Illinois & Indiana 
■ Fermilabi 
Lowden- Jackson Parki 
Miller SF 
B$schSPft%'^ 
Parkii 
INDIANA LAKEFRONT: 
A r Hammond Lakefront Sanctuary 
B = Milter Beach 
C = Dunes SP & Beverly Shores 
D = Mich. City Harbor 
Pigeon 
Kingsbury WM A R.WMA 
Grand Kank^ee Marsh _ J 
a Fox Is. 
Jasper-Pulasid WMA ■ Park^ 
, , « -Satamome 
TNC Kankakee Sands 
Pine Creek WMA 
Res. 
Eagle Ceist 
H Creek mRes. 
Lake Park" Lake 
Waveland 
^Lake Monroew 
Muskatatuck 
Lake G ibson 
( INDIANA 
James D. Hengeveld 
Keith A. McMullen 
Geoffrey A. Williamson 
T he Region experienced a relatively 
warm and wet spring. Temperatures 
throughout were significantly higher 
than average in March and slightly higher in 
both April and May. However, the first half of 
April was much colder than normal, slowing 
down migration during that period. Total 
rainfall for the period was approximately 7.6 
cm above normal, as April and May experi- 
enced significantly higher levels of rainfall. 
Along the lakefront, however, March was a 
very soggy month, proving to be the third 
wettest on record in Chicago; in fact, the Jan- 
uary-April period was also the wettest on 
record for Chicago. 
Significant sightings for the period includ- 
ed Barrow’s Goldeneye, Brown Pelican, An- 
hinga, out-of-range Fish Crows, Western Tan- 
ager, and Golden-crowned Sparrow. 
Abbreviations: Bellrose (Bellrose Reserve, Pu- 
laski, IL); Bev. Sh. (Beverly Shores, Porter, 
IN); Cane Ridge (Cane Ridge W.M.A., Gibson, 
IN); Carl. L. (Carlyle L, s. Illinois); Dunes 
(Dunes S.P., Porter, IN); EW.A. (Fish and 
Wildlife Area); Goose Pond (Goose Pond 
FWA., Greene, IN); Hawthorn (Hawthorn 
Mine, Sullivan, IN); Horseshoe (Horseshoe L., 
Madison, IL); Montrose (Montrose Pt. in 
Chicago’s Lincoln Park); N. Pt. Marina (North 
Point Marina, Winthrop Harbor, IL). 
WATERFOWL 
Heavy rains along the lakefront provided 
abundant habitat for waterfowl, which ap- 
peared in good numbers, with many birds 
lingering. Augmenting the few accepted 
records of Black-bellied Wbistling-Duck for 
Illinois were 2 birds at Bellrose 7 May (MM- 
L), 2 more in Pope 26 May (JKD, fide MSS), 
and one at Horseshoe 31 May+ (ph. FRH, 
m. ob.). Greater White-fronted Goose flocks 
included 5000 in Wlriteside, IL 10 Mar (MJB) 
and 3500 in Rock Island, IL 20 Mar (SMF). At 
Carl. L., 300,000 Snow Geese were tallied 2 
& 7 Mar (KAM, DMK). Ross’s Geese peaked 
with 30+ at Bellrose 5 Mar (KAM). Late 
Ross’s included singles in Kankakee, IL 9 May 
OBH), at Muscatatuck N.W.R., Jackson, IN 
10-12 May (ph. DC et ah), and at L. Calumet, 
Chicago 31 May (tWJM). 
Among dabbling ducks, 3500 Gadwalls in 
n. Brown, IL 31 Mar (MJB) and 1281 Blue- 
winged Teal at Goose Pond 1 1 Apr (DG) were 
notable, the latter furnishing a new spring 
high for Indiana. A Cinnamon Teal lingered at 
Salamonie Res., Wabash, IN from 12 Apr 
(JAH) through 1 May (GP). Remarkably, 3 ap- 
parent Blue-winged x Cinnamon Teal hybrids 
were reported: at Kingsbury FWA., La Porte, 
IN 1 Apr (ph. BH), at Evansville, IN 2-11 Apr 
(ph. TG et ah), and at Des Plaines C.A., Will, 
IL 16-18 Apr (TAl, ph. MT, CMA et ah). A fine 
tally of 1000 Redheads occurred at Woodford 
State FWA., Woodford, IL 16 Mar (MJW). A 
Greater Scaup 31 May+ at L. Calumet, Chica- 
go (WJM) was late. 
The first-year male Harlequin Duck that 
wintered at Hammond, IN was last reported 
4 Mar OJM); an male was in Waukegan, 
IL 17 Mar (ph. NAL). It was an excellent 
spring for scoters. Ad. male Surf Scoters seen 
away from the lakefront included 4 on L. 
Lemon, Brown, IN 10 Mar QDH) and singles 
at Horseshoe 30 Apr (KAM), at the Grant St. 
wetland. Lake, IN 2 May QJM et ah), near Ar- 
lington, IL 24 May (MAM), and in Chicago 
18 May+ (SBB). A 2nd consecutive outstand- 
ing spring flight of White-winged Scoters was 
topped by 38 birds at Bev. Sh. 14 Mar QJM) 
and 18 at Montrose 2 Apr (RDH); late birds 
were at Montrose 8 May QSA, JRS) and at 
Whalon Lake Forest Preserve, Will, IL 21 
Apr-29 May (MAM, KAM, JS). Three of the 6 
Black Scoters reported at the lakefront were 
late birds recorded at Dunes 17 Apr (JJM); a 
female remained at Rend L., Franklin, IL 21- 
28 Mar (LSt). Excellent counts of 75 and 135 
Long-tailed Ducks were made at Illinois 
Beach S.P. 14 Mar (RDH) and 16 Mar (DFS), 
respectively. An ad. male Barrow’s Goldeneye 
at Montrose 8 Mar (RDH, tGAW et al.) was a 
rare sight. 
LOONS THROUGH HERONS 
Numbers of spring Red-throated Loons con- 
tinue to climb, with a record-high 89 at 
Dunes and Bev. Sh. 16 Mar QJM) and 13 more 
in Lake, IL (DFS) the same day. Seven inland 
birds included singles at L. Monroe, Monroe, 
IN 23 Mar and 13 Apr (DRW) and a late bird 
at Whalon Lake Forest Preserve, Will, IL 16 
May (PM, JS). An excellent total of 150 Pied- 
billed Grebes was at Cypress Creek N.W.R., 
Pulaski, IL 12 Apr (DMK, MSS). Single lake- 
front Red-necked Grebes were at Dunes 17 
Apr OJM) and in Chicago’s Jackson Park 3 
May QSM); Illinois’s latest ever was at Spoon 
L., Knox 27 Apr-29 May (MJB, AA, m.ob.). Of 
9 Eared Grebes reported in the Region, 2 on 
L. Gibson, Gibson, IN 15 Mar (G&LB) were 
early, and a late bird was at the Celery Bog, 
Tippecanoe, IN 1-2 May (EMH et ah). 
Indiana’s highest-ever American White Pel- 
ican tally, 165, was made at Cane Ridge and 
Hovey L., Posey 31 Mar QSC, AK). 'Very rare 
for the Region was a Brown Pelican that took 
up residence at Melvin Price Lock & Dam, 
Madison, IL 11 May+ (ph. WMR, m.ob.). The 
15,000 Double-crested Cormorants at Rend 
L., Franklin, IL 13 Apr (KAM) represented a 
huge spring congregation; an unprecedented 
1799 nests were counted at the East Chicago, 
IN rookery 27 May Anhingas in- 
vaded s. Illinois: one was seen soaring near 
the Lower Cache Access in Buttonland 
Swamp, Pulaski 1 May (CKM), 6 were there 
23 May (MM-L), and up to 3 were observed 
there through the end of the season. 
Among the many reports of bitterns, a very 
early American was in Jasper, IL 12 Mar 
(CLH), with the peak count being 14 at 
Goose Pond 4 May (LWS). Goose Pond also 
produced the high count of Leasts, with 7 
there 30 May (LWS). One Least Bittern at 
Hammond Sanctuary, Lake 25 Apr (CAM) 
furnished the first Apr record for the Indiana 
lakefront. Snowy Egrets arrived early, one ap- 
pearing at Horseshoe 23 Mar (FRH) and an- 
other at L. Gibson, Gibson, IN 5 Apr (G&LB). 
The 200 Snowy Egrets at Dogtooth L, Alexan- 
der 30 May (DMK, MSS) provided a record- 
high spring count for Illinois. The Region 
hosted 3 Tricolored Herons this spring, in- 
cluding one at Waukegan, IL 29 Apr~2 May 
QOS, ph. NAL, ph. KH, m.ob.), another in 
Fairmont City, St. Clair, IL 24 May (DMK), 
and a third at Hammond, IN 30 May+ (ph. 
JJM, KJB, JKC, SRB, LSH et ah). Part of an im- 
pressive flight, 600 Cattle Egrets were seen 
30 May at Dogtooth L, Alexander (DMK, 
MSS), establishing a new state high count for 
Illinois. At the East Chicago rookery, a 
record-high 238 Black-crowned Night-Heron 
nests were tallied 27 May QSC, AK), while an 
excellent total of 16 Yellow-crowned Night- 
Herons was at Horseshoe 18 Apr (FRH). Re- 
ports of Plegadis ibis were numerous and 
widespread, particularly in Illinois. A Glossy 
Ibis was noted in Sangamon, IL 21 Apr 
(HDB), and 2 were in Fayette, IL 7 May 
(CLH, RES). Illinois reports of White-faced 
Ibis involving multiple birds included 2 at 
430 
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 
