
COLUMBIA RIVER DAMS BLOCKING SALMON RUNS 
EE SEMIN RUNG 
A spokesman for the Oregon Fish Commission Said that thousands of salmon were 
believed to have died before they spawned because they were blocked by dams. 
The summer run of Chinook salmon has been declining for a decade, but the 
problem was more acute this year, 






Ine of the major causes of death is "gas bubble disease" which is the excess 
of nitrogen in the blood. This is directly related to the water absorbing high 
quantities of nitrogen as it passes over a dam. The Commission put most of the 
dlame on the new John Day Dam which went into operation this spring. The Army 
corps of Engineers has denied that the dam is responsible for all the problems. 
?>ESTICIDE MISUSE RUINING AGRICULTURE IN CENTRAL AMERICA 
ee EL ENT RAL AMERTCA 
xr. Ray Smith of the University of California has warned that the misuse of 
»esticides had brought agriculture to the brink of disaster in El Salvador, 
guatamala and Nicaragua. Dr. Smith, who made his Survey for the Food and Ag- 
ficultural Organization, said that Overuse of the poisons has bred resistant 
Jugs and caterpillars; and has turned insects that were minor nuisances into 
lajor pests because their natural enemies have been destroyed. 
Ix. Smith believes that massive crop failures now seem imminent in these coun- 
‘ries. The big growers have increased their pesticide applications, on the 
sheory that if a little is good a lot must be better. Smith said that the mere 
-ost of the pesticide applications has taken much of the profit out of farming, 
ind many farmers are now unable to repay the banks and pesticide companies that 
idvanced the money. 
The European Tree Sparrow has long been thought of as a St. Louis 
bird. Most people interested by birds realize that the bird does 
Occur in "nearby Illinois", but few birders know that the bird's 
range has spread. In Illinois this species occurs in the following 
counties: St. Clair, Madison, Macoupin, Greene, Calhoun, Morgan, 
Scott, Pike, Adams, Brown and Cass. 
EUROPEAN TREE SPARROW STUDY 
/ 
Does the bird occur outside these eleven counties? Frankly, we don't 
know. Because so little is known of this species, an active study has 
| begun. Because of the size of this study much help is needed. We are 
appealing to all Illinois Audubon members to contact us with any and 
| all information concerning this bird. We would appreciate all observa- 
) tions as to range and life history data. 
Please forward this information to either Mrs. Sarah Vasse, Brussels, 
Illinois, or Mr. Richard Anderson, 1147 Grenshaw Drive, St. Louis, 
Missouri 63137. 
| 
] 
BTIRED PERSONNEL DIRECTOR TURNS BIRD PHOTOGRAPHER 
——————_— eh ERD _ BIRD PHOTOGRAPHER 
ince his retirement, Walter W. Wood of Alton has taken over 2,000 35mm slides 
ft birds; and he has turned his yard into an outdoor studio for photography. 
90d has appeared before many organizations in the Alton area and uses his 
lides in a lecture program. When speaking before young people, such as Boy 
couts, he always urges them to refrain from wantonly shooting at birds and 
ther wildlife. 



