Correspondence discussing the Malheur Lake Wildlife Refuge and dam construction on the Klamath River in California. News releases describing William Finley's life and lectures are included.
Correspondence, articles drafts, and notes discussing the Malheur Lake and Lower Klamath Lake Refuges with a focus on the impact of agricultural projects on the reservations, including water shortages and pollution. Additional topics include concerns about an antelope population limit at the Hart Mountain Game Refuge and the introduction of non-native species to replace dwindling native bird and fish populations.
Manuscript discusses how the waterfowl in Klamath country are now protected from hunters by game laws. The Bureau of Reclamation destroyed areas of sanctuary for waterfowl because the demand for land for agricultural use was so high. According to Dr. C. F. Marbut from the Department of Agriculture, the soil from the land in and around the bed of the Lower Klamath Lake could not support agricultural means successfully. Instead, the area became a refuge similar to Clear Lake.
Manuscript that ponders whether or not it is justified to exterminate cats that are disrupting a wildlife refuge. The author and Mr. Fairchild observed a trio of cats that caused a bit of mayhem by hunting birds in the refuge.
Manuscript that delves into the game records for duck hunting, finding that the two states with the largest number of birds bagged were permitted to use bait. The author explains that the reason why there was such a concentration of birds in California and Illinois, is that they lie on the most naturally attractive waterways. Other states are mentioned, but the main focus is on California and Illinois. The document goes on to say that the practice of baiting creates an unfair advantage and those that do not bait tend to later follow after seeing the baiters' success. The federal government banned the use of bait in respects to duck hunting.
Manuscript that relays the struggle of farmers and land owners versus the Reclamation Services in respects to the lake beds in the Lower Klamath and Tule Lake areas. It was recognized that the drying of the beds is destructive to the local waterfowl because of a lack of a reliable water source. For the farmers and land owners, they would rather see the land as a place of cultivation. The Reclamation Service believed that only a small part could realistically be kept under cultivation. Part of the area in question became a sump and instead of using all of the land for that purpose, a refuge area was set aside which became the Tule Lake Refuge.
Manuscript chronicling the failure of introducing two male swans to two female swans who had been companions for a few years. The author points out that partners should be introduced in the first two years of life as swans mate for life. After such a long period of association, the two birds became dependent upon each other for all types of companionship long before the males were introduced.
Manuscript that focuses on the American white pelican, which according to this document, has an unattractive appearance. The document also describes how the pelican feeds its young.
The handwritten manuscript features a rough draft of "Bird lives" as well as other manuscripts that most likely were broken up into different manuscripts later.
Manuscript discussing how little is known about California condors. The document details physical characteristics and behavior as well as nesting habitats. Features excerpts from "Condor 1."
The subject of this manuscript is the Valley or California quail, which can be found in California, Oregon, and now Washington. The document lists the bird's call, how it defends itself against enemies, and its physical appearance. The document ends with a comparison of the bird to the mountain quail.
Manuscript detailing lake trips. Document goes on to describe physical characteristics such as length and plant life, as well as detailing the search for white herons. The author is disappointed to learn that the area was one of the most popular plumage hunting sites.
Manuscript describing the author's understanding of the plumage hunters' motivation. The author lays the blame of demand of plumage at the feet of plumage dealers, milliners, and the women who buy plumage.
Manuscript that appears to be an initial edit of a lecture. The manuscript describes the author's efforts in collecting data, combining the results and findings of three exploratory trips.
Manuscript describing a family of eagles on the southern end of Mission Ridge. Finley describes his surroundings as well as the difficulty of wildlife photography.