32 fen Be vA WD U BiOiNne Be Weisel 
the People (June 3) about ‘the 
sudden and drastic shortage of 
birds of all kinds” at her feeding 
station. She wonders if pollution 
is the cause. 
“Altho pollution does have an 
undesirable effect on birds as well 
as on all other living things, I 
would suggest that there is at 
least one other reason for the de- 
crease in numbers of the birds com- 
ing to her feeding station. This 
reason is the mating season. The 
Carlberg back yard is not large 
enough for the ‘hundreds of birds’ 
to carry out their nesting activities. 
“Most song birds establish a ‘ter- 
ritory’ surrounding their nests and 
they defend this area from the in- 
trusion of other birds, particularly 
those of their own species. In order 
to find suitable nesting sites it is 
necessary for patrons of a feeding 
station to disperse to areas where 
nesting conditions are more favor- 
able. 
“You may wonder why they do 
not continue to come to the place 
where the food has been satisfac- 
cause you cannot furnish the food 
that is needed at this time. Most 
of the nestlings are unable to eat 
grains and seeds. While in the nest 
they are fed insects to a large ex- 
tent. 
“My wife and I are Federal Bird 
Banders, voluntary co-operators 
with the Fish and Wildlife Service 
of the United States Department 
of the Interior. We trap or net wild 
birds, place a numbered aluminum 
band on one leg of the bird and, 
after recording all of the informa- 
tion we have about the individual, 
release the bird unharmed. During 
the Spring migration we have 
banded and released several hun- 
dred birds of numerous species in 
addition to recapturing dozens of 
birds we banded in previous years, 
some of which we know to be nine 
or more years old. 
“Like Jean Carlberg, our feeding 
and trapping areas are almost de- 
serted at this time, but it will not 
be long until we can expect our 
former customers to return, bring- 
ing their offspring along to show 
them where the free food is avail- 
tory for so long. Perhaps it is be- able.” 
UPLAND GAME RESEARCH BULLETIN AVAILABLE 
Copies of the booklet “Abundance and Harvest of Doves, Pheasants, 
Bobwhites, Squirrels, and Cottontails in Illinois, 1956-69” are available 
from the Illinois Department of Conservation. 
This technical bulletin is an in-depth report covering 14 years of 
research into population trends, distribution and abundance, produc- 
tion and harvest of each of the five upland game species. 
The bulletin is the result of many years of research and compiling 
figures by William L. Preno, a staff biologist for the Division of Wild- 
life Resources, and Dr. Ronald F. Labinsky, an associate wildlife 
specialist for the Illinois Natural History Survey. 
Basically, the booklet is designed for biologists and technical per- 
sonnel, as well as serious biology students, according to Jim Lockart, 
supervisor of the Division of Wildlife Resources. Only one copy would 
be sent out for each request received by his office. Requests should 
be sent to: Department of Conservation, Division of Wildlife Resources, 
400 S. Spring St., Springfield, Illinois 62706. 
—Paul E. Downing 
