Page:Condor15(1).djvu/35

Jan.,. 1913 OUTLOOK FOR CONSERVING THE BAND-TAILED PIGEON 35 slaughter has taken place as that noted in the southern coast counties of this state in the winter of 1911-12 (Chambers, 1912 , p. 1.O8). Indeed, as suggested by the writer cited, such unmitigated destruction could not last long without com- plete extinction as a result. In substance Chambers' account is as follows: "Band-tailed Pigeons were abundant the past ?winter from Paso Robles south to Nordhoff all through the coast range of mouritains'. One hunter from Los Olivos shipped over 2,0o0 birds to the San Francisco and Los Angeles hotels. The morning train from San Luis Obispo to Los Olivos on Sundays averaged ioo passengers who came to hunt pigeons. A prominent hunter stated that these passengers averaged about thirty birds apiece per day. That would make this one day's excursion account for over 3,0o0 pigeons. Now--this is only one train and one day's hunting! One can hardly calculate the number of birds killed by hunt- ers in automobiles, and by those who started from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Santa Maria, Paso Robles? Lompoc, and other smaller towns. "The writer, who is in the gun and ammunition business, was thoroughly disgusted with the game hogs who simply shot pigeons for the sport (?) and could not even eat them all. It is a shame that something is not done for?these beautiful birds, which are doomed to follow in the' footsteps of the Passenger Pigeon. I honestly believe that the people will never again see such a flight of Band-tailed Pigeons. In Nordhoff it is the largest they have ever seen, and the birds evidently hung around until they were simply shot out. This same state of . affairs is probably true in other localities. "If something is not done very quickly these birds are doomed; for any bird that flies in such flocks is bound to be exterminated. What can be done?" It is probable that an unusual concentration of the pigeons from the whole Pacific Coast region into a district easily reached by hunters gave exceptional opportunity for the infliction of the slaughter above recounted. The weak place in the pigeon's defense thus comes when conditions of restricted food supply force it into localities where its survival depends upon whether or not hunting is sanely regulated. Obviously, suitable legislation must be enacted at once, before. chance of a repetition, even in lesser degree, is afforded. THE VALUE OF TIlE PIGEON To MAN A bird in its relation to man may be considered in four different bearings. (a) No matter what the degree of value of'an animal to man's interests ' (and it may, on the whole, be even of extreme detriment), to allow complete exter- mination is out of harmony with an enlightened consideration of the future. Our successors will not approve of our thoughtlessness in completely destr?oying the grizzly bear l No matter if the Band-tailed Pigeon had no value, or was even noxious economically, this is no reason why the life of the species should be jeopardized. (b) Very many of our birds are of pleasing plume, cheerful manner, and attractive song? thus bringing an active appreciation on the part of the majority of mankind. In-this role birds at large have a marked esthetic value. The Band- tailed Pigeon is admittedly of very little or no attractiveness on this score. Its voice is not at all pleasing, as is that of the Mourning Dove, and its reclusive habits bring it rarely to the notice of any except the hunter. (c) The economic value of many birds is positive. They perform distinct service in destroying injurious insects or seeds. Other birds are decidedly the reverse, because of their ravages on crops. As shown on previous pages of this