large sign, and placed on the
island, where all who sailed near might read. Imagine the chagrin of
the Audubon workers upon learning from their warden that when the
Pelicans returned that season to occupy the island as before, they took
one look at this declaration of the President and immediately departed,
one and all, to a neighbouring island entirely outside of the
reservation! Signs less alarming in size were substituted, and the
Pelicans, their feelings appeased, condescended to return, and have
since dwelt peacefully under the protecting care of the Government.

_Congressional Sanction._--In view of the fact that some persons
contended that the President had over-stepped his authority in making a
bird reservation, a law was drafted, and passed by Congress,
specifically {193} giving protection to birds on lands set apart as
National bird reservations. The legal difficulties thus removed, the
way lay open for the creation of other bird reservations, and the
Audubon Society seized the opportunity. Explorations were started to
locate other Government territories containing important colonies of
water birds. This work was quickly extended over many parts of the
United States. Hunters of eggs and plumes were busy plying their
trades wherever birds were known to assemble in great numbers, and the
work had to be hurried if the birds were to be saved.

[Illustration: The Downy Woodpecker is fond of suet]

Mr. Frank M. Miller, of New Orleans, reported a case in which five
thousand eggs had been broken on one Louisiana island inhabited by sea
birds in order that fresh eggs might subsequently be gathered into the
boats waiting at anchor off shore. No wonder that friends of water
birds were profoundly concerned about their future welfare, and hailed
with delight Mr. Roosevelt's quick action.

Mr. William Dutcher, President of the National {194} Association of
Audubon Societies, was so much pleased with the results achieved by the
Federal reservation work of 1905, that he declared in his annual report
that the existence of the Association was justified if it had done
nothing more than secure Federal bird reservations and had helped to
guard them during the breeding season.

That year President Roosevelt established four more bird refuges. One
of these, Stump Lake, in North Dakota, became an important nursery for
Gulls, Terns, Ducks, and Cormorants in summer, and a safe harbour for
wild fowl during the spring and f