24 THE “AUDUBON? BUD Ee 
readily accede to the necessity of 
controlling development within the 
corporate limits of a city, but are 
horrified at the prospect of ap- 
plying similar standards to the hin- 
ter lands. The list could go on and 
on, but it is only a further study in 
frustration. 
A FEW YEARS ago, | sat one eve- 
ning with my _ children looking 
through a photo album containing 
pictures of my younger days. The 
usual comments were made about 
my hair line, how well | photo- 
graphed, etc. But one picture really 
caught my oldest boy’s attention. It 
was a shot of me lying on my stom- 
ach taking a drink from a mountain 
stream. He questioned me at great 
length about this and for several 
years after, anytime we crossed a 
small stream he would ask about 
the possibility of drinking from 
that stream. 
He rarely asks that question any- 
more. He has been told no, so 
often, followed by the usual expla- 
nation on the polluted state of our 
waters that the idea of drinking 
from a stream is no longer palata- 
ble. Chances are better every day 
that he may never enjoy the thirst 
quenching gratification of a drink 
from nature’s cup. 
BUT EVEN WORSE, unless we 
pay more than lip service to the 
environmental needs of our times. 
| can’t help but wonder if his chil- 
dren or your children’s children 
may some day be equally impress- 
ed by pictures of their father as a 
boy swimming in a not too pollut- 
ed lake or catching fish from a 
stream that can no longer be used. 
The present trends in resource mis- 
use lead inevitably to that conclu- 
sion. It can be changed only if we 
care enough to do more than talk 
about it. 
eae... ___ | | EE 
A MESSAGE TO: The Readers of This Magazine 
SUBJECT: An Editorial Switchover 
This is my final issue as editor/producer of Illinois Audubon Bulletin. 
Having told you that, let me introduce a fresh, young, knowledgeable 
face—Vernon Kleen—who will inherit the editor’s seat-cushion and be 
responsible for this quarterly journal, beginning the next issue 
(Fall 1974). 
Vern will bring a new, strong sense of ornithological authority to 
these pages. Both before and after becoming the first non-game staff 
biologist with the Illinois Department of Conservation, he initiated an 
impressive number of original bird-research and bird-count programs 
which allow—in fact encourage—member and public participation. He 
has, of course, served IAS on the board of directors for several years. 
So, hereafter, manuscripts and related editorial correspondence 
should be mailed directly to Vernon Kleen, c/o Illinois Department of 
Conservation, 400 S. Spring St., Springfield, Ill. 62706. 
My own seven-or-so years as editor were thoroughly rewarding: 
It is perenially pleasant for a journalist to see raw copy come to life, 
and hopefully, to educate and inform. The task also unexpectedly 
created two regular students of birdlife (wife and self), and may have 
had as much as anything to do with our recent move from metro- 
suburbia to rural Wisconsin, where we’re both working to restore more 
non-game habitat than we’d have guessed seven years ago. 
—Bill Bennett 
