6 THEY A .U. D208 ON. BU Dees 
ately made that place their feeding ground—as the pictures will 
show. 7 
Within fifty to 150 feet of the bridge and its approaches these 
wild water fowl feed and play about in. the water and thousands 
of Decatur citizens, as well as the outsiders who come to town, 
zo to the bridge to watch these guests so friendly and unafraid. 
It is a source of never ending wonder to visitors who see them. 
Only recently the famous naturalist, Dallas Lore Sharp, lectured 
in Decatur and learning of the interesting spectacle on the lake 
asked to be taken out there. A few days later in Chicago he was 
talking about the extraordinary spectacle on an inland lake. To 
Decatur citizens it is becoming accepted as a matter of fact— 
the interesting thing being the complete reversal of feeling of a 
year ago. Just one sight of those thousands of birds playing 
there in safety and friendliness does the work. 
Because of the interest in the birds traffic rules have been 
made to prevent congestion on the bridge and approaches be- 
cause of the number of cars and pedestrians who make it a point, 
particularly on Sundays, to travel that way. Without exception 
all stop to watch the birds—with the result that traffic jams be- 
came so numerous that the police department was compelled to 
take a hand. 
What we will do next fall when the birds come this way again 
we have not yet decided but that we will find some method of 
feeding and planting feed in certain parts of the lake for them 
is almost a certainty. 
Now that the making of friends of the wild water fowl has 
been demonstrated as a possibility our worst obstacles have been 
overcome. 
It is no exaggeration to say that everybody—almost without 
any exception—is now with us. The hunters now realize that 
hunting away from the lake will be good as the birds will go out 
into the corn and wheat fields to feed next fall. Those who do 
not care for the hunting but do like to have the birds here now 
know that they can be induced to come here with a little showing 
of hospitality and friendliness. 
From being a smiled-at theory the question has become an 
accepted settled subject and the man who would do anything 
to cause the birds to stay away would be even more unpopular 
than the man who started the plan a year ago. 
The assistance of the newspapers in helping to create the 
right feeling was invaluable, of course. The swinging into line 
of the state game department and the active support of the local 
game wardens was the finishing touch. 
The whole community is greatly pleased. 
The photos tell the story. They were taken from the ap- 
proaches to the county bridge, the camera actually being in a 
car when some of the photos were taken. 

C. A. WAITE 
