INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR BIRD PRESERVATION.

Forest and Bird, Issue 15, 1 July 1928, Page 2

INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR BIRD PRESERVATION.

Resolutions, Declarations of Principles and By-Laws as adopted At Geneva Conference of Representatives of Many Nations, 21 May, 1928.

Declaration of Principles.

We believe that wild-bird life is of great importance in the world in helping to preserve the balance between species which nature is constantly seeking to adjust, that birds have a great importance : for science, exercise a great aesthetic influence on all right-minded people, and are of great value to mankind as food, as destroyers of rodents and injurious insects, and as incentives for reasonable field sports. ' ' We believe that, through ignorance, selfishness, and from an undue desire for gain, mankind is reducing the number of birds in many countries at an alarming rate, having in fact already exterminated from the earth various interesting and valuable species. We are in sympathy with all reasonable methods taken to increase the number of game birds in order that the surplus may be used for food or sport. We commend the study of the food habits of wild birds, in relation to agriculture, horticulture, and forestry, and the publication of the information thus obtained in order that the people of the world may acquire a more accurate conception of the value of bird life. We rejoice in all efforts being made by educational institutions of whatever nature, as well, as by thousands of private individuals, in imparting to the general public knowledge regarding the appearance, habits, activities and songs 'of wild birds, so that adults and children alike may be taught to appreciate the aesthetic value of the living bird. We believe that to bring about more adequate bird protection much good can be accomplished by the wider organisation of the International . Committee for Bird Preservation. We therefore approve of the above Declaration of Principles and the following By-Laws: By-Laws. Article I. This organisation shall be known as the International Committee for Bird Preservation. Object. Article 11. . . • Its object shall be to stimulate interest in all countries for a more adequate protection of wild life. -

Officers. Article 111. Its officers shall consist of a chairman, one or more central secretaries, and such other assistants as he may desire to appoint.

Executive Committee. Article IV. Section I.— The Executive Committee shall be composed of the Chairman of the International Committee and the Chairmen of the various National Sections, and it shall represent the International Committee in all matters which may arise in connection with its work when the Committee is not in session. Section 2.— The Chairman of the International Committee shall be elected on or about June Ist by a majority vote of the Executive Committee, either by correspondence or by personal approval at a meeting of the Executive Committee, this election to take place every two years, beginning with June, 1922. Section 3. —The International Committee shall meet at such time and places as may be determined by the Executive Committee.

National Sections. Article V. Section I.— A National Section of the International Committee shall be composed of institutions or membership societies interested in the preservation from extinction of all species of wild birds, and in the increase of those species of birds especially useful to mankind. Section 2.— The people of any country in which there is not already a National Section of the International Committee may seek membership in that committee by organising a National Section of not more than eight institutions or membership societies, electing two members from each such institution or society to represent it, and by directing their application for admission to the Executive Committee of the International Committee or its duly authorised representative who shall have power to accept or reject such application. Section 3.— A1l organisations wishing to be included in a National Section must indicate to the Chairman of the International Committee their acceptance of the Declaration of Principles as given above, and their approval of the existing By-Laws. Section 4. — Each National Section shall elect a Chairman, and effect such other details of organisation as its members may desire. Voting. Article VI. At all meetings of this International Committee each country represented at such meeting by one or more members of its

National Section shall be entitled to one vote on all matters of business. . : : / . Amendments to By-Laws. Article VII. The by-laws may be amended by a majority vote at any regularly called meeting of the International Committee or at any other time by a majority vote of the Executive Committee.

Resolutions.

The International Committee for Bird Preservation welcomes the fact that the interest in birds has greatly increased in recent years. The strengthening of legislation for bird protection and the formation of bird sanctuaries, the increasing number of articles and illustrations in the press, the popularity of films dealing with birds, and the introduction of bird study into many colleges, high schools, and the primary schools of various nations, are all proof of the rapidly growing interest on the part of the public. This therefore seems an opportune moment to plead for further action, which is greatly needed. Although it is obvious that the protection of birds must largely be left to individual effort and unofficial action in the different countries, the fact that the vast majority of birds are migratory and therefore international in their habits, often crossing many different countries between their winter and summer homes, clearly demonstrates that international action is necessary if protection is to be really effective.

The recommendations of this Committee are therefore divided into two parts (1) Recommendations for unofficial action. (2) Recommendations for official action. These are based on the principle of fair treatment for the birds' themselves, and fair treatment as between nation and nation. 1. Recommendations for Unofficial Action. (a) The Committee desires publicly to congratulate and thank all those who, by their work, their writings, their talent as photographers, artists or . lecturers, have so largely contributed to the increasing interest in living birds. It wishes to encourage all those who have an insight into the ways of birds to impart that knowledge to others and so enlarge the circle of those who take a friendly interest in birds.

( b ) The Committee notes'. the success achieved in many countries by the formation of bird, sanctuaries which have, in many cases, re-established as regular breeding species birds which had become rare almost to extinction. The Committee strongly re-

commends the formation of such' sanctuaries, or- reserves, in every country. '

(c) The Committee considers that the practice of collecting large numbers of clutches of eggs of rare species of birds is particularly dangerous to such species, is generally objectionable, and unworthy of a good naturalist, and we disapprove of the commerce in shells of bird eggs.

( d ) The Committee recommends that the laws against shooting with the use of artificial light should be strictly enforced everywhere. ( e ) The Committee recommends that all hunting of birds for food during the birds’ period of mating and rearing their young shall everywhere cease, that the employment of pole traps, snares and nets in taking birds be discontinued, and that the use of repeating shot-guns and the practice of shooting wild-fowl from motor-boats be prohibited. The Committee deplores the killing of wild birds which are shot exclusively for the purpose of securing their feathers for the millinery trade; and we recommend that the best methods (i.e., Weigold) of illuminating the towers of lighthouses be generally adopted. Especially does the Committee wish to urge the authorities of universities, colleges, high schools, elementary schools, museums and nature-preserva-tion societies of every character, to make all possible efforts to educate the public to a better knowledge of the name, appearance and usefulness of the birds of all kinds in their respective countries.

(/) In order that we may have available data regarding the amount of educational work in bird study and bird preservation which is to-day being carried forward, we ask the Chairmen of all national sections of this Committee to collect information showing the extent to which in their countries all educational institutions, museums or societies are giving instruction on these subjects; also the national Chairmen are asked to compile the names and addresses of all men or women in their countries who give public addresses on birds and the extent and number of such public talks, and to send these facts to the Chairman of the International Committee for Bird Preservation or his authorised agent.

2. Recommendations for Official Action.

The Committee believes that, owing to the diversity of legislation and of custom in the different countries, the best chance of promoting international agreement which would be acceptable to a large number of States and also effective for the protection of birds, is to confine its recommendations to two very definite proposals which it suggests might be considered by an International Conference.

The first proposal is intended to protect nugatory birds during what is for them the most important season of the year, namely while on their way to, and while in, their breeding haunts; bui the'Committee recognises that there must be some exceptions to complete protection of every species and this must be left foi future settlement. . . The second proposal is intended to prevent the destruction of birds by oil pollution in navigable waters. . A'AA-'AL The Committee accordingly recommends: 1. That a Conference of Government delegates should be sum moned either under the auspices of the League of Nations, th« International Agricultural Institute of Rome, or in any other .way considered appropriate, with full powers to sign an international convention embodying the following provision:

That to protect migratory birds during the. period of their spring migration and while engaged in rearing their young, .all . shooting, trapping or other destruction of birds, together with their sale or exposure for sale, shall cease not later, than March .1 in Europe, Asia and North America, and not later than September 1, in countries in the Southern Hemisphere, and that such prohibition shall continue until the opening of the . shooting season in the autumn. In countries north of 53 latitude North, moderate spring; shooting of some species might be allowed through Government license about twenty days on account of their different climatic conditions. * . 2. As an aid towards the attainment of such an. international agreement the Conference respectfully invites- the International Agricultural Institute at Rome to publish a short report containing- a summary of the information in its possession on the value of birds to agriculture. • •

3. That, as recommended by the preliminary conference of experts from thirteen countries held at Washington in: 1926, a conference of ; Government delegates should. be summoned for the purpose of drawing up an international convention on oil pollution: of navigable waters, and that it take into consideration the great loss of birds from this cause. The Conference asks its Chairman to request the SecretaryGeneral of the League of Nations to call the attention of the Council of the League to the recommendations for official actions Nos. 1 and 3. ' ■ ■ Furthermore, be it resolved that the Chairman of each national section of .this Committee, shall be asked at once to communicate with his Government and urge- that ; favourable action be taken on the subject of these official recommendations.