ILLINOIS AUDUBON SOCIETY 



41 



they are unmolested. Thatcher's Woods also harbor a large 

 number- 



The mildness of the season will no doubt continue to prove 

 the truth of the old experience that no two migrations are alike, 

 and we can expect all kinds of new developments. 



River Forest Bird Notes 



A half dozen Short-eared Owls have wintered in the con- 

 ifers at Vaughan's nursery near Western Springs. The abun- 

 dance of rabbits in the vicinity made it a desirable place to lo- 

 cate. The same birds were reported to me in the open country 

 north of River Forest where mice were probably abundant. Two 

 or three records of the Barn Owl have been reported from That- 

 cher's Woods. February 26 a Great Horned Owl frightened 

 some small bird enthusiasts in the same locality. 



Most of the winter birds have 

 resorted to the friendly shelter of 

 the Forest Preserve, so few are 

 found in trees and shrubbery about 

 town. A large flock of Bohemian 

 Waxwings have been about the only 

 birds in evidence besides the omni- 

 present House Sparrow. Their 

 fearlessness and fondness for high 

 bush cranberries have made them 

 delightful visitors. 



The open winter has made the 

 birds less dependent on the feeding 

 stations, so observation has been 

 difficult. The absence of Juncos and 

 Tree Sparrows has been offset by 

 the unusual number of Chickadees. 

 Robins, Meadowlarks, and Mourn- 

 ing Doves in unusual numbers win- 

 tered here. The almost unpre- 

 cedented high temperature of Feb- 

 ruary twenty-second was naturally 

 followed by the first wave of migra- 

 tion. Large flocks of Robins, Bronz- 

 ed Grackles ; Red-winged Blackbirds, 

 Crows and Bluejays appeared February twenty-third. Geese, 

 Ducks, Fox Sparrows and Bluebirds followed in smaller num- 

 bers. 



Junior Audubon Observations 



The other day Jack and I were out in the south woods, and 

 we saw a Monkey-faced Owl. When we whistled he would cock 

 his head from one side to the other. 



Irving Porter 



Photo by Alvin R. Cahn 



THE MONKEY-FACED OWL IS AN 

 EERIE SORT OF FELLOW TO MEET 

 IN THE WOODS 



