6 THETAUDU BON? BULLETS 
Conservation News and Notes 
By RAYMOND MOSTEK 
Seeing America’s Wildlife In Our National Refuges. This new book by 
Devereaux Butcher, published by Devin-Adair, will be out this fall. Cloth- 
bound, $4.50. Paperbound, $2.50. Be sure to pick up a copy for yourself and 
one for a Christmas gift at our book table following one of our Audubon 
Sereen Tours at the Chicago Natural History Museum. Over four and one- 
half million people visited our wildlife refuges in 1953. The two most popu- 
lar areas were the Wichita Mountains in Oklahoma, with 742,000 visitors, 
and Crab Orchard near Carbondale, Illinois, with 714,000 visitors. In ad- 
dition to providing havens for thousands of waterfowl and other birdlife, 
these refuges offer outdoor Americans such facilities as fishing, camping, 
boating, nature study and just plain picnicking. 
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Birds Killed by Use of Air Rifles. . . .Our Society received several phone 
calls from members this past spring, calling our attention to the fact that 
many small boys were shooting at birds with air rifles. To kill or injure a 
migratory bird is a federal offense, carrying a fine of $500.00. This was 
called to the attention of the Chicago Police Department. Investigations 
were made in several communities, schools were contacted and teachers 
were alerted. We appreciate the fine cooperation we received from the Chica- 
go Police Force. Members of the Society are asked to contact their local en- 
forcement officers if they find children or adults breaking the law. It is not 
necessary to ask the Society to take action. 
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Ever wonder how high birds fly? The conquerors of Mount Everest saw an 
unidentified bird at. 27,000 feet. However, lest you think that is the record, 
you should know that a flock of geese was seen flying at 29,000 feet. The 
photograph was made near Dehra Dun, India. Other records are: a giant 
vulture seen at 24,500 feet; Godwits and Curlews at 20,000 feet; Andean 
Condor at 19,500 feet; yellowlegs, black-bellied plovers and sandpipers at 
12,000 feet. The cloud swift of the West Indies is considered to be the 
fastest of birds, flying almost 200 miles per hour. 
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The Second Annual Conference of the Illinois Conservation Council will be 
held in the Hotel Hamilton, 20 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, on Oct. 28 and 29, 
1955. On Sunday, Oct. 30, delegates will visit Illinois Beach ‘State Park, 
near Zion. The conference will be divided into six sections. The first, on 
Friday night, will have as its theme the need of conservation groups to tell 
their story to the general public. Ulmer Turner of the ABC-TV network has 
