Bob Mauritsen's recent email re egg collectors called to mind some history
from the East Coast re the activities of Oologists or as reported in Bob's
note eggers. These are first hand recollections.

During the early 30'S I became interested in Falconry since there were
several active groups in Wash DC practicing the sport. In those years
nesting Peregrines were well established on cliffs of eastern rivers cutting
through the granite fall line marking the boundary between the Pediment and
the Coastal Plain as well as in the gorges of Appalachian rivers. Peregrines
were nesting along the Potomac from the vicinity of DC well into West
Virginia. Specific nest sites were not discussed openly even among the
falconers since there were avid Ologists about. One in particular Ed C. was
well known to collect Peregrine eggs for the market and had connections with
the Smithsonian Natural History Museum.

Some falconers would spot eggs with odd colors to discourage collectors. It
worked with the "reputable" collectors Like Ed C. but not with others. It
became a "friendly" game with Ed who was first. The marking technique was
used with Hudson River Peregines but with little success and eggs were
broken and left on the nest site for spite. Relay watching became necessary
to protect eggs.

Oology as hobby/business was a Victoria activity that carried forward into
the 30's in the US, however, the Lacy Act and the resulting Migratorty Bird
Protection Treaty with Canada and Mexico put a stop to open collecting.

So much for oologists , now lets hope my comments re falconry does not start
a long string against falconry as an active ongoing sport. In my days
usually a single fledgling was removed leaving the others. Oologists
required full a set of eggs for the record. Finally the taking eyases was
largely replaced by trapping birds-of- passage on the East Coast beaches.
Now falconry is, of course, a regulated hunting sport.

Bill