4 THEO ALU DU BrOW®S BU Di hee 
Not so long ago, a naturalist referred to Illinois as “a conservation 
desert.” The charge is justified as long as we permit the hunting of 
mourning doves, for neighboring states east, north and west of us, as well 
as Canada, protect this songbird. The dove is extremely valuable to 
farmers, as more than 80% of its diet is weed seeds; it also consumes 
large quantities of insects. Doves are now protected in 19 states; Canada 
has prohibited hunting of these birds for 40 years. 
Signed petitions endorsing the mourning dove bill should be sent to 
Dr. R. M. Strong, c/o The Illinois Audubon Society, Roosevelt Road and 
Lake Shore Drive, Chicago 5, Illinois. Mr. Guy Atherton, Director of 
Conservation Militant, Box 72, St. Paul, Minn., reports that he has so far 
collected over 1000 signatures from Illinois citizens. Extra copies of 
petitions may be obtained from Mr. Raymond Mostek, Chairman of the 
Dove Committee, 3345 N. Harding Ave., Chicago, or from Miss Florence 
Cummings, 335 Belden Ave., Chicago 14, Illinois. 
Once the bill is introduced in the house, and its number is known, 
members of the Society will be asked to write to their state legislators 
to vote for the bill. At that time it will also be advisable to write to 
Gov. William Stratton and to Mr. Glen Palmer, Director of the Depart- 
ment of Conservation, at Springfield. At last the movement to protect 
mourning doves is under way. Members, it’s up to you to keep it moving. 
Get your letter in the mail now! 
4835 Wabansia Avenue, Chicago 39, Illinois 
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Correction, Please! 
Mr. CHARLES KOSSACK has called an error to our attention in the article, 
“Protection for Mourning Doves — II,” on page 3 of the preceding issue 
of the Bulletin. The study of mourning dove populations being conducted 
by Mr. Kossack and Mr. Harold Hanson has been sponsored solely by the 
Illinois Natural History Survey, under the direction of Dr. Harlow B. 
Mills. The Illinois Audubon Society was not a co-sponsor of this work. 
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C. O. Decker Honored 
CHARLES OLIN DECKER, who served for more than 20 years as Treasurer 
of the Illinois Audubon Society, was unanimously elected an Honorary 
Vice-President of the Society at a recent meeting of the Board of Direc- 
tors. In conferring the title, the Directors recognized the fact that Mr. 
Decker has probably given more of his time and done more work for, the 
Society than any other living person. In addition to the countless tasks 
he performed for the Society, he served for more than ten years as editor 
of the Bulletin. 
