The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1918-04-27
Lake County Forest Preserve, as Bird
Sanctuary
BY MARY KELLY GRAVES

(Note = The following article, submitted
for publication in The Theocqat by w. j. Wat
kinS, county agricultural adviser deals with
a subject of very practical Importance. The
study of birds, in connection with their value
to crops, is attracting the attention of farm
ers more and more as they become enlight-
ened on this subject 1t is also being intro
duced into the schools in various parts of the
country, especially in the State of Kansas,
where it is estimated that millions of dollars
worth OF growing crops are destroyed every
year through the depredations of insects,
upon which bird life largely subsists.)
very practical purpose which the pro-
posed forest preserve for Lake County will
serve, and one which should prove of vital
interest to the farmer and agriculturist, is
that of much needed sanctuary for birds.
The Illinois Audubon Society spent con-
siderable time and money in putting on
series of lectures in Chicago during March,
the purpose of which was to emphasize the
part which birds play in food conservation, -
just at present, very real world problem.
Lecturers of international fame have given
themselves to this cause and much local in
terest has been aroused. The public has been
requested to do everything in it's power to
attract birds to Central Eastern States, and
much constructive work has been done to off
set the fallacy that birds are more harmful
than useful to the agriculturist. /
Through these lectures the public was in
formed of the thorough and interesting work
which the government has done in investigat-
ing the stomachs of thousands of birds to de-
termine the question. The results of the in
vestigation seem to be all on the side of the
contribution which these winged creatures
make to mans food supply. The department
of agriculture will be glad to furnish these
bulletins and references upon application.
Mr.. Louis AgaSsiz Fuertes of Ithaca, New
York, estimates that the rodent, insect and
weed-seed eating birds are responsible for
salvage to the grain and fruit crop of the
United States, of not less than 81 000, ,000,-
900 year.
1t has been demonstrated that in a remark
ably short time, wild life recognizes protec-
tion. The establishment of forest preserve
in Lake County would unquestionably restore
much of the bird life that under present con-
ditions is falling an easy prey to the lawless
shooter with his pop gun and other destroying
devices.
The State Game and Fish Commission of
Illinois is already doing good work in the in
terest of the birds and Lake County has bird
reservation near Round Lake. An encourag-
ing sign is the fact that the State Farmers
Institute has several times in the last few
years had on it's program, talks on "Bene-
Hclal DlrQS. Inc Time is ripe Tor more con-
certed and persistent work along these lines.
Why not the greater sanctuary which a for
est preserve would give?
Much of the ground work has been laid
through state legislation and the practical
experience which Cook County has had in go
ing steadily forward in securing the land con-
templated for it's preserve. It only remains
for the people of Lake County to register
their demand at the polls and these beautiful
districts will belong to the people for all times
as a forest preserve
Mr.. 0. NJ Schantz, president of the Illinois
Audubon Society, has signifed his willingness