Bird lore - Project Puffin

4o6 Bird -Lore
numbers, bird-protection nevertheless concerns itself chiefly with the living
bird and its welfare.
The Audubon Society, when first founded by Dr. George Bird Grinnell, in
the year 1886, raised this standard, and beneath its banner hundreds of organ-
ized groups of bird-students and tens of thousands of individuals have since
enlisted. When the Association was incorporated under the leadership of
William Dutcher, in January, 1905, the same ideals were put even stronger to
the fore. Bird-protection is today a popular subject in our country. Within a
very few years past several of the State Game Commissions of the country have
given attention to the problem of non-game bird-protection to an extent
hitherto unknown. Many game-protective organizations now find it desirable
to include the cause of the small birds in their efforts, which hereto have been
confined entirely to such species as were shot for sport.
One striking evidence is the interest that commercially inclined persons are
now showing. Certain real-estate promoters have of late deemed it wise to
erect bird-boxes on their vacant lots where home-seekers are sought, and to
advertise the fact that active measures are taken to attract birds. Certain
commercial schemes have even encroached on the use of the name of this
Association to further their ends.
AFFILIATED SOCIETIES AND BIRD CLUBS
The activities of the Audubon Societies and bird clubs affiliated by member-
ship with the National Association throughout the United States are constantly
growing in importance. They are of the greatest value in arousing local
interest to a better appreciation of the value and joy of birds to mankind. We
keep in touch with all these organizations and their work, and with increasing
frequency the Association and the affiliated branches are able to cooperate
to mutual advantage. Something of the wide range of activities of these
various institutions will be found in the reports which many of them have
submitted, and which are published with this report. It will be seen that they
have held public bird-exhibitions, given various entertainments, established
bird-sanctuaries, fed birds in winter, built and erected multitudes of bird-
boxes, organized scores of Junior Audubon Classes, posted notices of bird and
game laws, arranged lecture-courses, circulated libraries of bird-books, con-
ducted bird-walks, worked for state and national legislation, and carried
forward many other Audubon activities. The reports will be found to contain
numerous valuable suggestions to those desiring to form a similar society, or
who may wish to stimulate further life in one already established.
During the past year Ernest Harold Baynes, the well-known lecturer, and
one of the Directors of this Association, traveled with Percy Mackaye's "Bird
Masque Sanctuary," and lectured in most of the southern and middle states.
In every town he visited that did not have an Audubon Society or a bird club