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6 THE, AUDUBON BU LL Eee 
The 1961 Christmas Bird Census 
Introduction by WILLIAM E. SOUTHERN 
THIS YEAR WE have once again tabulated the census records. This form 
provides a ready comparison of data from various stations. It is also pos- 
sible to determine the number of records for a particular species. Station 
data is presented separately. 
The count period was from December 17, 1961, to January 1, 1962, in- 
clusive. There were 236 observers from 17 stations reporting a total of 
114 species and 216,826 individual birds. 
Several somewhat uncommon species were reported. Most of these records 
were supported by careful descriptions and a discussion of habitat, be- 
havior, etc. A few unusual records were omitted because of lack of sup- 
porting data. Counts of winter fringillids and other winter visitants were 
low. Only one station reported crossbills, and one reported a Snowy Owl. 
The occurrence of Broad-winged Hawks in Illinois during the winter is 
of continued interest to me. Last year several were reported. This year 
two stations recorded broad-wings. The Jo Daviess census, perhaps because 
of its early date, reported eight individuals of this species. All of these 
birds were observed at the Savanna Ordnance Depot by the author and 
others. We visited the area each week-end thereafter. It became obvious 
that the numbers of this species dwindled as the severity of winter in- 
creased. By early January all the broad-wings had apparently departed. 
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EDITOR'S NOTE: In his haste to get the Christmas Census into tabular form, Mr. 
Southern completed his report early in January and sent it to the Editor before an 
additional four censuses had been submitted. The reports for Morton Arboretum, 
Waukegan (northern Lake County), Springfield, and Lake Geneva were added to the 
table later by the Editor. The summary of results given above was altered to include 
the additional figures. 
It is interesting to note that the last Christmas Census to appear in tabular form 
in the Audubon Bulletin (in the March 1958 issue, No. 105), showed totals of 110 
different species, 149,888 birds, reported from 13 stations. Now that we have located 
an inexpensive means of typesetting and printing the table for our Christmas Census 
(note that it was bound separately into the center of this issue), we hope to publish 
future Censuses in tabular form each year, as in the past. —P.H.L. 
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Station Data 
Alexander County, HORSESHOE LAKE REFUGE. Approximately a 15- 
mile diameter circle centered upon the refuge. Open water and flooded 
woodlands, 60%; deciduous woodlands, 20%; roadsides, 20%. Dec. 21; 
6:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Clear; 32° to 37° F.; wind, 0 to 3 m.p.h. Five ob- 
servers in one party. Total party-miles, 60 (all by car). — A. Bjelland, 
L. Lundy, G. Schnell, W. Southern (Compiler), J. Tate, Jr. 
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