36 
BY THE WAYSIDE 
BY THE WAYSIDE 
Published on the tenth of each month except 
July and August. 
The official organ of the Wisconsin, Illinois and 
Michigan Audubon Societies. 
Twenty-five cents per year Single copies 5 cents 
Contributions to By the Wayside are invited 
from all lovers of Nature ;ind friends of the 
birds. All communications should be sent to 
Roland E. Kremers, 1720 Vilas St., Madison, 
Wis. 
THE SANCTUARY. 
The idea of a ‘ ‘ Sanctuary, ” a place 
where birds may come, remain unmo¬ 
lested, and find food, drink, shelter, 
and a place to rear their young, is not 
a new idea either in this country or 
abroad either in theory or practice. 
Conditions have changed enormously 
since the time when North America 
was an unsettled land, and it is not 
surprising that bird-life has decreased 
as it has. We can only bemourn the 
short sighted policy of our ancestors 
and exert ourselves to the utmost to 
make reparation, and endeavor to 
avoid committing equally serious fol¬ 
lies. Just as the causes may be 
grouped under two heads, so the rem¬ 
edies are of two general groups. Ef¬ 
forts must be made to check the 
slaughter of surviving species, and 
they must at the same time be given 
a chance to recuperate. The cessation 
of hunting does much, but the restora¬ 
tion of favorable surroundings is 
needed in addition. 
It has been shown conclusively by 
actual experiment that the establish¬ 
ment of sanctuaries is a very efficient 
means of restoring bird life. For 
many sea-fowl it has only been neces¬ 
sary to set aside unused islands, 
where the peace accorded the birds 
has caused them to return in great 
numbers. 
To the readers of By the Wayside, 
these acts are a cause for enjoyment 
and satisfaction, yet they are on too 
large a scale for them to take part in. 
Still there is no reason why evcMy 
land owner should not make his prop¬ 
erty a. sanctuary. Indeed in the long 
run it is more important that the 
property holders should do their part 
in restoring suitable conditions than 
that restricted areas be here and there 
set aside. For, in the first place, the 
birds will not spread out from these 
larger sanctuaries if persecution 
threatens them everywhere else, and 
secondly the individual people receive 
more pleasure and enjoyment from 
personal contact with the birds that 
visit their yards. Let, then, everyone 
who has the opportunity endeavor to 
make a sanctuary of his own by first 
of all prohibiting and refraining from 
shooting the birds, and then by the 
planting of suitable trees and shrubs, 
by the placing of nesting houses and 
by the feeding and sheltering his 
feathered tenants. Also let no one 
think that his labors will not be re¬ 
paid, for the incidental beautification 
of grounds, the faithful economic ser¬ 
vice rendered by the birds, and the joy 
and inspiration derived from their 
mere presence repay a thousand fold 
the paltry outlay. 
