io HAS UL DIUSBSOUN BBeUr iL EYP IN 9 
Birds Found Dying at Lake Calumet. The Southeast Sportsmen’s Club, 
the Chicago Ornithological Society and the Illinois Audubon Society have 
bestirred themselves about the hundreds of shore birds found dying in the 
Lake Calumet Area of Chicago’s southeast side. Appeals were made to 
the Illinois Natural History Survey, the Illinois Conservation Department, 
the City of Chicago and the Nickel Plate railroad. The dying birds were 
found near garbage dumps and small water puddles. Samples of water were 
analyzed but nothing harmful was found. Earlier reports of the possibility 
of botulism were later discounted. Dr. Harold Hanson felt there was a 
strong possibility of algae poisoning. Mr. L. P. Turner, Superintendent of 
Dumps and Incinerators for the City of Chicago, has been very helpful, 
and has notified us that he is attempting to drain the puddles and is using 
fill wherever possible. Since there was some question of lead poisoning from 
piles of slag found there, the Nickel Plate railroad was contacted. Mr. 
Harold McKinley of their Cleveland office wrote the Illinois Audubon So- 
ciety in November that “all wastes from the terminal facilities are drained 
into sewers... that weed killers used in the Calumet area contain no lead.” 
Bird lovers are indebted to Mrs. Anne Douglas Bayless of the Chicago 
Tribune for her series of articles on this problem and to Mr. and Mrs. 
Hoger of Westmont, Ill., who made regular visits to the Calumet area and 
rescued hundreds of birds, feeding and treating them at their own expense. 
We hope that the investigations will continue until the cause is found and 
then eliminated. 
Illinois Anti-Litterbug Law. At a recent Conservation Conference spon- 
sored by the new Illinois Natural Resources Council, delegates learned that 
the Illinois Legislature passed a law which carries a fine of $50.00 for lit- 
tering public highways in our state. 
3345 N. Harding Ave., Chicago 18, Ill. 
Audubon Gifts for Christmas 
For THOSE oF YoU that have not completed their Christmas shopping lists, 
we would like to observe that some of the best gifts you can obtain for your 
family or friends are the ones offered by the Society through its books and 
supply services. See the next-to-last page of this issue for our list of the bird- 
watching materials and field guides. 
The binoculars are handled by our treasurer, John Helmer, 847 Ridge 
Avenue, Evanston (see his informative article elsewhere in this issue). 
Books and other supplies are handled by our Book Service Committee, 
headed by Franklin McVey, 5845 Kingsdale Avenue, Chicago. A letter or 
phone call to either of these gentlemen will bring a prompt solution to your 
gift-buying problems. 
