fee ODO BON BULLETIN 
Published Quarterly by the 
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ROOSEVELT ROAD AND LAKE SHORE DRIVE, CHICAGO 5, ILL. 
Number 98 June, 1956 
The Annual Meeting 
By Mrs. ANNE DOUGLAS BAYLESS 
ANOTHER EXCELLENT AND successful meeting of the Illinois Audubon Socie- 
ty, marred only by bad weather, took place at Dixon, Ill. on Saturday and 
Sunday, April 28 and 29. Registration for the meeting totaled 112, and 
dinner reservations totaled 132. The White Pines Bird Club was host 
organization and most of the activities took place at the Methodist church 
in Dixon. The meeting opened Saturday morning with an informal gather- 
ing of delegates from member clubs, called by Raymond Mostek, conservation 
chairman, to discuss several conservation problems. Dr. R. E. Yeatter of the 
Illinois Natural History Survey reported that the National Wildlife Federa- 
tion is looking for land for a prairie chicken refuge, and an area in Lee 
county (in which Dixon is located) looks promising, but the Federation 
does not have the funds for purchase. Mr. Mostek told of what the Wisconsin 
Society for Ornithology has been trying to do for the prairie chicken. Dr. 
Yeatter said he felt the next move on a refuge in Illinois should be left 
up to the National Wildlife Federation. The purchase of land is not enough; 
supervision is needed to prevent hunting and burning over. Mrs. Elien 
Stenmark, president of the White Pines Club, reported that Lee county 
sportsmen are interested in the prairie chicken and its protection. 
On a possible new law for the protection of all hawks and owls in the 
state, it was pointed out that enforcement of laws already on the books 
can be a problem. Mr. Mostek has talked with Royal McClelland of the 
Illinois Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs about the advisability of a “model” 
hawk law in Illinois, and Mr. McClelland believes it might have a chance 
of passage if support of farmers’ groups and the like can be obtained. 
Mrs. C. F. Russell of the Decatur Audubon Society told of her club’s hawk 
and owl information drive, during which it is distributing National Audubon 
Society leaflets. Mr. Mostek said this will be a subject to be taken up at 
the October meeting of the Natural Resources Council, when an effort will 
be made to have farm groups represented. It was pointed out that the 
State Conservation Department traditionally must OK such a bill before 
the legislature passes it, so the cooperation of the department would be 
required. A vote showed a nearly unanimous opinion that a new hawk and 
owl law should be sought. 
The afternoon session began at 1:45 p.m. with a welcome by Mr. Paul 
Downing, president. Mrs. Bertha Huxford and Franklin McVey acted as 
moderators for a program devoted to the various phases of the Society’s 
and member clubs’ work. Theodore R. Greer of Joy, Ill. talked on “Stimu- 
lating Interest in Nature Study.” He told of taking groups of children in 
the Ist through 8th grades on nature hikes, when even in winter there is 
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