12 Teo EA UL DIVE BONS BeUr eee 
We sloshed hastily into three blinds constructed by John Slachter and 
the Ellis boys for participants. Two blinds were covered with burlap and 
even had 5-gallon tin cans for seats. Slits in the burlap provided peep 
holes for observing at close range with the naked eye, or at a distance 
with binoculars. 
This is the show of shows, a most spectacular display of avian court- 
ship. The compulsion is so strong that neither rain, thunderstorm, nor 
curious, bird-watching intruders can interrupt the show. This is the 
moment for which Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus apparently exists. Here 
come the cocks, each to his own staked-out territory, and woe be to any 
careless intruder who might for one minute entertain the foolish notion 
that he might trespass. Up comes the rightful owner, and in no uncertain 
terms the intruder is rushed back into his own front yard. 
From the two blinds on the booming ground, we observed 36 males. 
One lonesome, demure, coy female, unattended, ignored, and apparently 
unwanted, strolled through the area, oblivious to the males. The business 
at hand at this early date is strutting and dancing; brilliant orange sacs 
are inflated, pinnae erected, the air throbs with booming, a wild, melodious 
boo-o0-0-0-owhoo! All combine into one echoing symphony of spring, each 
melody distinct in itself. Here is the greatest show on earth, one that can- 
not be paralleled in all Nature. 
From the blind on the Yeatter Sanctuary we observed seven males 
booming. Even though we were soaked to the skin, we were undaunted. 
About eight o’clock, wet, cold, hungry, but satisfied, we left the blinds, 
grateful that the greatest show on earth must go on, rain or shine. 
9405 Richfield Road, East St. Louis, Illinois 
ii i val aa 
RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR USE OF BLINDS ON THE YEATTER 
SANCTUARY AND THE WOOD’S BOOMING GROUNDS — SPRING 1963 
1. Arrangements must be made with Jack Ellis, Game Biologist, Effingham, 
Illinois, to use the blinds on an open week-end date. 
i) 
All observers granted permission to participate must be in their as- 
signed blinds by one-half hour before sunrise. 
3. Observers must stay in the blinds at least three hours. 
4. Each observer should donate a minimum fee of one dollar to the 
P, Cc. F. I. fund to maintain and operate the blinds. Any money left 
over will be used to provide more habitat for Prairie Chickens in this 
vicinity. Funds should be collected by the chairman and given to 
Mr. Ellis or mailed to: George B. Fell, Treasurer, Prairie Chicken 
Foundation of Illinois, 819'N. Main Street, Rockford, I1l. 
nn 
These rules and regulations are necessary to minimize harrassment 
of the chickens and to help each individual and group receive a maxi- 
mum of return from the Greatest Show on Earth in the Avian World. 
THE PRAIRIE CHICKEN FOUNDATION OF ILLINOIS 
fi ft fin! jal 
