
CONSERVATION AT THE CROSSROADS 
By, Betty Groth, Vice President 
BEGINNING WITH THE MURDER OF AUDUBON WARDEN GUY BRADLEY BY THE PLUME HUNTERS, “MAN’S 
DOMINION” is the brilliant new book by Frank Graham, Jr. which Audubon Editor Bill Bennett has asked Betty Groth to 
read and review for publication in Audubon Bulletin. This deluxe first edition was sent to Bill Bennett by the publisher, and 
Bill sent it to Betty to keep her up nights on conservation battles of the past to shed light on the future. 
SENTENCING THE SCENIC RIVERS BILL IN ILLINOIS TO DEATH was a cold water shock, but why give up? We have 
just started. Your Conservation Cabinet immediately issued a notice to all Illinois Senators to keep Scenic Rivers protection 
in the forefront of Senate plans for the future. When things fail, that’s the time to begin anew. Miracles happen only to those 
who believe. 
THE CONSERVATION CABINET’S DREAM FOR THE FUTURE includes a new conservation committee to be picked by 
your CHAPTER or AFFILIATE . . . to join hands with us in our new goals: ILLINOIS CONSERVATION FIRST, MIDWEST 
NEXT, AND NATIONAL NEXT. Fulfilling our home role best is vital. Being alert and helpful on midwest or cross-country 
issues is critical. CONSERVATION BEGINS AT HOME... but this is OUR COUNTRY as well as OUR STATE. What 
happens to part of us happens to all of us. Please send us the names and addresses of your new conservation committee, so we 
may give you recognition in the next issue. 
FOX AND GEESE GAME AT MORTON ARBORETUM: Our Saturday morning ‘‘drive and hike” through the Arboretum 
brought unexpected rewards. While murmuring complaints about the high unmowed grasses that had been green velvet lawns 
six weeks ago, lush with sunny spring daffodils and blue scylla, we sat in wonder in Round Meadow and watched an 
unexpected fox lope out of the grass, step uncertainly across the road in Round Meadow where our car was parked, then 
prance off into the protective deep grasses safe on his journey. On Sterling Lake we watched a perfectly straight column of 
geese swim out from shore, with one parent goose leading, five young following, and the other adult protecting the rear of the 
column. When the big front goose turned in the water, the five young turned with military precision in the new direction. It 
was a beautiful sight to see such perfect line swimming and such effective protection of the young. We trust the fox never saw 
the geese. This magnificent Aboretum environment for wildlife is possible only because someone bought that land in 1910 
and ‘20’s and preserved and enhanced the environment for the privilege of public education ...in the ‘30's, the ‘40's, the 
‘50's, ‘60's, ‘70’s . . . the Morton millions for conservation. 
THE CONSERVATION YOU DO TODAY MAY MAKE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON THE FUTURE OF AMERICA, 
KEEP ON KEEPING ON. YOU MAY BECOME ONE OF THE GREAT ONES. SOME DAY PEOPLE MAY BE WRITING 
ABOUT YOU. 
NEW PESTICIDE GUIDE — Gardening season is almost over, but whatever the weather, ‘Pesticides: A Guide to Safe 
Gardening Use’’ makes interesting reading. The new booklet, which has just been published by the Missouri Botanical 
Garden, explains some natural control measures and lists those chemicals which are least toxic to wildlife. You may get a 
copy for .75 cents by writing the Gift Shop, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, Mo. 
NEWS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION 
The SHARPTAIL GROUSE, last sighted in IIlinois over 150 years ago, may soon become re-established. Two years ago, 
the Department received 25 males and 25 females which had been live-trapped in South Dakota. These grouse were released 
in a reclaimed strip mined area in Fulton County, near Canton, and they are now in their third breeding season and 
apparently on the increase. 
Dancing grounds have been located; and several dozen birds were spotted in the area this spring. The Sharptail is 
brownish, with black, buff and white markings; and is distinguished by legs feathered to the base of the toes. The bird 
resembles a hen pheasant, but is slightly smaller; and averages about two pounds in weight. 































