(enor a ous Dee BaOwN Me Bro lesley LPN 13 
mud flats, Aug. 31 and Sept. 1. In all four years we have seen Phalaropes 
where the largest mud flats occurred. 
In 1952, Lake Allerton was partially drained, leaving most of the lake 
bottom exposed. In 1953, Lake Decatur had a water shortage which launched 
planning for a higher dam. Flash boards were added to the Decatur dam, 
and the water level was kept up throughout the fall of 1954, preventing mud 
flats and keeping away shore birds of all species. This same year, however, 
the water level at Lake Springfield was eight feet below the top of the dam, 
providing extensive mud flats there. In 1955, the water level of Lake Decatur 
was lowered again to permit raising the height of the dam. This left large 
mud flats, and again brought Northern Phalaropes. 
Since Lake Decatur is the only area that I check regularly, I cannot say 
that my observations of the ratio between Northern and Wilson’s Phala- 
ropes would be true elsewhere. However, I feel certain that the Northern 
variety will be seen more often when field work is done regularly in more 
areas. Of course, it is necessary to be sure of one’s identification in a case 
of this kind. We feel that the wing stripe and the white lines on the backs 
of the Northern Phalaropes, which five of us birders have seen, are quite 
evident and would eliminate any possibility of confusion with the Wilson’s 
species. 
1995 N. Main Street, Decatur, Illinois 
a aad fl 
Give a Bulletin to a Library 
By RAYMOND MOSTEK 
IN AN EFFORT TO increase our scope and influence, the Illinois Audubon So- 
ciety has provided complimentary subscriptions for the Bulletin to 102 li- 
braries in Illinois. This arrangement is to be continued for two years, but 
may be extended if the response downstate warrants the effort. Favorable 
comments have already been received from several librarians, and a few 
memberships and book sales may also be traced to this worthy project. 
Though the Bulletin reaches only the main library in each county, mem- 
bers of the Society can increase the educational work of our group by the 
presentation of a gift subscription to a local or favorite library, school or 
hospital. Librarians point out that books and magazines on nature are not 
especially common, and that the demand is often greater than the supply. 
Many small suburbs in the Chicagoland area are building new and much- 
needed libraries to meet the demands of an increasing population. Several 
gift subscriptions have already been received. If you would like to join this 
educational effort, simply specify your library or school and send your $2.00 
for four issues of the Bulletin to our treasurer, John Helmer, 847 Ridge Ave., 
Evanston. You will have the pleasant feeling of knowing that you may 
have started someone on nature trails. 
3345 N. Harding Ave., Chicago 18, IIl. 
