BIRD RESERVATIONS 
5 
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the matter was arranged, and the President declared the island a 
bird-sanctuary in perpetuity — a breeding place for wild birds for all 
time. He took a short cut in doing this, as in the case of the Panama 
canal, and we had a federal bird-reservation. Along the coast of 
Florida were found nine other small islands suitable for this purpose, 
and Mr. Roosevelt made them all federal bird-reserves. Then we 
were jubilant and had a good deal to say in the press; but, strange as 
it may seem, certain gentlemen did not approve of the action of 
President Roosevelt, claiming he exceeded his powers. To overcome 
this a bill was prepared giving him the necessary authority, and 
Congress enacted it into law. 
Later we began to make enquiry about places suitable 
Sanctuaries for f or sanctuaries for other birds, to find breeding places 
Water-Birds . . 
in the West for water-birds, for, bear in mind, many large birds 
over extended areas were threatened with extirpation 
to supply the demand for the market. Sea gulls along the coast, and 
terns, grebes and others in the west, were in imminent danger from 
this cause. So the National Association of Audubon Societies began 
to look for breeding places of ducks and other birds in the west. 
We examined the western coast and many more bird reservations 
were the result. When President Roosevelt went out of office, we had 
thirty-eight bird reserves. President Taft took an interest in the 
subject and also segregated quite a number. One of the largest of 
these bird-sanctuaries is the delta of the Yukon, which is as large as 
the state of Connecticut. 
Reserves in 
the Islands of 
the Pacific 
One bird-reserve was created in the western group 
of the Hawaiian islands, including the Laysan island. 
This, by the way, was raided the past summer by 
the Japanese feather-hunters. The Pribilof islands were also 
made a reserve, as well as the Aleutian chain. We have about 
seventy bird-reserves in all. For six years the government made 
no appropriation to protect and guard these birds. Therefore, 
it become our pleasant duty to ask for money from the members and 
friends of the Audubon Society willing to give money for an idea — 
people willing to give money to protect egrets in Florida, or cormor- 
ants and gulls on the Three-arch rock in Oregon, all so far away that 
they could never hope to see them. After the lapse of six years, the 
government made a small grant for the purpose, although, to-day, the 
Audubon Society owns and operates the launches on the government 
reserves, and still helps to pay the salaries of a few of the wardens. 
The government is appropriating more money each year to this 
work, and the gentlemen of the Biological Survey who have the work 
