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Last week, tall, 200-lb., 66-year-old Jack Miner was gathering news of his last autumn's banding. From gunners' letters he draws maps of the paths of migratory birds. His duck tags have been returned from 33 States and Provinces, covering an area of four million square miles. Farthest southern point is Gueydan, La.; farthest west, Englefeld, Sask. Each year he feeds his migratory visitors 4,000 bu. of corn. His three sons, William, Manly and Jasper, run the brick factory. Manly helps him with the bird sanctuary. So popular have his corn cobs and ponds become that two years ago he had to appeal to the Government for help. Canadian officials gave him $5,000 per year.* Friends help with donations. Deficits are pieced out by the bird lectures which Jack Miner delivers in Canadian schools and clubs. The Jack Miner Bird Sanctuary costs $15,000 per year to run, is host to 20,000 migratory birds. In spring and autumn when Miner's birds gather, people gather also, 4,000 per day, to see (but not to shoot) the waddling ducks, the long-necked, majestic Canadian geese.
*The U. S. Government in 1929 appropriated eight million dollars to found similar sanctuaries.