6 THE AUDUBON BULLETIN 



ately made that place their feeding ground — as the pictures will 

 show. 



Within fifty to 150 feet of the bridge and its approaches these 

 wild water fowl feed and play about in the water and thousands 

 of Decatur citizens, as well as the outsiders who come to town, 

 go to the bridge to watch these guests so friendly and unafraid. 



It is a source of never ending wonder to visitors who see them. 

 Only recently the famous naturalist, Dallas Lore Sharp, lectured 

 in Decatur and learning of the interesting spectacle on the lake 

 asked to be taken out there. A few days later in Chicago he was 

 talking about the extraordinary spectacle on an inland lake. To 

 Decatur citizens it is becoming accepted as a matter of fact — 

 the interesting thing being the complete reversal of feeling of a 

 year ago. Just one sight of those thousands of birds playing 

 there in safety and friendliness does the work. 



Because of the interest in the birds traffic rules have been 

 made to prevent congestion on the bridge and approaches be- 

 cause of the number of cars and pedestrians who make it a point, 

 particularly on Sundays, to travel that way. Without exception 

 all stop to watch the birds — with the result that traffic jams be- 

 came so numerous that the police department was compelled to 

 take a hand. 



What we will do next fall when the birds come this way again 

 we have not yet decided but that we will find some method of 

 feeding and planting feed in certain parts of the lake for them 

 is almost a certainty. 



Now that the making of friends of the wild water fowl has 

 been demonstrated as a possibility our worst obstacles have been 

 overcome. 



It is no exaggeration to say that everybody — almost without 

 any exception — is now with us. The hunters now realize that 

 hunting away from the lake will be good as the birds will go out 

 into the corn and wheat fields to feed next fall. Those who do 

 not care for the hunting but do like to have the birds here now 

 know that they can be induced to come here with a little showing 

 of hospitality and friendliness. 



From being a smiled-at theory the question has become an 

 accepted settled subject and the man who would do anything 

 to cause the birds to stay away would be even more unpopular 

 than the man who started the plan a year ago. 



The assistance of the newspapers in helping to create the 

 right feeling was invaluable, of course. The swinging into line 

 of the state game department and the active support of the local 

 game wardens was the finishing touch. 



The whole community is greatly pleased. 



The photos tell the story. They were taken from the ap- 

 proaches to the county bridge, the camera actually being in a 

 car when some of the photos were taken. 



C. A. Waite 



