ILLINOIS AUDUBON SOCIETY 41 



Concerning the State Game and Fish Commission 



An article in the Spring Bulletin on the enforcement of the bird pro- 

 tection laws in Illinois has called forth a friendly protest from the State 

 (iame and Fish Commission and a statement of the attitude of the Com- 

 mission toward the work of the protection of the non-game birds which 

 should encourage all interested in Audubon work. In its statement the 

 assertion is made that no other agency has done so much for the non-game 

 and insectivorous birds of Illinois as has this Commission, and it cites as 

 evidence of this, its inauguration of the plan of creating refuges for non- 

 game, as well as game birds. It therefore protests against the impression 

 given in the article mentioned that the Commission is not doing as much 

 for the non-game birds of the state as it might do or should do. That that 

 criticism was implied in the article must be admitted, but it was explained 

 in that connection that such a state of affairs was due to the lack of ener- 

 getic interest shown by Audubonites in the passage and administration of 

 bird protection laws, one criticism thus offsetting the other. 



It is evident from the statement of the Commission that it is unwilling 

 that its activity in looking after the protection of non-game birds should be 

 gauged by its published reports which contain but slight reference to that 

 work. This is a matter entirely within the hands of the Commission, but 

 since Audubonites as well as sportsmen are reading its reports and looking 

 therein for matter of particular interest to them, it would seem well for 

 the Commission to give publicity to the wider activities which have in view 

 the protection of all the feathered wards of the state. Anyway, the pro- 

 test of the present Commission against implied criticism of lack of interest 

 in the welfare of song birds is encouraging. It indicates that the song and 

 insectivorous birds, as well as the game birds, have friends at court. 



With reference to the claim of the Commission of having advanced con- 

 structive measures, it should be said that the Commission should be given 

 credit for the bird sanctuary provision in the law which w r ent into effect 

 June. 1915. This law places Illinois in the front rank with such states as 

 Pennsylvania, and Minnesota and two or three others which have passed 

 legislation of this sort. 



The measure referred to confers upon the Commission, power and au- 

 thority to establish bird and game reservations or refuges in any county in 

 the state where it shall be deemed necessary for protection and propagation 

 of game and as a refuge or sanctuary for song and insectivorous birds, the 

 land for such reservations to be leased at a nominal rental of one dollar per 

 year for each parcel. On such reservations the commission may have 

 planted any suitable grain for bird and game food, not to exceed five acres 

 for each one thousand acre reservation, and may pay a rental usual and 

 customary for similar lands in the vicinity. It will thus be seen that The 

 Game and Fish Commission of Illinois has performed an important service 

 for the song and insectivorous birds, as well as the game birds of Illinois. 

 As yet only a few such reservations have been established. It has been 

 necessary to move slowly in order to get a useful body of experience in 

 such work, but it is believed that these reservations will be found practical 

 for both game and non-game birds and that a further development of the 



