Bird lore - Project Puffin

72
The following reports of State Audubon
Societies were received too late to be
published with others in -the Annual
Report of the National Association in the
November-December issue of Bird-Lore.
Florida. — The Annual Meeting on
March ii, at Maitland, was a large and
enthusiastic gathering. Dr. William F.
Blackman presided. It was with regret
that the resignation of Mrs. L. P. Bronson
was accepted. Mrs. Bronson had been
treasurer since the foundation of the
Society, and had rendered most faithful
and efl&cient service. The proposed act of
the Legislature to remove the Turkey
Buzzard from the list of protected birds
was discussed, resulting in a vote to send
a printed protest over the state. Although
the bill passed, an amendment offering
twenty-five cents for the head of every
Turkey Buzzard shot was defeated.
Mr. Scott Way and Mrs. Vanderpool,
Secretary, have distributed 2,000 copies of
a bulletin entitled "Summary of the Bird
Laws of Florida and the Federal Regulations
Relating to Migratory Birds." A
card, giving the most recent game-laws,
has been printed for posting, and one
thousand have been sent to post-ofi&ces,
railroad stations, stores, and hotels, and
to sheriffs and game-wardens. At the
state fair in Orlando an exhibit of charts,
drawings, and leaflets illustrating the
work of the Society was attractively
arranged. There are thirty-eight Junior
Classes. Dr. H. R. Mills, of the State
Board of Health, is president of the branch
at Tampa, which has a large membership
and is doing excellent work on the West
Coast. Mrs. Katherine B. Tippetts, as
president of the branch at St. Petersburg,
reports frequent and interesting meetings.
Prizes are given to children for bird-study,
bird-houses and bird-protection. A yearbook
is published. The Humane Society
acts with the Audubon Society in enforcing
the law as to unlicensed cats. Some
fines are collected, some arrests made.
Bird - Lore
—
BELATED STATE REPORTS
A few months ago a man about to ship a
box of live Pelicans from Bird Key was
arrested, when it was discovered that his
"scientific purpose" license was dated
1902. He was fined $5 for each bird, and
made to return them to the Key.
Mrs. Minnie Moore Wilson, President
of the branch at Kissimmi, reports an
increase of all birds during the year. Mrs.
Julia A. Hanson, local secretary at Fort
Meyers, has extended Audubon interest
not only in her county, but in the state.
Bobolinks were first observed here on
August 24, although the usual date of
their appearance at Fort Meyers is August
30. There seems to be a continuous stream
of them at night, and many pass by day.
Bird Day is observed in most of the schools
in Lee County. We are fortunate to have
Stanley Hanson appointed Federal Inspec-
tor of Birds in Florida.
Mrs. Algernon Haden, local secretary
of Orlando, has continued to have super-
vision of schools, and of any violations of
bird-laws. The Palmetto Club at Daytona
has organized a bird-protection committee.
Dr. Frank M. Chapman gave an
interesting address last winter before this
club. On April 16, 1915, the Cocoanut
Grove Audubon Society, which will
federate with the State Society, was organized
by Mrs. Kirk Munroe, who became
its first president. Meetings are held
monthly, and the field includes the whole
country. Junior Classes have been formed
and subjects for study issued in a leaflet.
All schools join in these studies, for which
prizes are offered. The Florida Federa-
tion of Women's Clubs takes an active
interest in bird-protection. Two prizes
of $2 each were given to the pupils of the
Robert Hungerford School at Eatonville
for bird-study papers. The abolishing,
by an act of the Legislature, of the office
of the Florida Game Commissioner is a
retrograde step for the state, and one that
is regretted by all interested in birdpreservation.
Mrs. Kingsmill Marrs,
Chairman Executive Committee.