12 THE AUDUBON BU LE. ian 
fertilizers on the soil. Successful combustion engines add nitrous oxide { 
the air and produce smog, and even insecticides are successful but destro 
nature’s delicate balance as predicted by Rachael Carson. New technolog 
cal man has DDT in his fat, Strontium-90 in his bones, and lead in hi 
blood. The scientist gets the facts; the conservationist makes us aware the 
we live in a balanced world with a thin skin of soil, water, and air; th 
public at large should make the ethical decisions.” 
Science in political action was exemplified by Dr. Charles F. Wursto: 
Jr., described as THE authoritative DDT chemist who is currently testify 
ing for the Environmental Defense Fund in Wisconsins’ fight. He define 
the chlorinated hydrocarbons—“hard pesticides’—and described the fou 
qualities that combine to make them hazardous: the broad biologic toxi 
activity; stability (42 life greater than 10 years); mobility in suspensions 
low water solubility; the ubiquitous action of DDT concentration in fé 
and flowing up the food chains of even the ocean-feeding Bermuda Petre 
He said the physiology in raptors, especially, explained the concentratio 
of DDT in the liver where sex steroids are destroyed resulting in decrease 
mobilization of calcium from the bones to the oviducts and resulting i 
thinning on egg shells and decreased nesting success. Some poisoned Brow: 
Pelicans were described as laying omelettes—eggs without any shells! Thi 
contrasted with Red-tailed Hawks which prey on herbivor mice and hay 
normal egg shell thickness. There was one provacative slide on reproductior 
In his first annual report, the new president of National Audubor 
Elvis Stahr, formerly Under-Secretary of the Army and past president o 
Indiana University, recommended environmental action of birdwatcher 
to save the world from problems of population, pollution, petroleum, pest 
cides, plowing, profit, plunder, and passivity. 
Next year—Seattle and the Pacific! 
POSTCARDS 
FOR BIRD LOVERS 
Here is an attractive gift for 
anyone who loves birds. Full-colo: 
postcards like this one are 
available from the IAS Bookstore. 
Card shown here is half actual 
size. For more information or 
to place an order write to: 
Illinois Audubon Society, 
1017 Burlington Avenue 
Downers Grove, Illinois 60515 
The price? You can get 25 mixed 
cards of most of the bird species 
seen around Illinois for only 
$1.00. Order today. 
