Te RA BAUD s BORNE 6B 0 (bi Belt oN 15 
Sage Grouse and Habitat: America’s largest grouse, the sage hen, is 
being studied by the Utah Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit to de- 
termine how best to improve its habitat and increase the present remnant 
population in the face of intensified human use of its range. The study 
is financed by a special grant from the Wildlife Management Institute. 
Special attention will be given to the effects of the reseeding of sage- 
brush lands to grasses. Study areas have been established on the famous 
“Pines Reseeding Project” of the Dixie National Forest near Panquitch, 
Utah. In pioneer days, when the sage grouse was abundant, grasses 
played an important part in its existence. Since then, heavy grazing, 
irrigation, and other human enterprises have materially reduced the 
amount of range available to the “cock of the plains.” Only a handful 
of western states now has enough grouse to warrant more than a rigidly 
limited season on these large birds. 
Another phase of the study will be a survey of the effects of the 
intensive predator and rodent control program of the U. S. Fish and Wild- 
life Service on grouse populations within the reseeding areas. 
715 S. Division Street, Barrington, Illinois 
Spring Bird Study Courses 
FOR THE THIRD YEAR, Mrs. Theron Wasson, of River Forest, Illinois, 
assisted by Mrs. John Shawvan, will offer a course in “Knowing Our 
Birds” during the spring months. Helpful for beginners or advanced 
students alike, the course is designed to make one learn to know our birds 
by sight and song, as well as to understand bird habits, habitats, migration 
and family relations. 
The class meets every Thursday morning, 8:30 to 11:50 a.m., from 
April 3rd to May 22nd, usually in River Forest. Each meeting includes 
a field trip to woods, prairie or swamp, and a lecture-workshop period 
in the Wasson home. Students are able to make an intensive study of 
Mrs. Wasson’s collection of over 200 birdskins in plastic tubes. Work 
sheets, slides and charts are also used. Classes meet regardless of the 
weather. The course is limited to 25 members; the fee is $10.00. Advance 
registration is required; write to Mrs. Theron Wasson, 606 Thatcher 
Avenue, River Forest, Illinois, or telephone FOrest 9-7718. 
Mrs. ‘Wiasson and Mrs. Shawvan have conducted the popular free 
course in bird study at the Morton Arboretum for the last six years. This 
class meets for 10 weeks and is limited to 50 members; it includes field 
trips about the Arboretum, as well as color slides and bird song records. 
Designed to help the working person, the course meets on Saturday 
mornings in the spring, from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. Members wishing to 
register should write to the Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois, early in 
March. 
The Illinois Audubon Society will again provide leadership for Satur- 
day and Sunday morning bird walks this spring in the Chicago area 
public parks. Announcements will appear shortly in the Chicago news- 
papers, or information may be obtained from the Chicago Park District. 
