Plane Feeding

From New Jersey skies there fell to snow-starved birds, one day last fortnight, manna in 1-lb. paper bags. Dr. Philip Gootenberg, president of New Jersey's Consolidated Sportsmen, had thought up the idea. The U. S. Department of Commerce had waived its regulation against throwing things from airplanes in flight. Paterson's Wright Aeronautical Corp. had lent a plane and crack pilot. Three times Dr. Gootenberg soared up from Paterson, flew low over inaccessible, snow-covered woodlands, pelting down 750 bags filled with corn, wheat, millet, rye. Consolidated Sportsmen was also busy last week adding 75 bird self-feeders to the 125 it has already placed in remote New Jersey swamps and forests.

Filled every two months, the bins discharge slowly through a s-ft. pipe into a tin pie plate as the birds empty it. The device is fastened about two feet from the ground, enclosed in natural-looking brush. Four openings are left in the brush so the birds may make a hasty exit when vermin come in. Put out on Christmas morning, one feeder was reported three days later to have attracted thousands of birds.

With some 10,000 enthusiastic conservationists enrolled in its 22 chapters and many a sportsman's league affiliated, Consolidated Sportsmen intends to let no bird starve in New Jersey this or any other winter. Through its growing number of sanctuaries and hatcheries it hopes to keep on increasing the game birds which make the State their seasonal home. Much of its actual field work is done by the organization's 6,000 junior (8-18) members. Taken to the field in groups of 150-250, the boys are taught conservation and sportsmanship. A women's auxiliary gives socials, provides both seniors and juniors with fun indoors.

Said Dr. Gootenberg last week: "If other States would do what we're doing, there would be no such thing as a game bird shortage in the U. S."

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