THE AUDUBON BULLETIN 5 
Game Birds Need Protection 
On recent field trips I have been especially interested in game birds 
and I regret to say that very few were found. On the December 25th 
trip I observed tracks made by two Quail; December 30, one covey of 
seven birds; January 1, two coveys, one consisting of four birds and the 
other of five birds. No Pheasants nor their tracks were observed, although 
I have released eighteen in the last two years. Observations of myself and 
others indicate that the Bob-white is decreasing in numbers and that their 
number in this locality has reached a stage bordering on extermination. 
If the balance of the Central Zone has a like condition there is an abund- 
ance of evidence that the Quail should be given the protection of a closed 
season together with some effort by the State Conservation Department 
to restore cover and food supply by intelligent game management. 
The worst enemy of wild life is a politically controlled Conservation 
Department such as we have in this state and unless we force a change I 
feel that the small remnant of wild life left in the state will soon vanish. 
Our neighbor, Iowa, under the Commission form of Conservation Depart- 
ment, is taking the lead among the states and under their twenty-five year 
plan it will be noted that they plan not only to restore and protect game 
birds, but all other kinds of birds as well. In Illinois we sit on the side 
lines and see our conservation funds used for the purpose of rewarding 
political workers by giving them well paid positions with very little in 
return being demanded. Public opinion is against this practice and is only 
awaiting a leader to direct them in a war for the protection and restora- 
tion of wild life in I[1linois. 
HAROLD eA Ur eet iat Lis 
Winter Notes from Williamson County 
Weather conditions for late fall and early winter have been at ex- 
tremes, either fair and warm or cold and rainy. Up until Thanksgiving, 
Indian summer prevailed, with only a few light frosts, but since then, 
heavy rains and cold spells have been in order. ‘hese conditions have 
caused changes in the usual routine of bird activities. Tvransients have 
stayed later than usual, and dates for winter residents from the north have 
been later. At present, the latter are decidedly scarcer than usual. Our 
winter birds are: Pied-billed Grebe, rare and a late winter arrival; 
Buffle-head, rare in the early winter, less so later; Red-tailed Hawk, 
common, Sparrow Hawk, common. 
The Bob-white is less common than usual. It seems that the long 
dry summer which caused this species to nest later than usual, followed 
