rete ow ee ets Oo Nae Ula l Meier, 21 
LOCAL BIRD POPULATION BACK TO NORMAL 
By Karl E. Bartel 
Do you remeniber the devastation of March 17-18, 1959, when hundreds 
of birds were found dead in Blue Island? I reported this destruction in 
The Audubon Bulletin for June, 1960 (No. 114). The United States Depart- 
ment of Agriculture, Plant Pest Control Division, treated the area with 
heptachlor for Japanese Beetle control. This was done despite knowledge 
that heptachlor kills birds, fish and mammals. From March 17 through 
May 25, over 300 birds were reported and found dead in the area, and 
probably many were never found or reported. Hence 1959 was a summer 
without birds; it was uncanny to travel about a city of 20,000 all summer 
and hardly see a bird. 
Robins were first seen in Blue Island in the last week of July, 1959, 
and the first were banded on July 30th. In other years, hundreds of robins 
would have been banded by this date. Thirty-nine of the 300 birds reported 
were banded birds, and this total of recoveries far outnumbers the normal 
rate for this same area. The normal rate of recovery is three to four birds 
a year. Following the devastation of March, 1959, I found that it takes FIVE 
YEARS for birds to repopulate an area. At the present time one may find 
one or more robins in every block in Blue Island, which is normal. 
One might think that the Common Grackle or blackbird has increased 
in numbers in Blue Island this year. It is true that we see more grackles 
in Blue Island, but this is because the cemeteries now tend to remove the 
shrubbery in which these birds used to nest. The Grackles are now mov- 
ing into town to make their nests. Many of the blackbirds in Blue Island 
are wearing government bands on their legs. They should be reported 
when found dead to Karl E. Bartel, 2528 W. Collins St., Blue Island, I11.,, 
who is a banding agent in this area. Scientific information is gained from 
banded birds as to age, feather growth. distribution, and other data of 
interest to the government. You can help ornithologists by reporting all 
birds you find dead with bands on their legs. 
Since March 19, 1964, I have had five birds return to my yard that I 
banded in former years. One banded 5-28-61, returned 3-25-64 (3 years 
old); Ba. 7-5-62, Re. 4-13-64; Ba. 5-10-63, Re. 3-26-64; Ba. 5-10-63, Re. 
3-26-64; Ba. 5-11-63, Re. 3-19-64; Ba. 5-23-63, Re. 3-30-64. 
2528 W. Collins St., Blue Island, Ill. 
COME TO THE CAMP-OUT! 
Word has been received from H. A. Anderson, lay leader of the 
Country Methodist Church near Danville, that the women’s group of 
the church plans to serve a sumptuous supper to those who attend 
the Illinois Audubon Society Camp-Out at Kickapoo State Park. 
Chairman Ted Greer says that plans are now complete for the finest 
Camp-Out ever. There is a fine campground in the park, which has 
rugged mined-over land and beautiful strip-mine lakes. Dr. S. 
Glidden Baldwin is scheduled to present an exciting program. 
Reservation forms will be in the mail later in the summer. Remember 
the week-end of September 18-19-20 — save it for the big I.A.S. 
Camp-Out! 
