16 T BE: “ALU DUB. ON -BsUl Lele alee 
Starling Invaders Arrive in I[Ilinois 
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 
