14 ToH ES AU DU BaOUN? (BU aaa aN 
The Christmas Census — 1959 
Introduction by PAUL H. Lozpik 
WE ARE PLEASED to report that the 1959 Census has been prepared for the 
printer by an able assistant editor — William E. Southern of DeKalb, Illi- 
nois. Your Editor, after struggling mightily and alone with the Christmas 
Reports for nine years, is happy to relinquish this exacting task, particu- 
larly to someone who is exceptionally well-qualified for such duties. 
Mr. Southern is assistant professor in the Department of Biolegical Sci- 
ences of Northern Illinois University. He has done some work in ornithology 
at the Michigan State Biological Station, and has previously served as as- 
sistant editor of the Jack-Pine Warbler, journal of the Michigan Audubon 
Society. 
We learned only recently that Mr. Southern also spends the summer 
months teaching the course in bird study at the Wisconsin Audubon Camp. 
He is highly enthusiastic about his work there and urges everyone interested 
in attending the camp to write to him. We can say from personal experi- 
ence that two weeks at an Audubon Camp means one of the most satisfying 
and enjoyable vacations one can spend anywhere! If you would like more 
information about the Wisconsin Camp, please write to Mr. Scuthern at 
Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IIl. 
This year’s Christmas Census. is again in narrative style, but most of the 
reports are still in the order followed in our late, unlamented tabulations. 
As before, unusual records are set off in bold face type. All of che old areas 
are still with us, and a few new ones have been added. Here, then, is the 
Illinois Bird Census for 1959: 
fi fi fA 
Arboretum, LISLE, DUPAGE CouNTY. Entire 800 acres of Morton Arboretum, 
the Saganashkee Slough and forest preserve to its north, and Bemis Woods 
forest preserve (in Cook County) — same as last year. Semi-open area 
15%; open fields and farm land 10%; oak woods 35%; pine and spruce 
stands 30%; river bottom 10%. Dee. 27; 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; cloudy and 
humid all day, raining hard at times; temperature 29° to middle 50’s; wind 
S.E. 10-20 m.p.h.; almost no snow left; ground very wet and muddy, lots. 
of water standing in low spots, streams running full. Fourteen observers in 
3 parties. Total party-hours, 26 (24 on foot, 2 by car); total party-miles, 
108 (60 on foot, 48 by car). — Great Blue Heron, 2; Mallard, 12; Lesser 
Scaup, 2; Common Merganser, 16; Red-tailed Hawk, 6; Red-shouldered 
Hawk, 5; Rough-legged Hawk, 1; Marsh Hawk, 1; Sparrow Hawk, 5; Ring- 
necked Pheasant, 10; Herring Gull, 66; Mourning Dove, 4; Great Horned 
Owl, 1; Long-eared Owl, 9; Saw-whet Owl, 1; Yellow-shafted Flicker, 1; 
Red-bellied Woodpecker, 7; Hairy Woodpecker, 8; Downy Woodpecker, 28; 
Blue Jay, 51; Common Crow, 252; Black-capped Chickadee, 77; Tufted 
Titmouse, 9; White-breasted Nuthatch, 11; Red-breasted Nuthatch, 3; 
Brown Creeper, 5; Carolina Wren, 1; Robin, 28; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 
11; Cedar Waxwing, 10; Northern Shrike, 1; Starling, 147; House Sparrow, 
