8 T HES AU D:U BOs BU DL eee 
even if his friends “scoop” him with earlier ones. He urges others to send 
in their own observations, too (either directly or through him), even if 
they saw only one or two of the species on the list. He waits till spring 
migration is over and then remembers to send in his report, together with 
his name and address (including county) to: Mr. Chandler S. Robbins, 
Patuxent Research Refuge, Laurel, Maryland, or to his Audubon Field 
Notes Regional Editor. Forms can be supplied on request, but just a post- 
card will do if few species were observed. The 37 species below were chosen 
to be sure that there would be some early and late migrants to watch in 
every part of the eastern half of North America; they include familiar 
migrants in and near cities, plus a few, like snipe and geese, which are the 
subjects of special studies. No one is expected to report on all of them. 
They are: 
Canada goose Crested flycatcher Bluebird—male Baltimore oriole 
Marsh hawk Eastern phoebe Bluebird—female Scarlet tanager 
Killdeer ; Wood pewee Red-eyed vireo Rose-br. grosbeak 
oy eRIpe Barn swallow Black & white warb. Indigo bunting 
ON as cove tes) Yellow warbler Goldfinch 
Nighthawk Common crow : 
Chimes ewitt Pouce Myrtle warbler Slate-colored junco 
Ruby-t. hummingbird Catbird Oven-bird Chipping sparrow 
Yellow-shafted flicker Brown thrasher Redstart White-crowned 
Eastern kingbird Wood thrush Red-wing White-throated 
What to report: Most persons can supply only the date when a species was 
first seen. To increase the value of such observations, we also request an 
estimate of the numbers seen on the date reported; for example, House 
Wren, April 18 (2 birds); Chimney Swift, April 19 (about 5 in flock). 
Also, we hope to have enough observers this year so that, in each town or, 
at least, group of counties, we can determine the date when the majority 
of persons saw their first wrens or swifts. We don’t want dates of birds 
whose arrival was missed during a week’s absence by the observer; nor do 
we want more than one report on the same individual bird seen on a group 
field trip. But if 30 or even 50 persons in the same town recorded the return 
of their own martins or wrens, we’d be very happy to have every single 
record. Our forms also provide space to report waves or peak numbers, 
and, for species not resident in summer, the last date noted, when these ad- 
ditional details can be observed. And if you have not reported before, we 
appreciate any notes you may have for 1954 and 1953 also. If you have no 
spring 1955 dates to report but would like to participate in the future, 
tell us, so that we may send you a list of species under study during the fall 
migration period. 
2114 Van Hise Avenue, Madison 5, Wisconsin 
Distribution List Available 
THE LONG-AWAITED “Distributional Check List of the Birds of Illinois” has 
just been printed; each member of the Society has been sent a compli- 
mentary copy. The list was begun by Harry Smith, past president of the 
Illinois Audubon Society, and completed by Paul W. Parmalee of the Illinois 
State Museum. A summary of bird observation records in the three zones 
of the state — north, central and south — the Check List is a valuable 
