Because of its early founding and example to others, Theodore Roosevelt, father of American conservationism, once referred to Bird City as "the most noteworthy reserve in the country." Today, snowy egrets continue to return to Bird City each spring to nest until resuming their migration in the fall. The Empress of Germany's bird of paradise was one of the most heavily hunted birds of paradise in the plume-hunting era, and was the first bird of paradise to breed in captivity. It was bred and observed by Prince R.S. Dharmakumarsinhji of India in 1940.