• Cashwiler, J.S.
  University of Maine Graduate School
  

Mr Paul G. Reddington (Van Hise and Havemeyer--1936) indicates that during the early years when North America was being settled, the lakes, ponds, and stream were literally alive with waterfowl in season. As the population increased, settlements, general farm practices, and drainage brought about a proportional decrease in waterfowl habitat. Hunters, however, continued to act as though the supply of ducks was inexhaustible, killing without restraint. A long drought, reaching it's climax between 1929 and 1934, served to heighten the seriousness of unending duck slaughter. The drought, settlement, and drainage conditions, and the increasing popularity of duck hunting reduced the ducks to such low numbers that certain species were even facing the fate of the heath hen and passenger pigeon--extinction. Sportsmen, nature lovers, and various organizations (among them the Biological Survey) awoke to their seriousness of the situation, and have been active in making the nation more or less duck conscious. A foundation known as "More Game Birds in America", the Federal Government, and various state organizations have spent large sums of money to create a favorable environment for ducks--to restore their habitats.