20 THE A. U'D U'BO NB Ube ee 
As a second part of the program, I propose that influential organizations, 
such as the Illinois Dunesland Preservation Society, work with agencies 
such as the Nature Conservancy to purchase areas which could be established 
as inviolate preserves to be used for scientific purposes only. The Illinois 
Chapter of the Nature Conservancy is cognizant of the rapid disappearance 
of many of our native habitats because of urbanization and intensive land 
use. They have already assisted in purchasing Volo Bog, our best relic of 
the sphagnum-tamarack community in Illinois. The Illinois Chapter has also 
succeeded in obtaining Rocky Branch, a peculiar glacial relic in central 
Illinois. I feel sure the Illinois Chapter would be gratified to cooperate 
with the Dunesland Society as they have with others. 
Perhaps people would realize the significance of these areas if each 
were given some distinctive name, such as “The Lake Michigan Dunesland, 
A Heritage of Prehistoric Illinois.” Perhaps one can envisage a whole series 
of “Heritages of Prehistoric Illinois” which would be a great force con- 
tributing to the recreation and education of the citizenry of the entire 
state. 
Illinois Natural History Survey, Urbana, Ill. 
Editor’s Note: The foregoing article is a condensation of a talk presented by Dr. Ross at a 
meeting of the Illinois Dunesland Preservation Society in the Illinois Beach State Park Lodge. 
ic ff i ‘et 
Spring Migration on Lake Michigan 
By Robert P. Russell, Jr. 
ALTHOUGH NOT AS IMPRESSIVE as the fall migration, spring migration 
on Lake Michigan is nevertheless a notable event that Illinois birders 
should not miss. Along the Lake Michigan shoreline are many harbors, 
beaches, and piers that swarm with ducks, shorebirds, and gulls in migra- 
tion. One who knows these spots can add many birds to his year and life 
list, birds which are seldom found elsewhere in Illinois. 
When the ice breaks up sometime in March, early migrants start 
winging their way north. Canada Geese, Killdeer, Great Blue Herons, and 
Marsh Hawks are the first arrivals, having wintered no farther south than 
southern Illinois or Kentucky. Early in March a few White-winged Scoters 
arrive, probably from the East Coast. These birds can be seen between 
Glencoe and Evanston, usually several hundred yards off shore. 
The first large duck flocks to appear are scaups and goldeneyes, which 
gather in large numbers at Burnham harbor in downtown Chicago and 
at the harbor in the Great Lakes Naval Training Center near North 
Chicago. On an average day several thousand scaups are present, with 
lesser numbers of Bufflehead, Ring-necked Duck, and Blue-winged Teal. 
The peak of the scaup migration usually falls around April 1-5, but small 
flocks may remain until early May. 
In early April grebes appear in small numbers. The best spot to see 
grebes is Belmont harbor in Chicago, where for the last few years Eared 
Gretes have been seen with the more common Horned Grebes. If the 
