28 THE AUDUBON BULLETIN 



Bird Protection in Illinois 



The Directors of the Illinois Audubon Society believe that the present 

 time is opportune for a candid discussion of the situation as to the protection 

 of wild birds in Illinois and the writer has been delegated to open the 

 discussion. A mere outline of the situation involves so much that added 

 comment and discussion will certainly make this article somewhat formid- 

 able in length. To mitigate this state of affairs sub-headings will be in- 

 serted at intervals so that the canny reader may slip from time to time from 

 one of these headings to another considerably removed and shorten his task 

 with probably little loss to himself. As a preface to the first sub-heading 

 it may be stated that the officials of the Illinois Audubon Society are in 

 frequent receipt of reports of wrongs committed upon bird life by boys 

 and men and cats, and there is apparently the implication, "uttered or 

 unexpressed," that the Illinois Audubon Society should be able to intervene. 

 In a letter recently received one of our friends writes: "My observation for 

 a considerable number of years has thoroughly convinced me that the 

 Audubon Societies, both state and national, really accomplish very little 

 indeed in the matter of bird protection so far as the country at large is 

 concerned. Within a very limited field such as the establishment of reserva- 

 tions or preserves (mostly for the protection of certain sea birds and other 

 waterfowl) and in a few localities favored by an efficient police force and 

 rigid enforcement of the laws, these societies have undoubtedly accom- 

 plished something toward bird protection. But for approximately nine- 

 tenths of the area of the United States, the laws for the protection of birds 

 are practically a dead letter, and might just as well not exist. I am sorry 

 I have to write so pessimistically, but my experience covering many years 

 and many localities, certainly justifies my conclusion." 



For this plain speaking let us be thankful — for it is well-meant — but let 

 us admit only that we "are baffled to fight better." To that end let us take 

 stock. What have we? The General Assembly of Illinois is now in session. 

 If we need more or better laws, now is the time to ask for them. 



The Illinois Law Relating to Non-Game or Insectivorous Birds 



Section 6. Any person who shall, within the State, kill or catch, 

 or have in his or her possession, living or dead, any wild bird, or part 

 of bird, other than a game bird, English sparrow, crow, blackbird, 

 blue jay, chicken hawk, or cormorant, or who shall purchase, offer or 

 expose for sale any such wild bird, or part of bird, after it has been 

 killed or caught, shall, for each offense, be subject to a fine of five 

 dollars for each bird killed or caught or had in his or her possession, 

 living or dead, etc. 



An Unfortunate Omission 



Now this Section 6 just quoted lacks a certain expression which was 

 carefully written into Section 4 and all other sections of this law which 

 relate to game birds, namely, the words "or attempt to kill or catch." 

 Because of the occurrence of these words in Section 4, if one attempts to 

 kill a game bird, one is liable in law even if one's aim is faulty. But one 



