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reference and guide for the serious ornithologist and the amateur bird- 
watcher alike. 
Several members have requested extra copies of the Check List as gifts 
for their birding friends. The Society will sell additional copies at 25c each 
plus postage, or four for $1.00. Send your orders to Mr. Raymond Mostek, 
Book Service Chairman, 3345 N. Harding Ave., Chicago 18, Illinois. 
fi fl a 
Birds in Illinois Beach State Park 
By Dorotuy C. LAROSE 
THE NATURE AND Educational Area of Illinois Beach State Park, occupying 
about 800 acres at the south end, presents a challenge to any ornithologist. 
The terrain is varied, offering shoreland, marsh, river bank, duneland, and 
prairie. Here is offered a greater variety of habitat for birds than any- 
where else in the state. The list of migratory birds is long. The marshes, 
swales and waters of Dead River are safe resting places for water-fowl 
along the lower shore of Lake Michigan, and here is found the heaviest mi- 
gration. Loons, Terns, grebes, geese, ducks, and herons, to mention a few, 
may be seen here. 
The sand is filling in the mouth of Dead River and it is hoped that in 
time the level will be raised enough to restore the marshes to their original 
size. The great American Bittern flies heavily over the water, then swoops 
down to fish. Many members of the hawk family, including the Sharp- 
shinned, Cooper’s, Red-shouldered, Rough-legged, and Marsh hawk are 
found hovering overhead. The Osprey and the Bald Eagle are seen here 
during migratory season and a rare treat is the visit of the Egret 
The shores of Lake Michigan are a perfect spot for the diving duck 
family, such as Scaups, Golden-eyes, Buffle-heads, Mergansers, Scoters, Cor- 
morants and Loons. The Great Black, Herring, Ring-billed, Bonaparte and 
Glaucous Guils are found here. The many graceful Terns, Black, Forster’s, 
Caspian and Common, wheel and circle past these shores looking for fish. 
Killdeer, Sandpipers, Piping Plovers, Yellowlegs and Sanderlings hop in 
and out of the water, leaving their footprints in the sand. Here the Ruddy 
Turnstones push the pebbles and stones about seeking food. The Virginia 
Rail shyly hunts for shelter in the tall grass near the marsh. The Sora Rail, 
much bolder than his cousin, comes out of hiding in the cattails. The Green 
Heron hides himself nearby, and the Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs strut 
through the rushes. A flock of Blue-winged Teal rises from the swampy 
ground. Of the smaller birds, the flycatchers, pewees, kinglets, vireos, finches 
and many warblers pass through, with the Black-poll Warbler bringing up 
the rear. 
Many birds remain to nest, and the Austrian pines on the ridges provide 
splendid nesting and feeding grounds for the Vesper, Swamp, Tree, Song, 
Field, and Chipping Sparrows. And here are found Tree Swallows and Blue 
Birds nesting in the dead trees. The Chickadees, Crossbill, Waxwings, Nut- 
hatches, Grosbeaks and other perching birds flit through the pines and 
scrub oaks. 
