2 T HE “APU SD USB OW s8 Ue er eee 
Miss Betty Groth of Oak Park, who founded a Y.W.C.A. girls’ club for 
nature study; Mrs. Jane Tester of Rockford, active in conservation and 
civic groups; Peter Petersen, Jr. of Davenport, Ia., employed in the Daven- 
port Public Museum, an inveterate birder, vice-president of the iowa Orni- 
thologists’ Union, and a member of I.A.S. since his 12th birthday; Mrs. 
Bertha Huxford of Evanston, former vice-president of I.A.S. and now presi- 
dent of the Evanston Bird Club; Miss Helen McMillen of Evanston, past 
president of the Evanston Bird Club; Mrs. Lester Stolte of Park Ridge, 
president of the Park Ridge Bird Club. There were no nominations from 
the floor and the committee’s proposed slate was elected unanimously. 
Director Milton Thompson asked that nesting records be sent to him at 
the Illinois State Museum, Springfield, by the end of September. He wants 
all Illinois records of identified nesting, with dates and locations. The ma- 
terial will be used in the BULLETIN. 
The afternoon session started with greetings by President Paul Downing 
and Dr. O. K. Bower, President of the Champaign County Audubon Society, 
our host club for the annual meeting. Dr. Warren Keck, I.A.S. director, in- 
troduced the speakers for the first half of the program, and Miss Lois Drury, 
past president of the Champaign Society, presided after the intermission. 
Karl Bariel of Blue Island reported on 23 years of purple martin study 
in his home area, a city of 16,000 persons. His annual census figures show 
a definite fluctuation in numbers of nesting martins that seems to have no 
relation to weather conditions. The numbers go up gradually to a peak, 
then decline to a low, with the interval between lows about 22 years and 
between peaks, which may be sustained several years before the decline be- 
gins, about 20 years. He expects the next peak about 1970, but is now 
watching for effects of insecticide use that may affect the results. He said 
the main cause of young dying in nest houses is excessive heat, usually the 
result of nest area being too small. He recommends a triangular nest box, 
10x14x14 inches, with the hole on the shortest side so the martin can brace 
itself against back walls to fight off starlings. He said the government size 
recommendation of 6-inch square nesting area is barbarous when you con- 
sider that the martin is 7 inches long. 
Elton Fawks reported on his studies of the bald eagle along the Missis- 
sippi river and said more young have been seen in the last year than in 
several years preceding. Reports from other areas such as Florida, how- 
ever, continue to be disheartening with few if any successful nestings. The 
meeting was saddened by news of the death, just a few days earlier, of 
Charles Broley, who had done extensive eagle studies and banding in Cana- 
da and Florida. He died of a heart attack while fighting a brush fire near 
his home in Canada. 
Peter Petersen, Jr. reported on progress in preparing a “where to find” 
bird field list for an area extending from Savanna, III. south to Keithsburg, 
Ill., and from Stanwood, Ia. east to Dixon, II]. It will give periods of occur- 
rence, frequency, breeding periods and habitat of the birds. It probably 
will be published this winter. He asked that anyone with records in the 
described area communicate with him at the Davenport Public Museum. 
Richard Hoger of Glen Ellyn described the work he and Mrs. Hoger have 
done in rescuing sick or injured birds and animals and what they plan to 
