4 THE “A. U DsU.B lO IND BW Urs eee 
One federal official turned to a Florida state senator near me and Said 
not once, but several times: “These Audubon people are the most powerful 
group of conservationists in the country, but unfortunately, they do not 
know how to use their potential.” Considering our own state of Illinois, 
I could not help but agree with him. One can only hope that in the near 
future the people of Illinois will catch the spirit which has moved the people 
of other states to save more land and wildlife before it is consumed by 
greed and exploitation. 
At a meeting the next day, it was announced that the San Bernardino 
Audubon Society had donated $1000 to the national office to help establish 
a Southern California Audubon ‘Center. An added gift of $500 by another 
lady was also announced by the national office . . . The 60th convention of 
the National Audubon Society will be held at Tucson, Arizona, Nov, 7-11, 
1964. 
615 Rochdale Circle, Lombard, Ili. 
(a fl ia ft 
Birds of Shelby County State Forest 
By Rick Thom 
Shelby State Forest is the newest and smallest of the four Illinois State 
Forests; it is only about 1,000 acres in size. Shelby Forest is located about 
midway between Strasburg and Stewardson, three miles west of Illinois 
Route 32. 
One-third of the area is former pasture and cropland which is being 
reforested with trees best suited to the soil and drainage characteristics. 
The remainder consists of deciduous timber, ranging from saplings to 
some very fine stands of hardwood trees, including a sycamore 74” in 
diameter. 
Richland Creek flows through the forest and creates periodically 
fiooded low areas in which bottomland vegetation thrives. This combination 
of upland and bottomland timber, shrubby fields, open fields, forest edges, 
brushy fencerows, and swamp habitat accounts for the many species of birds 
and wildlife that are present. 
In the spring, wild flowers grow in great profusion, especially in the 
moist wooded areas along the creek. Floods of warblers and other song- 
birds pass through every spring and fall. The creek has a sandy bottom and 
runs quite clear. In several places it is walled by rocky bluffs. Crevices in 
these bluffs harbor phoebe nests. 
The Division of Forestry intends to plant food patches for quail and 
pheasants; the brushy fence rows will remain, as will the brush piles. 
Several old ponds are being renovated, and new ponds will be constructed. 
The many natural springs on the area will be protected from destruction 
and pollution. Three old orchards will be left as wildlife habitat. 
Work has been initiated on a small campground and picnic area which 
should be completed by spring of 1964. A number of foot trails have been 
laid out, and self-guiding nature trails will be installed. This is a public 
conservation and recreation area where hunting and fishing are encouraged; 
however, no hunting will be allowed on the 160 acres which include the 
forest campground and headquarters. 
