10 LH EWA U D UU BiOCNG BE UL De Eyror NN 
Fayette, Effingham, Jasper, and Crawford Counties. The idea of promoting 
conservation activities is. worth while, and the Illinois Audubon Society 
should cooperate as far as is feasible and appropriate. Such an effort could 
be a big step in the effort to make the Illinois Audubon Society more state- 
wide in its activities. 
Several years ago, an effort was made to canvass the state for information 
concerning local societies interested in birds or in nature in general. Mr. 
Harry Smith gave considerable time to this project. The results indicated 
that there are not many such groups, apparently, and they are usually 
small. Mr. Raymond Mostek has continued to work on this program, and 
his efforts should be supported. Mr. Smith recently left our state to live in 
California. 
It is not easy to get information about downstate interests except in the 
larger cities. Mr. Mostek has suggested sending copies of the Audubon 
Bulletin to public libraries in order to stimulate interest and also establish 
contacts. This could be fruitful. 
fA fl S! 
NEW REFUGE IN FLorIDA. According to the June issue of Nature Conserva- 
tion News, “Corkscrew Swamp, containing the last large forest of tidewater 
cypress in the United States, as well as a great rookery of American egrets 
and wood ibis, will be partly saved from destruction by lumbering through 
efforts of the Corkscrew Cypress Rookery Association and cooperating 
groups and individuals. The swamp is in a roadless area of Collier County 
in southern Florida.” 
The National Audubon Society will give protection and interpretative 
service until a permanent arrangement is established. Much credit for 
creating interest in the project must be given to Mr. Ernest Taylor, an 
amateur herpetologist, who gave many illustrated lectures on the swamp. 
5716 S. Stony Island Ave., Chicago 37 
vet ft ai 
On the Stoning of Purple Martins 
By PAUL H. LoBik 
EVERY SUMMER, beginning about the middle of July, one of nature’s most 
impressive phenomena may be seen at Chicago’s Lake Front — the flocking 
of Purple Martins prior to their southward migration. The largest flocks 
gather near Montrose Harbor, on the north side of Lincoln Park. Here, 
from late afternoon until sunset, thousands of Martins whirl through the 
sky, circling above the harbor and dropping into the elms momentarily, only 
to dash off again, blotting out the setting sun with their numbers. 
The flock at Montrose Harbor probably reaches its peak at the end of 
August, when as many as 10,000 birds may be seen in a single group. After 
