Page:Bird-lore Vol 08.djvu/310

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260 Bird - Lore state legislature appointed May 5 of each year as memorial day for John James Audubon, who was born in our state on that day. From now on, the schools are compelled to have suitable exercises on these recurring anniver- saries, and we expect great good to come from these celebrations of Bird- Day." — Frank M. Miller, President. Maine. — "The Maine Audubon Society was organized at Fairfield, Maine, July 31, 1902. It now consists of eleven local societies; of these five have reported, showing a membership of 686. The Maine Society works to inculcate in the minds of the young the sentiments of the organi- zation, and the best field is found in the public schools. The most success- ful secretaries have interested the teachers, and thus secured large member- ships, and the benefit of an ideal organization. The field is very large, and the benefits to be derived from its cultivation no less so. "Public sentiment for bird protection undoubtedly strengthens year by year. With the elimination of the prospect of gain for a limited class only, afforded by the feather trade, the protection of most of the non-game birds is favored. Exceptions are to be found among certain classes, notably foreign- ers and inexperienced persons, who carelessly shoot any living thing in the absence of acknowledged game animals; while such a class is an annoyance to the majority of citizens, it is not believed to be relatively important. If the work which our Audubon Society has entered upon can be systematically extended, this annoyance must become less and less with each succeeding year-" — Arthur H. Norton, Secretary. Massachusetts. — " During the past year our membership has increased to 6,468. Of these? 1,868 are Juniors and 120 are local secretaries. We have, as usual, distributed many Educational and Bird-Lore Leaflets, cloth warning notices, and copies of the law. Our three traveling lectures and four traveling libraries have been used very often, and there has been a good sale for our bird charts, plates and calendars. The success of our 1906 calendar has encouraged us to issue one for 1907, which has also been printed in Japan, in the same artistic manner, with six new plates of American birds. " Legislation at the State House has been watched with interest by our Protection Committee, and all complaints of violations of law have been reported to the state officers, the Fish and Game Commission, and were immediately investigated. We are fortunate in having the chairman of the State Fish and Game Commission as a member of our Board of Directors. A few complaints of the selling of aigrettes were received last spring which were reported to him, and were promptly and effectively attended to. "It is pleasant to report that a larger number of women than usual,, several of whom were not members of our Society, called at our office to