Vo I. 11, No. 8 
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before molting the corresponding right primaries. In 74 percent of the cases, 
left primaries were molted first. Corresponding left and right primaries were 
molted at the rame time in 23 percent of the cases and in only 3 percent of the 
cases did the ric^ht primaries molt first. No definite reason for this phenomenon 
was found. Whether wild hens show this pattern of molt is unknown. 
4. Responses of Bobwhites to Habitat Manipu1 at ion J, A. Ellis 
Results of the prebreeding census in March 1968 indicated that quail 
densities on the Dale and Forbes areas were the highest ever recorded on the areas 
during the prebreeding periods, 1963-68. There were 9.4 quail per 100 acres on 
Dale and 8.2 quail per 100 acres on Forbes. The prebreeding populations in 1 968 
represented declines of 74 percent and 63 percent from the prehunt densities in 
I 967 on the Dale and Forbes areas, respectively. The overwinter losses in 1 968 
were comparable to the overwinter losses on the areas in 1967- Weather conditions 
during the winters of 1966-67 and 1967-68 were not considered unusually detrimental 
to qua i l . 
In 1968, the overwinter survival rates of juvenile cocks were 1.6 (Forbes) 
and 1.8 (Dale) times those of adult cocks, and exceeded those of the preceding 
2 years. We had previously thought that severe winters were associated with 
higher survival rates of juvenile cocks, compared with adult cocks, but possibly 
factors other than weather affect the differential rates of overwinter survival 
among age groups of quail on these areas. 
5. Responses of Prairie Chickens to Habitat Manipu1 ation R. L. Westemeier 
During the spring of 1968, 160 individuals assisted the prairie chicken 
research project with 161 man-mornings in blinds on booming grounds on the Bogota 
Study Area. Twenty-six groups and 14 mornings were involved during the period 
of mid-March to mid-April. Groups represented included the following: Northern 
Illinois University, 20 individuals; Eastern Illinois University, 19; Olney 
Community College, 13; Champaign County Audubon Society, 12; Champaign Centennial 
High School Conservation Club, 11; Indiana State University, Terre Haute, 9i 
Prairie Grouse Committee of the Illinois Chapter, The Nature Conservancy (PGC) , 
5; Great Lakes Chapter, Sierra Club, 4; Prairie Chicken Foundation of Illinois 
(PCFl), 4; St* Joseph's College, Rensselaer, Indiana, 4; Illinois Audubon Society, 
4; Illinois Department of Conservation, 4; Illinois Natural History Survey, 3 
(project leader not included); University of Illinois Agriculture Extension, 3; 
Indiana Izaak Walton League, 3; Crane Lake Game Preserve, 3; Peoria Journal Star, 
2 (outdoor writer and photographer); University of Illinois, 1; plus 37 other 
ornithologists, sportsmen, and interested individuals. 
All observers were briefed on what to look for and then directed into the 
blinds before the birds appeared on the booming grounds. After spending a minimum 
of 2 hours (longer if hens were present) in the blinds, observers were debriefed. 
Aside from enjoying viewing the courtship spectacle and being stimulated to help 
with the preservation of prairie chickens in Illinois, observers cooperated with 
the research project by recording their observations on standardized forms. A 
total of 41 morning records of booming activities were obtained for four of the 
six booming grounds present on the Bogota Area in l968. In addition, two groups 
assisted with prescribed burning (Northern Illinois University) and prairie-plant 
seeding and transplanting (Champaign Centennial High School Conservation Club) on 
