Results of Special Protection to Gulls and Terns Obtained through the Thayer Fund
MARYLAND. -- Mr. S. B. Harman cares for the beaches and marshes near Cedar Town on which the Mackerel Gull(tern) breeds; he says "the number of birds that can be seen at one time is sufficient proof that the efforts of your society have been a great success."
VIRGINIA. --John B. Whealton, of the Wallops Beach Life Saving Station, estimates in his territory, a district of beach and marsh seven miles long, the following increase in birds; Mud Hens (Rallus crepitans) and Willet (Symphemia semipalmata), large number; Black-headed Gull (Larus atricilla), 2000; Strikers (Sterna hirundo, S. forsteri, and S. antillarum), 3000
He had some difficulty in stopping egging, even after the close season commenced. He thinks that the law should be changed so that egging should not be permitted at any time.
Mr. N. B. Rich, of Assateague Beach Life Saving Station, protects a territory seven miles long by three wide. It is both sand beach and high salt meadow and was formerly an island. Birds protected were Willet, Mud Hens, Laughing Gulls, Terns and some Snipe. He estimates a large increase in the birds. He reports two cases where summer boarders killed a few terns, but promised never to do so again if not prosecuted for the first offense. "Boats used to come from New Jersey and North Carolina for the purpose of killing gulls and terns for millinery purposes but have stopped since I have been looking for them."
Mr. L. F. Taylor, of the Metompkin Beach Life Saving Station, cared for a district seven miles long, sand beach and marsh. Birds protected were Marsh Hens, Laughing Gulls, Willets, and Big and Little Strikers (Sterna). A normal increase took place, as on one occasion only did he have to stop illegal shooting.
Mr. J. A. D. Savage, of Wachapreague Life Saving Station, protected a territory composed of beach and marsh about three miles by two; he estimates that at least 3000 Marsh Hens, 500 Laughing Gulls, 600 Flood Gulls (Rynchops nigra), and 200 Terns were raised during the season. He states that so far as he knows, no birds were killed and but a few eggs were taken, and he adds: "For the encouragement of our society I would say that before the efforts to protect the birds were put forth some of the species were nearly extinct, but have now increased to considerable numbers."
Mr. J.W. Richardson, of Parramores Beach Life Saving Station, cares for seven square miles of beach and marsh, principally the latter; he estimates the following increase in birds :Laughing Gulls (Larus atricilla), about 600; Willet, 800; Little Strikers (Sterna antillarum), 100; Big Strikers (Sterna hirundo et forsteri), 300; Mud Hens, 1000.
He adds: "There are more Black-Headed Gulls this season than usual. I have walked and sailed through our marshes many times this summer, and have talked with boatmen and others, advocating the cause of birds in my own way, and I found many responsive hearers in sympathy with our work." He suggests that the Virginia law should be changed and made much more strict in order to successfully protect game and other wild birds.
Mr. John E. Johnson, of the Hog Island Life Saving Station, was in charge of about eight miles of marsh and beach on which bred: Common tern, Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica), Laughing Gull, Black Skimmer, Willet, Wilson's plover (AEgialits wilsonia), and American Oyster-catcher (Haematopus palliatus).
He estimates the young as follows: Common Tern, 2000; Gull-billed Tern, 200; Laughing Gull, 2000; Black Skimmer, 1000; Willet, 100; Wilson's Plover, 50; American Oyster-catcher, 100. "I do not think that any birds were killed illegally, as the residents know that the law is being strictly enforced. I have a very good opportunity of knowing, as I am going through the marshes two or three times a week during breeding season."
Mr. J. R. Andrews, of the Cobbs Island Life Saving Station, protected about six miles of beach and marsh, and also two large marsh islands of about 800 acres in area. The birds in his dis-
trict were carefully watched over, and he estimates that the increase was as follows: Black-headed Gulls (Larus atricilla), about 4000; Black Skimmers (Rynchops nigra) about 4000; Terns (Sterna hirundo et forsteri), about 600; Gull-billed Terns (Gelochelidon nilotica), about 300; Oyster-catchers (Heamatopus palliatus), about 4; Willets (Symphemia semipalmata), 4; Wilson's Plover (AEgialitis wilsonia),2; Marsh Hens (Rallus crepitans), about 2,000.
He reports that about 1000 gull's eggs, 300 tern's eggs, and 1000 marsh hens' eggs were taken by fishermen and others before the close season commenced. After that date none were taken; "I did not have as much trouble," he says, "this years as last. I think the Black-headed Gulls, Skimmers, Common Terns, and Gull-billed Terns have doubled in number since last year. The day after Mr. Kirkwood left I caught three men very neatly. I was in my lookout and saw a boat coming, and as I was satisfied I knew what they were after, I went up the beach and hid in the grass where I thought they would land. As soon as they landed I rose up with my gun right in front of them and asked them what they were after. At first they said 'nothing,' but I soon made them own up that they had come for young birds. They promised if I would let them off they would never come again. I have not seen a man on the beach since. A great many boatmen like to eat the young Skimmers."
Mr. G. D. Hitchens, of the Smiths Island Life Saving Station, was in charge of a district about twelve miles long by from one hundred yards to one and one half miles wide, consisting of beach, marsh, and islands. The increase in the birds in his charge, as near as he can estimate, was as follows: Common Tern (Sterna hirundo), about 1000; Laughing Gull (Larus atricilla), about 1,000; American Oyster-catcher (Haematogus palliatus), about 20; Clapper Rail (Rallus crepitans), about 5,000; Willet (Symphemia semipalmata), about 75; Royal Tern (Sterna maxima), about 100; Black Skimmer (Rynchops nigra), about 200.
"No eggs were taken on Smiths Island, but on the Isaacs all the eggs were taken until the last of July. I could not catch the one who did it but was told he was the caretaker of the United
States Quarantine Station on Fishermans Island, which is very close to the Isaacs, while they are about three miles away from me. I think it would be a good idea to ask the Marine Hospital service to send an order to their caretaker regarding this matter; there should have been several thousand birds raised whereas there were only a few hundred. There have been no eggs taken nor birds killed on Smiths Island while I have been warden, and there are more birds now then I have seen in fifteen years."
All of the wardens in Maryland and Virginia were visited very early in August by our fellow-members, Messrs. William H. Fisher and Frank C. Kirkwood, the latter of whom made a long and detailed report, from which the following interesting items are extracted:
"I have just returned from the inspection trip and the results are most satisfactory, and, allowing for the difference of season, I think a 50 per cent increase over last year is a conservative average. At some points it was more, at some less.
With the waders, however, it was different; they were scarce. The Willet, which breeds all along this shore, was nearly absent and comparatively few Clapper Rails were heard; this may be accounted for by the storms in May which put very high tides over the marshes.
"All the men report that no shooting was done and but very little, if any egging.
"I am greatly pleased with the wardens; they all greeted me by name, and said they thought I had died, as the last they had heard of me after the trip of 1900 was that I was very sick. They are all very enthusiastic over the increase in birds. Mr. Fisher secured a number of excellent photographs, and we had some peculiar experiences, one of which was a sudden storm which overtook us; for fierceness of wind, rain, hail, thunder and lightning it surpassed anything I ever saw, and within five minutes our temperature changed from dripping perspiration to a chill. That night, instead of reaching our destination, we were compelled at 10.30 p.m. to break into an oyster watch-house in the bay and remain there until daylight. One night the heat and mosquitoes were so bad that we climbed to the platform under the lantern of the old lighthouse on Smiths Island, 150 feet up, where we passed
the night and enjoyed a fine breeze and perfect freedom from the insect pests. What delighted me more than anything else during the trip was to discover that there was some increase in the numbers of Least Terns (Sterna antillarum) which may in time restock the entire coast. It is hoped that before the time for another report is reached, the Commonwealth of Virginia will have upon its statute books a law that will prevent the taking of wild birds' eggs at any time. It is a practice that there is no reason for, and is only indulged in by a few lawless persons who think that all wild things may be taken at any and all times. The great majority of the citizens of Virginia, it is believed, are heartily in favor of stopping this wasteful practice."