aoe AsO Ds Bb OONe (Beau b L Bet i N 13 
Mrs. Walter S. Huxford, former president of the Evanston Bird Club, 
was named Third Vice-President and Chairman of the Education Com- 
mittee, replacing Dr. Alfred Lewy, who also continues as a Director of 
the Society. Dr. Lewy has performed many tasks for the Society over 
a period of twenty years; he regularly contributes illuminating book 
reviews which appear in almost every issue of this bulletin. All other 
officers of sthe Society were re-elected for the coming year. 
By unamious vote of the Board of Directors, Mrs. Margaret Morse 
Nice was elected an Honorary Vice-President of the Society. This action 
was taken in recognition of her participation in the work of the Society 
for fifteen years, as well as for her “numerous original contributions to 
ornithological science and literature, contributions which have made 
her one of the outstanding woman ornithologists of our time.” 
A a & 
The Coots on Route No. 80 
By JAMES HODGES 
THE RECENT ISSUE (No. 82) of the Illinois Audubon Bulletin contained two 
articles on the protection of bird life in Illinois. The appearance of these 
articles has prompted me to mention another case of needless slaughter 
of our native birds. 
On highway No. 80 near Fulton, Illinois, (where Fulton and Carroll 
Counties join) is a huge cat-tail marsh. This area is well-known locally as 
the place to observe heavy concentrations of wintering waterfowl, geese in 
particular. Also during the spring migration, this area is a black mass of 
migrating American coots and pied-billed grebes. It is possible to drive 
to the edge of the water and make excellent photographs without the aid 
of a telephoto lens. 
However, the scene is not too pleasant when one observes hundreds of 
dead, mutilated bodies of coots and grebes on the highway. These birds 
like to feed and secure grit on the small piece of land that runs the length 
cf the marsh adjacent to the concrete. With the sudden approach of an 
automobile, the bird becomes confused and attempts to dash across the high- 
way. In this manner hundreds of birds are killed each spring, usually during 
April and May. 
A possible solution would be to string a chicken-wire mesh fence about 
two feet in height the length of the marsh to prevent the birds from dashing 
onto the road. Such a fence would have to be maintained only during 
the time of heavy migration. Perhaps this would be a positive program for 
some individual or bird club in that vicinity. 
324 W. 31st Street, Davenport, Iowa 
Editor’s Note: Mr. Hodges’ article included two photographs which we 
had no space to reproduce. 
