This data galvanized the conservation movement, and the first wildlife conservation law was born. In the early 1900’s a group of women, led by Harriet Hemenway and Minna B. Hall, founded the Massachusetts Audubon Society. They recruited over 10,000 members in the first year of the organization and launched one of the first campaigns in the US against the use of feathers in fashion. Through their efforts, the state of Massachusetts prohibited the sale of wild bird feathers. The efforts of this organization helped to pass similar legislation throughout the US. During the late 1800s, hunting of birds was a popular pastime. Women adorned their hats with feathers, wings and entire birds, resulting in an estimated 200 million birds being killed annually for the millinery trade. Ornithologist Frank Chapman took to the streets of New York and counted 40 species and 173 individual birds on the hats of the women he passed. This data sparked the conservation movement and the first wildlife conservation law was enacted. In response to the ongoing exploitation of wild birds, Harriet Hemenway and Minna B. Hall founded the Massachusetts Audubon Society in the early 1900s. This organization quickly gained 10,000 members in the first year, and launched one of the first campaigns in the US against the use of feathers in fashion. Thanks to their efforts, the state of Massachusetts prohibited the sale of wild bird feathers and similar legislation passed throughout the US. Today, the consequences of the millinery trade are still felt, but conservation laws have made it illegal to hunt birds for fashion, and thus have helped to protect birds from further exploitation. Wildlife conservation organizations such as The Massachusetts Audubon Society continue to advocate for the protection of birds and other wild animals.