2 ILLINOIS AUDUBON BULL Ea 
aie yO stent "6 Message 
Inflation is a very serious national problem and one which 
affects all of us to some extent. Since my wife and I do our grocery 
shopping at twelve week intervals, we often note very large changes 
in the grocery prices and it becomes quite obvious to us that this 
cuts deeply into food budgets. Those on retirement income are hit 
even harder since they are less likely to receive cost of living adjust- 
ments along with other pay raises. 
If one is forced to cut back on his budget to compensate for 
inflation, I hope it will not be at the expense of membership in con- 
servation organizations such as the [/linois Audubon Society. A per- 
iod of inflation such as we are now experiencing coupled with grow- 
ing energy use and the resultant increased demand on our natural 
resources makes it more important than ever to have strong citizen 
conservation organizations to safeguard those resources. Merely en- 
actment of legislation for conservation is not solving the problem. 
We must work to see that the legislation is enforced and not weak- 
ened by new non-conservation legislation; such action on our part 
becomes more and more vital. I urge you to give your JAS member- 
ship renewal a top priority in your budget. Help us keep the cause 
of wildlife conservation and natural resource protection in the public 
eye as the major priorities of our state and our nation. 
This same thinking applies to feeding birds in the winter. The 
recent increases in feeding of birds has allowed some species to ex- 
tend their winter ranges northward. If large numbers of people sud- 
denly discontinued feeding it could reduce these expanded ranges 
back to normal. Once feeding has begun in the winter, it is quite 
important to continue feeding throughout the winter. If feeding 
must be discontinued, do so during the spring or summer months. 
One way of cutting expenses but still providing for wildlife would 
be the growing of wildlife foodplants such as sunflowers. Other ideas 
for reducing the cost of feeding are welcome and we encourage our 
members to share their ideas with others through our Illinois Audu- 
bon Bulletin or NEWSLETTER. 
—Peter C. Petersen 
235 McClellan Blvd. 
Davenport, Iowa 52803 
319-355-7 Oan 
SEE 
LIFE is measured not by its DURATION but by its DONATIONS. 
—Anonymous 
a 
