erm e e BAOeNe 1 dls bret sli N an 
stroying insects, weed seeds, and rodents; that any method of poisoning or 
light-trapping starlings, grackles, and Redwinged Blackbirds would be sure 
to kill many other songbirds which we are pledged to protect under migra- 
tory bird treaties with Canada and Mexico. So far, nothing more has been 
heard from Rep. Gathings or of his proposal, but it may come up again be- 
fore Congress adjourns. If so, members of all Audubon Societies should 
unite in their protests. The type of alertness and teamwork displayed by 
John Bayless and the others is just what is needed if we are to continue to 
protect our wildlife from thoughless destruction. 
yt! fi ra 
PROGRESS ON THE BOOMING GROUNDS 
By RAYMOND MOSTEK 
THE CAMPAIGN TO SAVE the Prairie Chicken in Illinois has already had 
several beneficial results. The dog trials which have been held each spring 
in the Lee County Conservation Area, and which have plagued efforts to 
preserve the birds in that reserve, have been ended by special order of the 
new Director of Conservation, William Lodge. The Conservation Depart- 
ment also announced that plans are under way to survey an area in Jasper 
county with the possibility of leasing 250 acres on a temporary basis. The 
Department is seeking land elsewhere with the thought of transplanting 
some Prairie Chickens. This will be in the nature of a pilot project. Over 
400 persons in Illinois from a dozen organizations have contributed over 
$4,500 to the Prairie Chicken Foundation in its campaign to purchase 
several 40-acre tracts in Southern Illinois. Since we have over 600 members 
in the Society, many of our members have “forgotten” to send in any con- 
tribution up to now. This can be corrected by sending a check or money 
order to the Prairie Chicken Foundation of Illinois, 819 N. Main St., Rock- 
ford, Ill. 
615 Rochdale Circle, Lombard, Ill. 
a A fi 
What’s Happened to Our Bluebirds? 
IN THE Marcu 1961 Audubon Bulletin, Mr. Jack Keegan reported that the 
population of Bluebirds at his nesting boxes had declined alarmingly in a 
year, and asked, ‘““What’s happened to our Bluebirds?” From Indio, Califor- 
nia, Dr. H. M. Weber has replied: “The Bluebirds have been dying from 
the slow cumulative effects of protoplasmic poisons. In many cases the birds 
are not killed ... but are rendered sterile.”” Considering the fact that Blue- 
birds are birds of the orchard, where spraying of insecticides has been con- 
ducted for many years, it is quite likely that such a cumulative effect has 
indeed become evident. 
Going one step further, your Editor wonders whether the plight of the 
Bald Eagle, which so much concerns Elton Fawks and his collaborators in 
the National Audubon Society, may not also be traced to pollution of our 
waters by detergents and pesticides. Dead and dying fish ave a large part 
of the diet of Bald Eagles; if the fish have been contaminated, then the 
eagles will be poisoned in turn. The grave dangers to wild bird life posed 
by the threat of pesticides is clearly shown by the article on Dutch Elm 
disease spraying elsewhere in this issue. 
