ILLINOIS AUDUBON SOCIETY 23 



ment of Agriculture at Washington, and those of the great states of Indi 

 ana. Illinois, and Michigan, are continually issuing bulletins urging bird 

 conservation, and are instructing farmers and fruit growers as to the in- 

 calculable value of our native birds, as checks on injurious insects and 

 weeds. In connection with this education the creation of bird havens is 

 urged wherever possible, to be made as attractive and safe as necessary 

 for the re-establishment of many of our fast disappearing birds. 



The present game laws in Indiana, Michigan and Illinois are no doubt 

 broad enough to protect the birds, if enforced. The enforcement of game 

 laws in many communities is, however, a dead letter, and the selling of 

 hunting licenses a very profitable and jealously guarded part of political 

 patronage. The creation of a forest preserve under Federal supervision, 

 automatically prohibits shooting in the territory set aside, and the Illinois 

 Audubon Society realizes that the creation of a National Forest Reserve in 

 the Dunes, would go farther to protect and conserve bird life at the head 

 of Lake Michigan, than all the legislation enacted by the individual states 

 for that purpose. 



It has been demonstrated that in a remarkably short time, wild life 

 recognizes protection. The establishment of a Forest Reserve in the Dunes 

 would unquestionably restore much of the bird life that under present condi- 

 tions is falling an easy prey to the lawless shooter with his pump gun and 

 other destroying devices. 



The list of birds regularly visiting the area comprising the Dunes and 

 the adjacent regions, is a very large one, well over 300 varieties, and the 

 list is often swelled by wandering visitors who are attracted by the won- 

 derful food supply, and the favorable climatic conditions. 



While there have been set aside vast bird havens in the south and west 

 and on the Atlantic seaboard, for the protection of our larger waterfowl, 

 there is no large area in the middle west or Mississippi Valley, where the 

 marvelous throng of land birds whose annual migrations are among the 

 most wonderful phenomena of nature, can find secure resting and feeding 

 places while passing through our region. 



THE BEACH AT THE DUXES 



