eee ete Ub ORN a Bel) oy Ee TisN 13 
“Early Birds” by W. A. Young. 
Illustration courtesy of the Chi- 
cago International Exhibition of 
Nature Photography and the 
Nature Camera Club of Chicago. 
ILLINOIS NESTING RECORDS — 1965 
Compiled by Mrs. Naomi McKinney 
This, my first attempt at tabulating nesting records, has been interesting 
and educational. We still could use more reports and a greater dis- 
tribution of reporters. Richland and St. Clair counties were the farthest 
south, with the greatest number of reports coming from Cook and McHenry 
counties. What happened to central and southern Illinois? Of necessity, the 
reports must be brief for publication, but the reports are filed at the Illinois 
State Museum where they will be available for future study. 
There is more evidence of observers seeking and reporting nests of 
unusual birds. Some “firsts” for breeding records in Illinois are as follows: 
The Blue Grosbeak by Miller in Marshall Co.; two reports of the Canvasback 
Duck from Cook Co. by Clark and Dring; the Chestnut-sided Warbler, a rare 
summer visitor, reported by Carroll in McHenry Co.; the Cedar Waxwing 
had not been reported before, but this year four reports came in from 
Macon, McHenry and Brown counties by Nearing, Howard and Schaeffer. 
The Bluebird is making a big comeback in McHenry county with the 
help of many enthusiastic Audubon members. The most remarkable record 
there was made by Mr. Sands. He reported 5 houses and birds nesting 
twice, with a record of 40 young fledglings. Another record by Mr. Dring 
covered Tree Swallows, 23 reports of birds nesting in boxes, 80 young 
fledged and 80 banded. Mr. Dring also noted many boxes with birds crawl- 
ing with lice. Rotenone is safe to use, even on the young birds. The size of 
box opening for Tree Swallows should be 14%” in diameter. 
