eee DUB O Ne UEC E TN 21 
The Morton Arboretum 
A Bird Sanctuary 
Sixty years ago, Joy Morton, while visiting the Arnold Arboretum 
near Boston with his father, acquired an inspiration which was finally 
brought to fulfillment by the establishment of the splendid Arboretum 
which bears his name. Situated just north of Lisle, in DuPage county, 
it is one of the finest examples of a man’s life-long vision brought to 
fruition. 
The selection of the location was made after an exhaustive search 
for suitable soil conditions adapted to vigorous plant growth, also to 
find a locality known for the good health of its residents. The region 
north of Lisle was found to have more residents of advanced age, still 
enjoying good health than anywhere else in the Chicago region. The 
topography was ideal; the Dupage river’s rich alluvial valley between 
morainic gravel hills, a large portion of the higher ground being cov- 
ered with fine hardwood forest bordered with a luxuriant belt of 
shrubs, indicated suitable soil and good drainage. 
In the spring of 1922 the first plantings were made of new ma- 
terial, which has been continued until today there are approximately 
4500 species and varieties of trees and shrubs, totalling nearly 400,000 
specimens from near and far. Of these more than 10% are evergreen 
conifers. Starting originally with 400 acres, the area has been ex- 
panded to 775 acres, which is more than three times the size of the 
famous Arnold Arboretum. 
The setting aside of so large a tract, and the planting of evergreen 
trees and many fruit and edible seed bearing shrubs to supplement the 
natural flora, automatically created an ideal bird refuge, which the 
birds were not slow in discovering. In the summer of 1922, the writer 
flushed a pair of Lark Sparrows at the edge of the woodland, evidently 
a nesting pair. Benjamin T. Gault’s Dupage Co. records quoted in 
Chapman’s Handbook says of the Lark Sparrow, “local and uncommon 
summer resident.” 
Contrary to the prevalent belief that birds’ nesting habitats are 
controlled by latitude, it is well known that conditions of environment 
and food supplies, are much more vital. Many birds have been found 
nesting far north or far south of their supposed summer homes. 
As examples, the nesting of the Mourning Warbler near La Grange, 
Brewer’s Blackbird in Lake County, the Prothonotary Warbler in Sauk 
County, Wis., occasional nests of the Carolina Wren near Chicago, 
and many other records equally rare. 
Since 1900 a number of birds, principally non-migratory, have 
extended their range. Of these the Cardinal has roamed the farthest, 
having been reported from northern Minnesota, northeastern Iowa, 
and all along the large rivers. Other birds that have moved north are 
the Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, and Bewick’s Wren, the latter a 
migrant. 
