21 APRIL 1928, Page 12

BIRD WATCHERS.

Both the mainland and the islands of South Wales—novp being furnished not only with sanctuaries, but with bird watchers and bird perches at the lighthouses—attract rare birds ; and a comparatively few years- ago, the quail was a common migrant. Why it has ceased to come no one has fully discovered, but probably the reason is the enormous slaughter of the species at the start of their migration on the coast of Africa. The bittern again was once not uncommon, Most other birds have increased ; notably the peregrine, the chough and the raven, which exist in sufficient numbers to attract the collectors and give the bird watchers of the R.S.P.B. a lively time. One additional act of protection is needed. Great quantities of small migrants are still killed at one of the lighthouses on the Pembrokeshire coast, both this month and again in September. This gap in their protective panoply is worth the attention of the R.S.P.B.

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