Ward, and the Ward- 

 Mcllhenny refuge of some 60,000 acres. 



The purchase by the Rockefeller Foundation constitutes the 

 greatest gift ever made to the preservation of bird life in 

 America, with the exception of the bequest of David Wilcox to 

 the National Association of Audubon Societies. This bequest 

 amounted to $332,000. Bird lovers believe it will mark one of 

 the most important steps ever taken for the preservation of 

 migratory fowl, because they expect it to stimulate interest in 

 establishing refuges in other sections of the United States and 

 Canada. 



The wild fowl refuge on the Gulf shore of Louisiana affords 

 winter shelter for myriads of migratory songbirds, woodpeckers, 

 and shore birds, all of which are of great service in the north 

 when insects are busy in field, orchard and garden. 



For half a century countless thousands of ducks and geese 

 have been shot there for the markets of New Orleans, St. Louis. 

 Cincinnati and Chicago. The species most commonly taken were 

 mallards, black-duck, teal and canvasback. 



GAME CONDITIONS ABOUT ASHLAND. 



One of the best ways to get an idea of the game conditions 

 in a specific locality is to make a census of the wild birds and 

 animals in that region. This was done last winter in the country 

 around Ashland by Mr. George Hargadine. His report in part 

 is as follows : 



"The valley west of Ashland, which is about five miles by 

 three in size, contains approximately fifty-seven coveys of Cali- 

 fornia or valley quail, ranging from ten to one hundred birds to 

 the covey. These large numbers are caused by feed yards along 

 the river which attract and keep the birds here. I estimated the 

 number of birds in this region to be as follows : quail seven hun- 

 dred, Chinese pheasants one hundred, ducks twenty-five. There 

 are a very few coyotes and skunks) and numerous house cats. 



In the opposite direction are rolling hills. Here I found 

 thirty-five coveys of California quail — some three hundred in all 



Fag-e eighteen 



