ILLINOIS AUDUBON SOCIETY 41 



"Jan. 12 — I also visited woods for a half hour, finding during that time 

 a company of from 3 to 10 Blue Jays and one Downy. Shortly before a 

 White-breasted Nuthatch was heard calling. No Crows were in evidence. 

 Day fair, wind southerly. Tem. 31. 2 o'clock." 



"Lean" observations seem to be the rule at Rockford this winter, much 

 to the disappointment of the Nature Study Club there. Mr. Paul Riis writes : 

 "It is rather remarkable that bird life this winter is as little represented. 

 The weather conditions have been ideal, but it finds no reflection in the 

 birds wintering here. Not only are many winter residents totally lacking, 

 other old standbys are numerically weak. The Chickadees, so numerous 

 two years ago, are of course with us but in small number, and there are 

 but few Juncos, Tree Sparrows, Brown Creepers, Red-breasted Nuthatches 

 and Blue Jays. On the other hand we are enjoying the visits of a pair of 

 Tufted Titmice (with one report in 1914 of nesting record), a pair of 

 Cardinals, male and female (with also but one nesting record for this 

 vicinity), a few Redpoll, and Evening Grosbeak, singly and in flock. 

 Unusually large flocks of Goldfinches were noted in the fall and owing to 

 the mild weather the White-throats stayed a long period, offering snatches 

 of song more than is their wont. One lone Red-headed W 7 oodpecker also 

 cast his lot with us this winter." 



Mr. J. J. Shaefer reports from Port Byron under date of January 15: 

 "A Marsh Hawk was seen several times during the first week in De- 

 cember. Rough-legged Hawks were here until we had the big snowstorm. 

 December 24. A Short-eared Owl stayed in a mouse-infested stubble field 

 from about December 1 to December 14. Goldfinches were last seen 

 December 16. A Robin was seen in our garden on the morning of 

 December 7. There are more Brown Creepers here this winter than 

 last winter. There are more Red-headed Woodpeckers staying here than 

 ever before. On December 22, I saw about 40, and think they are all 

 here at the present time. A lone Canada Goose was seen flying south on 

 the evening of January 2, fleeing before the terrible cold w T ave. 



"The same birds that came to my feeding station last winter are coming 

 again this winter but there is one new boarder, a Brown Creeper, and it 

 certainly is a fine sight to see this little bird alight at the bottom of the 

 post and climb up to where the suet is. There are a good many coveys 

 of Bobwhite left, and if we do not get any more big snowstorms, they will 

 get through the winter all right. During the severest weather they ahvays 

 come into the barnyards in search of food. The Prairie Horned Larks 

 are also staying here this winter ; I heard them calling today as they flew 

 over. To sum up, the usual numbers of the following species are staying 

 here this winter : Screech Owl, Great Horned Owl, Hairy, Downy, and 

 Red-headed W'oodpecker, Blue Jay, Crow, Tree Sparrow, Junco, Cardinal, 

 Tufted Titmouse, and Chickadee." 



Readers of the last issue of the Bulletin will recall the interesting 

 feeding-shelf reports from Lake Forest by Mr. George Roberts, Jr. 

 Unlike most who are interested in birds, bird-life and conservation. Mr. 

 ^"berts seldom goes to see the birds but he lets the birds come to see him. 



He writes: "Mv observations are limited almost entirelv to what is 



