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BLUEBIRD NESTING PROJECT 
The Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis sialis) is a charming little bird with a 
sweet warble which always meant springtime to me. When I was just a 
boy growing up in Northwestern Pennsylvania bluebirds were quite plenti- 
ful, but with the growing population, industry, housing projects and clearing 
of the fence rows, the habitat for the bluebirds was taken away and has 
caused a diminishing of these beautiful little feathered friends. The natural 
habitat of these birds is holes in fenceposts or hollow trees or in an old 
woodpecker’s hole, as the beak of the bluebird is not made to make holes 
in trees. They appreciate bluebird houses. Besides the aesthetic value of 
these birds it is interesting to know that about 70% of their food is insects. 
To get our population of bluebirds back again we need nesting areas 
for them. It was with this in mind and a visit back to Pennsylvania where 
I saw a successful bluebird trail that a dream of mine was born to have 
a bluebird trail here in the mid-west. It was at a Boy Scout exhibition at 
the DuPage County Fair Grounds where I saw a booth of bird houses 
which attracted my attention. After a conversation with the attendant 
I was assured by him that his boys would construct some bluebird houses 
for me with the agreement that a hike would be scheduled for them 
to help place them. I agreed to this very readily. 
In 1965 the houses were finished and placed on fence posts along the 
Illinois Prairie Path between Geneva Road and North Avenue, which was 
later assigned to the I.A.S. for care and development. Last year the blue- 
birds took over and began their home life on the trail. It was a thrill for 
me to see them and to hear that hikers of the trail were also thrilled to 
see these charming birds. I was amazed to be hiking with a middle-aged 
man on this trail who said he never remembered having seen a bluebird 
in his life. 
At last a dream came true, a bluebird trail, and the hope that we will 
increase our bluebird population in this area. I am happy to have it on 
the Illinois Prairie Path where many who enjoy God’s great out-of-doors 
and a walk through our prairie lands can enjoy it also. You may see House 
Sparrows, House Wrens, Tree Swallows also using this type of a home, 
but they are all a part of our bird life. 
—LeRoy Tunstall - Chairman I.A.S. Book Sales Dept. 
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REGIONAL OFFICE AND 
AUDUBON BOOKSHOP HAS NEW OFFICE HOURS 
The Regional Office of the Illinois Audubon Society will have new 
office hours, as follows: Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.; Wednesday, 
2 p.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursday, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. We have also installed 
a telephone, where messages may be left and information may be 
obtained at hours in addition to the above. The number is WO 8- 
7239. The office and AUDUBON BOOKSHOP is located at room 
No. 10, at 1017 Burlington Ave., Downers Grove, Ill. 60515. Mail 
orders may also be filled. The office is under the direction of Mrs. 
Alpha Peterson. 
