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a Black-throated Blue Warbler the most unusual of the fourteen species of 
warblers seen. The group totaled eighty-seven species for the two days. 
Among the more unusual for a September week-end were a Rough-legged 
Hawk, Bald Eagle, Stilt Sandpiper and Connecticut Warbler. 
Much credit for the success of this camp-out must go to Adolph Cabor, 
who served as acting chairman of the camp-out committee in the absence of 
Ted Greer. Ted is recovering from injuries suffered in an automobile accident 
last summer and will be back to normal soon. Others helping with the camp- 
out were Amos Whitcomb, Mrs. Robert Webster, Helen Wilson, Elton Fawks, 
the park naturalists, the staff of the Kaskaskia Hotel, and of course Ted 
Greer, who laid much of the groundwork before he was injured. 
2736 E. High Street, Davenport, lowa 
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OUR DAY WITH THE SANDHILL CRANES 
By Mrs. Fred Brechlin 
Although others have known for several years, it wasn’t until last year that 
we learned that Sandhill Cranes stopped at Jasper-Pulaski Refuge on their 
flight south. We would now be able to enjoy them twice in the same year. 
Meeting with the Chicago Ornithological Society on Saturday, October 
9, 1965, at Preserve Headquarters, we were told that many hundreds of the 
eranes had arrived and this morning were feeding in beanfields a couple 
of miles S. W. of the Preserve. We toured the indicated area, but noticed 
that many cranes were landing much closer to the Preserve. My husband and 
I backtracked, and sure enough, only a half mile south and west of Jasper- 
Pulaski we found 800 or more cranes on the far edge of a large open field. 
We wanted to tell the rest of the group of our find, but as we had tried for 
three years unsuccessfully to get the crane voices on tape, we simply hoped 
that the others would find us. 
There seemed to be an equal number of adults and immatures, with a 
few birds in rather reddish plumage. One could see much flashing of white in 
the flock, and the telescope revealed that a large number were busily preen- 
ing, a few cranes were squatting on the ground, and others were merely 
browsing and walking. As each new group of 12 to 15 arrived, there was much 
clamor, and we spent our lunch hour recording ‘‘crane talk” on tape. At 
about one o’clock, again in groups of 12 to 15, they started leaving, and in 
a short time only a few remained. 
We then walked back to the Refuge to observe the various waterfowl 
in the lake and surrounding ponds. In late afternoon we again heard the 
wild cries, and soon observed a huge flock in a nearby field, waiting for the 
smaller groups to join the others of their own kind. Cranes came from all 
directions, flying just overhead, and their wild cries were all around us. As 
we slowly made our way out of the Refuge, we noted that the last straggling 
groups were not calling any more. We feel the fall observations to be some- 
what more rewarding, for the Sandhill Cranes paid little heed to our presence, 
and we all know how wary they are in the spring! 
Does anyone know where the Whistling Swans gather on their way south? 
1826 Foster Avenue, Chicago,, IHinois 60640 
