2 THE A‘U. DU; BiOONG, BAU Loe ee 
search, prepare data on the decline in numbers of our hawks and owls. This 
was done by using the Christmas Counts for the past 50 years. It is the 
writer’s hope that this valuable data will soon be published. It is also the 
writer’s belief that this data had much to do with winning the support of 
the Department of Conservation. 
Valuable help came from various people in the Federation of Sportsmen’s 
Clubs. Royal McClelland arranged for Dr. Scott to write an article for 
Illinois Wildlife. This was published in March, 1957, Volume XII, Number 
2. Anyone with an interest in the role of the predator in nature should 
read this valuable paper. Milton Thompson of the Illinois State Museum, a 
Board Member of the J.A.S., must be given credit for writing the bill and 
getting it through the Legislative Research Bureau. Credit must also go to 
all officers of the I.A.S. and to many Audubon members and clubs who 
supported my efforts. 
House Bill #1063 was introduced in the Legislature by Reps. Bob Austin, 
Republican of East Moline, Ralph Stephenson, Republican of Moline, and. 
Paul Rink, Democrat of Rock Island. After passing the Conservation Com- 
mittee unanimously, it was introduced in the House May 7, 1957. It passed 
the House with no opposition and was sent to the State Senate on June 5, 
1957. In the Senate the measure was handled ably by Senator Morris E. 
Muhleman, Republican of Rock Island. Arrangements were made in ad- 
vance to have a fact sheet on the bill on the desk of each Senator when the 
bill was to be voted on. The bill passed the Senate unanimously. 
The bill as first presented by us gave a landowner or tenant the right to 
destroy harmful individuals. This was taken out. We therefore have a 
stronger bill than other states. However, our job of education to really 
protect the birds (a law is just the first step) must now start in earnest. 
Now that we have a law giving total protection we MUST do all we can 
to educate farm people, our youth, our hunters, and in fact everyone about 
the worth of these birds. 
We in Illinois now protect more species of birds (unless new laws have 
been passed elsewhere) than any other state. The only birds not protected 
now are the English sparrow, starling and domestic pigeon. The dove, 
classed as a game bird, is not protected except during the closed season. 
It has been a pleasure to work for this new hawk and owl law. Many 
people came forward to help. To give credit to all would be impossible. To 
everyone, thanks. To everyone — let’s go to work now to protect our birds 
through education and law enforcement. 
Box 112, R.R. #1, East Moline 
Ed. Note: As this issue goes to press, we are still awaiting information 
from Springfield regarding the status of the crow under the new law. It is 
difficult to believe that this species was put on the protected list. The I.A.S., 
the N.R.CI., and the Conservation Department had no intention of protect- 
ing crows when the bill was proposed. If this is the case, we will support an 
amendment to permit crow hunting as before. 
