2 THE AsUsD UB ON? 5100 UD Ea 
Mrs. C. F. Russell of Decatur presented a comprehensive report on the 
need for breeding bird censuses in Illinois, pinch-hitting for Milton Thomp- 
son, who was not able to be present. Mrs. Russell called attention to Mr. 
Thompson’s article on the subject in the last Jllinots Audubon Bulletin. 
Pointing out that we enjoy good field guides today because of the records 
others have kept in the past, she urged local clubs and individuals to take 
part in breeding bird censuses in their areas. Only two were listed from 
Illinois last year out of thousands from all over the country in the “Audubon 
Field Notes!”” Among Mrs. Russell’s suggestions: Start early, but continue 
into August so as not to miss late nesters. Don’t make a path or call at- 
tention to nests under observation, or predators may find them. She referred 
those interested to the December, 1956, ‘“‘Audubon Field Notes” with a re- 
port of the 20th Breeding Bird Census, and said tabulation sheets should 
be sent in by Sept. 1 or after the first fall club meeting. Mr. Thompson, at 
the Illinois State Museum, Springfield, will edit reports and put them in 
the Bulletin. 
Elton Fawks of Moline told of the activities of the Natural Resources 
Council of Illinois, of which I.A.S. is a founding member. Mr. Fawks is 
chairman of the N.R.C.I. this year. He invited both organizations and in- 
dividuals to become members. 
Le Roy Tunstall of Wheaton, conservation chairman of the I.A.S., gave a 
report on conservation matters — DDT spraying for Dutch elm disease, 
Bruce’s Eddy Dam, the Smokey the Bear program, and a Boy Scout pro- 
gram on conservation, a poster from which he showed on the wall. Mrs. 
Russell told of the new junior memberships available in the National Audu- 
bon society. Distinct from the Junior Audubon Clubs, this $1.50 membership 
gives children five issues a year of “Junior News,” a kit of stories with 
color stamps to paste in, and a membership button. 
The Illinois Hawk and Owl Bill 
Mr. Fawks took charge of the next section of the program, on the im- 
pending hawk and owl protection bill. David Seal of Rockford, who has a 
special interest in these birds, showed slides of hawk silhouettes and color 
photos of hawks in the hand, taken at a Wisconsin trapping station. 
Dr. Thomas G. Scott, head of the section of wildlife research of the Illinois 
Natural History Survey, was the next speaker. Before going into the sub- 
ject of predation, he noted that when he joined the Survey, he found three 
men working on waterfowl, and one, Dr. R. E. Yeatter, working on upland 
game birds with a little spare time devoted to songbirds. Last fall Dr. Scott 
brought in Dr. Richard Graber to work full time on non-game birds. (Ed. 
Note: See Dr. Graber’s article elsewhere in this issue.) 
Discussing the effect of Dutch elm spraying on bird life, he mentioned 
that robins are especially hard hit because DDT soaking into the ground 
stimulates earthworms, which come to the surface and are eaten by robins. 
The earthworms seem relatively resistant to DDT, but the chemical in their 
systems is deadly to worm-eating birds. He advised DDT spraying early, 
before April 1, to avoid killing birds. He also said sanitation is probably 
more important than spraying; affected trees must be cut down and burned. 
