16 THEAUDUBONBULLETIN 



Starling Invaders Arrive in Illinois 



The most interesting ornithological happening of the season 

 at Urbana has been the wintering of a flock of blackbirds which 

 has included approximately thirty Bronzed Grackles, a dozen 

 Cowbirds, and at least seven Starlings. These birds have lived 

 within the city limits and kept in close proximity to dooryards 

 in a somewhat thickly settled part of the city. In deference to 

 city ordinances against the use of firearms and to a desire not 

 to antagonize the citizens who are interested in the birds, no 

 successful effort has thus far been made to secure specimens. 

 The identification is unquestionably correct, however, in the 

 opinion of a number of competent observers. Dr. Charles P. 

 Alexander of the State Natural History Survey has seen the 

 birds repeatedly and unhesitatingly asserts that Starlings are 

 present. Dr. Alexander, who compiled Fulton County records 

 for Eaton's Birds of New York, had become familiar with Star- 

 lings before leaving that state to take his present position. Mr. 

 C. J. Telford of the state forestry service, who at New Haven 

 and elsewhere has had experience with Starlings where they are 

 well established and abundant, expresses entire confidence that 

 the birds seen here are correctly identified as Starlings. Mr. 

 Frank C. Baker, Curator of the Natural History Museum, has 

 had frequent opportunities to study the birds at close range in 

 his own dooryard and is similarly convinced. The writer on each 

 of five occasions, February 4, 5, 11, 12, and 22, with a prism 

 glass, studied the birds for a half hour or more with favorable 

 light conditions and found them to correspond in detail with the 

 descriptions and figures of the Starling in winter plumage. The 

 numerous pale specks, especially on the under parts ; the dark 

 iris; tinge of yellow in the beaks of some specimens; and the 

 short tail, together with the general coloration, were unmis- 

 takable. 



Although the various kinds of birds keep in the same general 

 flock, there is a very obvious tendency for individuals of the 

 same kind to associate more closely with each other than with 

 those of the other kinds. This is especially true of the Starlings. 

 The Cowbirds seen by the writer have all been males, but one 

 observer is confident that he has seen at least one female. No 

 Rusty Blackbirds have been identified by the writer, although 

 one observer is quite positive that he has seen one. This is the 

 first winter record of Cowbirds in the vicinity, known to the 

 writer. Grackles not infrequently pass the winter here, and 

 less frequently Rusty Blackbirds are associated with them. 



An examination of available published records of the Star- 

 ling has emphasized the importance of having especial effort 

 made to establish the authenticity of first records for any local- 

 ity. In 1911 Bird-Lore contained an account of Starlings seen 

 at Newberry, Michigan in 1909 and 1910. In a later number of 

 the same year there is a note stating that the report was found 



