18 THE AS USD UB OIN@ BeUr i hee eee 
Will County, JOLIET. (All points within a 15-mile diameter circle centered 
at the intersection of U. S. 6 and 66; backwaters and rivers, 25% ; deciduous 
woods, 50%; fields, 20%; towns and gardens, 5%). Dec. 27: 7:00 a.m. to 
4:30 p.m.; cloudy and overcast, with occasional sun in p.m.; temp. 18° in 
a.m. to 380° in p.m.; wind SE, calm to 5 m.p.h.; small streams frozen; 
DesPlaines River open; less than one inch of snow. Total party-hours, 15 
(5 on foot, 10 by car); total party-miles, 91 (6 on foot, 85 by car). Ten 
observers in two parties: Clarence Cutler (Compiler), Lucile Cutler, Jim 
Enderson, Mary Ann Gossmann, Dr. Gayle Hufford, William Hughes, Hilda 
McIntosh, Helen Otis, Tom Otis and Dr. George Woodruff. 
Wisconsin, LAKE GENEVA. Jan. 2, 1965; 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; overcast 
in a.m., clear in p.m.; temp. 36° to 30°. Ten observers: Earl Anderson, Joan 
Anesey, Mrs. Frank Drabek, Leroy Friestad, Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Hall, Margaret 
Lehmann, Clarence Palmquist (Compiler), Mrs. Melvin Spence and Helen 
Wilson. 
ARE CHRISTMAS CENSUSES ACCURATE? 
By Karl E. Bartel 
The Christmas Counts as taken now are accurate for the day they are taken. 
They are NOT accurate if we mean the total species and individuals in any 
prescribed area during a Christmas Bird Count period. The printed censuses 
prove this point by stating, ‘‘seen in area during count period, but not on 
count day.”’ For further proof, see the following chart. 
I spent four days, December 31, 1964 through January 3, 1965, at my 
five bird banding stations. These stations are in a straight line, with the two 
extremes three miles apart. I drove this distance and tended each station 
approximately every half hour on each of the four days, from 8:00 a.m. to 
4:30 p.m. Each station was checked at the same time on all four days. 
Sixty miles were driven each day. ° 
Birds were recorded at the stations and also between them. No birds 
were counted twice (the crow count may be an exception); the largest 
number of individuals seen at any certain spot was recorded. Many of the 
birds were banded and the numbers checked; hence there were no duplications. 
The weather on the four days ranged from partly cloudy to light rain to 
sunny. 
Dec. 31, partly cloudy. Temp. 32° — 36°. 
Jan. 1, light rain or drizzle. Temp. 34° — 38°. 
Jan. 2, cloudy. Temp. 31° — 35°. 
Jan. 38, sunny. Temp. 32° — 40°. 
The chart shows that I saw 22 species during the four days. THIS IS 
THE TRUE SPECIES COUNT. The highest count on any one day was 15. 
Thus, seven more species were seen because the count covered four days. 
You must note on the chart that only eight species of birds were seen on 
all four days. Also note that the most individuals were seen on the day of 
light rain, while the least individuals and species were seen on the sunny day. 
