{"id":1907,"date":"2013-03-14T09:12:39","date_gmt":"2013-03-14T13:12:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.massaudubon.org\/blogs\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=1907"},"modified":"2013-03-14T09:12:39","modified_gmt":"2013-03-14T13:12:39","slug":"centennial-milestone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/centennial-milestone\/","title":{"rendered":"Centennial Milestone"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"CopyrightExcerpted from Sanctuary<\/a> <\/em>magazine<\/p>\n

Beginning in March some of our best-known, most-loved migratory birds will arrive in Massachusetts as harbingers of spring. March is also the month when, 100 years ago, the Weeks-McLean Act<\/strong>, the precursor to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, passed\u2014the first legislation in the nation to place migrants under federal jurisdiction and prohibit their killing without the permission of the US government.<\/p>\n

The pre-spring arrivals that can move freely and safely from state to state thanks to such early 19th-century advocacy initiatives\u2014sandy-colored piping plovers to beaches, winsome red-winged blackbirds to marshland, and melodious song sparrows to yards and open spaces\u2014are just representative of the many species that still benefit from the efforts begun by pioneering conservationists.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe\u00a0Weeks-McLean Act\u00a0was the primary legislation protecting native birds in the United States,\u201d says Mass Audubon’s Director of Public Policy & Government Relations\u00a0Jack Clarke, \u201cand one of the country\u2019s earliest environmental laws.\u201d Without these protections put into place at the outset of the 1900s, other avian species would undoubtedly have been subjected to the same fate as the passenger pigeon and Carolina parakeet, whose species no longer had representative wild individuals as of 1900 and 1904, respectively, leading ultimately to their extinction.<\/p>\n

Mass Audubon was one the first players promoting legislation to save birds, so it was fitting that the Weeks-McLean Act\u00a0had its origins in Massachusetts. In 1908, Charles H. Hudson, a farmer in Needham Heights, wrote to his Congressional representative, John Wingate Weeks, imploring him sponsor \u201ca national law put on all kinds of birds in every State in the country, as the gunners are shooting our birds that Nature put here\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

Five years in the making, the 1913 bill, introduced by Representative John W. Weeks of Massachusetts and Senator George P. McLean of Connecticut\u2014set the stage for bird national bird conservation on a scale that was necessary to change the path of history for the good of our priceless avian life.<\/p>\n

Photo\u00a0\u00a9\u00a0Sandy Selesky<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Excerpted from Sanctuary magazine Beginning in March some of our best-known, most-loved migratory birds will arrive in Massachusetts as harbingers of spring. March is also the month when, 100 years ago, the Weeks-McLean Act, the precursor to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, passed\u2014the first legislation in the nation to place migrants under federal […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2],"tags":[28],"class_list":["post-1907","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-advocacy-2","tag-birds"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-uL","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5645,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/action-alert-migratory-birds-at-risk\/","url_meta":{"origin":1907,"position":0},"title":"Action Alert: Migratory Birds at Risk","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"June 15, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"One of the oldest environmental laws in the U.S., the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) is the primary piece of legislation established to protect over 1,000 species of migratory birds and makes it illegal to harm them except under very specific circumstances. Now this crucial law is coming under attack.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Advocacy"","block_context":{"text":"Advocacy","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/advocacy-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/06\/Osprey.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":14542,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/a-victory-for-birds\/","url_meta":{"origin":1907,"position":1},"title":"A Victory for Birds","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"August 12, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Great news for birds and for all of us who care about them! Great Blue Heron \u00a9 John Yurka A federal court ruled yesterday that the legal basis for the Trump Administration\u2019s rollback of the century-old Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) is inconsistent with the intent and language of the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Advocacy"","block_context":{"text":"Advocacy","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/advocacy-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/5696John_Yurka750-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/5696John_Yurka750-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/5696John_Yurka750-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/5696John_Yurka750-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10943,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/spring-migration-is-finally-here\/","url_meta":{"origin":1907,"position":2},"title":"Spring Migration is Finally Here","author":"William Freedberg","date":"May 2, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"On the evening of Tuesday, May 1, a wave of migratory birds arrived in Massachusetts. While some early-migrating species have been trickling in since April, Wednesday, May 2, marks the beginning of the season for our most colorful migrants. Scarlet Tanagers, Yellow Warblers, melodious Wood Thrushes, and a host of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Get Outdoors"","block_context":{"text":"Get Outdoors","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/get-outdoors\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Rose-breasted Grosbeak","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/05\/rosebreastedgrosbeak600.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/05\/rosebreastedgrosbeak600.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/05\/rosebreastedgrosbeak600.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2092,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/great-bird-migration-spots\/","url_meta":{"origin":1907,"position":3},"title":"Great Bird Migration Spots","author":"Hillary T.","date":"April 20, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"It\u2019s the event that bird watchers around the state have been waiting for: spring migration, the time of year when birds leave their winter grounds and head north. Typically, spring migration in Massachusetts lasts from early March to early June, with the peak usually falling sometime around Mother\u2019s Day for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Get Outdoors"","block_context":{"text":"Get Outdoors","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/get-outdoors\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2013\/04\/2-warbler-2-IMG_7245_ni_pwp.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":15245,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/your-chance-to-speak-up-for-birds\/","url_meta":{"origin":1907,"position":4},"title":"Your Chance to Speak Up for Birds","author":"Christina W","date":"February 26, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"The\u00a0100-year old\u202fMigratory Bird Treaty Act\u202f (MBTA) is one of our first environmental statutes,\u00a0making it\u00a0illegal to hunt, trap, kill, or possess nearly 1,000 avian species. Despite providing crucial protections, the law has\u202fbeen under attack\u202fin recent years.\u00a0\u00a0 Normally, when birds die through activities like\u00a0energy extraction, the MBTA helps hold companies responsible, and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Advocacy"","block_context":{"text":"Advocacy","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/advocacy-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Osprey Nest Nicole Mordecai","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/02\/2556Nicole_Mordecai34674.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/02\/2556Nicole_Mordecai34674.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/02\/2556Nicole_Mordecai34674.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/02\/2556Nicole_Mordecai34674.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15200,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/one-way-light-pollution-impacts-birds\/","url_meta":{"origin":1907,"position":5},"title":"One Way Light Pollution Impacts Birds","author":"William Freedberg","date":"February 24, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Boston's bright lights create a hazy glow on the horizon that can be seen for miles. Photo \u00a9 Michael Mondville Migrating birds are attracted to artificial light at night, and ornithologists are just beginning to understand how that affects their survival. Recent studies show that the diffuse glow of entire\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Birds & Birding"","block_context":{"text":"Birds & Birding","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/birds-birding\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Skyline copyright Michael Mondville","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/02\/5788Michael_Mondville28710-e1614094691234.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/02\/5788Michael_Mondville28710-e1614094691234.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/02\/5788Michael_Mondville28710-e1614094691234.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/02\/5788Michael_Mondville28710-e1614094691234.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1907","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1907"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1907\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1907"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1907"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1907"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}