12 T'h. EH SASUSD UB OUN SBeUeLeeies 
The role of hawks and owls as killers and eaters of other animals has 
often led to discussions of “economic importance”? and much of the earlier 
literature describes certain species as either “harmful” or “beneficial.” This 
idea is rapidly disappearing. We are beginning, through more detailed field 
and laboratory studies, to understand that predation is a natural force best 
“visualized in its ecological entirety...” (Craighead and Craighead, 1956) 
and one not readily measured in the simple terms that satisfy the economic 
interests of humans. Man is only beginning to understand this complex 
force and its ramifications. 
We may never completely understand the role or importance of certain 
species (e.g. Duck and Pigeon Hawks), since their rapid decline in numbers 
has limited the necessary comprehensive investigations. Fortunately, pro- 
gressive legislation protecting our raptores (Illinois law, for example, pro- 
tects all hawks and owls) now exists. If these laws are obeyed and enforced, 
perhaps we may, in the future, not only better appreciate the importance 
of these predatory birds to the general welfare of the wildlife community 
and to man’s best interests, but we may eventually gather enough facts to 
understand better their role in the “phenomenon of predation.” 
Literature Cited 
Bent, A. C. 1938. Life Histories of North American Birds of Prey. Part 2. 
U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull. No. 170, x + 482 pp., 92 pls. (Dover reprint, 1961). 
Craighead, J. J. and F. C. Craighead, Jr. 1956. Hawks, Owls and Wildlife. 
Harrisburg, Pa., The Stackpole Co. and the Wildlife Management Inst., Washington, D. C. 
xix + 443 pp. 
Errington, P. L. 1932. Technique of Raptor Food Habits Study. Condor 34(2):75-86. 
Munyer, E. A. Winter Food of the Short-eared Owl, Asio flammeus, in Illinois. 
Trans. Ill. Acad. Sci. (In press). 
Illinois State Museum, Springfield, Ill. 
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LA.S. Wildlife Film Program for 1966-1967 
Here’s an Advance Notice of the Wildlife Films to be presented by the 
Illinois Audubon Society at the Field Museum of Chicago during the 
coming season. This abbreviated schedule is presented for the benefit 
of program chairmen of our affiliates and other persons who must plan 
events well into the winter. These full-color movies will be shown at 
the Museum, Roosevelt Road and Lake Shore Drive, on Sundays at 
2:30 p.m. As always, admission is free and open to everyone — mem- 
bers are urged to come early. Complete, printed programs will be 
mailed to all I.A.S. members early in the fall. 
Oct. 30, 1966: Inherit the Wild — D. J. Nelson 
Nov. 20, 1966: Island Treasure — Walter J. Breckenridge 
Dec. 11, 1966: The Vanishing Sea — Robert W. Davison 
Jan. 15, 1967: Gone with the Wilderness — Karl Maslowski 
Mar. 12, 1967: Northwest to Alaska — Walter H. Berlet 
