Petes Ut Ds BYOUNG@IBs Uo leben il N 13 
Dickcissel was accidentally shot by a farmer who thought it was a House 
Sparrow. All participants of the count handled this bird and a skin was 
made. This identification was positive. While I have read of Dickcissels 
occasionally overwintering in flocks of House Sparrows, this is the first 
evidence that we have had that this occurs in our area. — Members of 
Ridgway Bird Club: Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Tippit and Helen, Mr. and 
Mrs. William Bridges, Bernice Powell, Mrs. Minnie Hundley, Mr. and Mrs. 
Chester Scherer, with Lee, Clifford and Christian Scherer, and Mrs. Vera 
Scherer Shaw (compiler). 
CODE: Princeton; Princeton and environs on north and Hennepin on 
southeast (new area this year). Radius of circle 7% miles, including Thomas 
woods, Bryant grove, Oakland cemetery and Illinois river bottomlands; 
highways 26 and 71, and side roads radiating from same; town 10%, farms 
15%, groves 25%, highways 25%, river bottomlands 25%. Thursday, Dec. 29; 
7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; no snow; water partly frozen; temp. 34° to 26°; 
wind NE, 5 to 15 m.p.h. Thirteen observers in seven parties; total party- 
hours, 116 (17 on foot, 99 by car); total party-miles, 463 (9 on foot, 454 
by car). The state conservation officer has estimated that 175,000 ducks, 
mostly Mallards, and 500 Canadian Geese have been wintering in the 
Hennepin area. Red-winged Blackbirds have been seen at least three times 
in flocks so large that estimates are difficult. Our Mockingbird, recognized 
for the fourth consecutive year by his crippled toe, did not appear for the 
Census, although he is present in the area. (This news section compiled by 
Mrs. Vinnie Dyke). — Bureau Valley Bird Club: Edith and John Calli- 
nan, Alfred and Vinnie Dyke, Donnabelle Fry, Carl H. Kramer (compiler), 
Margaret H. Paden, Ellis Rudiger, Ruth Skinner, Mary Smith, Ellen and 
Harry Thomas, E. W. Whitten. 
CODE: Seaton; western section of Mercer County (new area this year). 
Circle 15 miles in diameter near Seaton (40 miles southwest of Rock 
Island); Jan. 1, 1956; 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; temp. 25° to 35°; cloudy; 
wind SW, 8 m.p.h.; six observers; total party-hours, 50; total party-miles, 
83 (23 on foot, 60 by car). Bald Eagles have been prominent along the 
Mississippi for about a month; our count of 51 was low compared to re-. 
cent checks. Seen in the area during the Census period: Eared Grebe; 
Canvas-back Ducks; Greater Scaups; Barrow’s Golden-Eyes; Red-breasted 
Mergansers; Short-eared Owls; Saw-Whet Owls; Brown Creepers; Golden- 
crowned Kinglets; Gray (Northern) Shrikes and four Red Crossbills. 
— May, Richard and Ted Greer of Joy, Illinois; Marjorie and Robert 
Trial (compiler) of Seaton; and Dr. Nellie E. Marsh of Knoxville. 
CODE: Spr’gfield; Springfield, Illinois. (7%-mile radius centering on city 
square, including Lake Springfield, Clear Lake, Oak Ridge Cemetery, 
Carpenter’s Park, Winch’s lane, Chatham flats, Sangamon river; water 
5%, river bottom 20%, plowland 40%, city parks 15%, pasture 20%). 
Dec. 26; 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Cloudy in a.m., clear in p.m.; temp. 33° to 
44°; wind NE to SW, 8-20 m.p.h.; ground bare and soft in sunny spots, 
river open, lake 10% open. 14 observers in 6 parties. Total party-hours, 
3 (18 on foot, 25 by car); total party-miles, 267 (29 on foot, 238 by car). 
— Lois Hogan, Bea Hopwood, Lena Hardbarger, Wm. V. O’Brien, Dr. and 
Mrs. Richard Allyn, Emma Leonard, W. A. Sausaman (compiler), Bea 
