18 THEA UD UcBIO-N SB UL) eee 
THE CHRISTMAS BIRD CENSUS — 1967 
by Mrs. Harry C. Spitzer 
The 1967 Chrisimas Count was highly interesting for various reasons. For 
the first time, I believe, we have a report of an airplane census of Bald 
Eagles—185 miles, 2 hours. Read about it in the data for Jersey and Calhoun 
counties. This is only the second time this veteran group has reported its 
census to The Audubon Bulletin, but they have been participating in the 
National Christmas Census through Audubon Field Notes for many years, 
and obviously they know all the angles. 
Three of the “new” reports (covering Coles, Moultrie, and Shelby 
counties) were compiled by a young man who is working on his doctoral 
thesis, studying the effects of creating the new Shelbyville Reservoir. I wish 
all the reports were as easy to read as the triple tabulation he submitted! 
Other “new” areas for this report are Clark county, Chicago lake front 
(which was reviewed with care to make certain that it does not overlap 
nearby areas) and Decatur (back after an absence of many years). 
One group of enterprising young members of the Evanston Bird Club 
obtained excellent counts for predators, both owls and hawks, by using 
tape recorders in the pre-dawn hours. This is MY club! 
Again, the winter finches were scarce. The lone Evening Grosbeak to 
be recorded on count day was one which had been coming to a feeder. 
Ary. le supporting evidence by means of field marks or careful observation 
by several trained observers was reported for the unusual species—Golden 
Eagle, American Bittern, some thrushes and warblers, and the Yellow- 
breasted Chat. Space does not permit printing all of the corroborative 
details. As I do not feel qualified to analyze trends in the various species, 
that task will be left to the experts among our readers. 
My former partner, Mrs. Ross Norton, moved to Arizona last year, and 
the many hours of help she contributed during the past four years were 
sorely missed. With so many counties now reporting, it is almost impossible 
for one person to compile the table. I could not have accomplished the 
tedious work of putting together, adding, revising, and proof-reading all 
those species and numbers without the patient assistance and encourage- 
ment of my husband. 
—1776 Roger Avenue, Glenview, Illinois 60025 
cut fi ff fi 
Census Editor’s Note: The labor encountered by Mrs. Spitzer in compiling 
the table was compounded this year by the fact that so many reports 
arrived late. Many were mailed to Mrs. Norton and made a trip to Arizona _ 
and back. Others were sent (of all places!) to the Field Mt S 
we have a most inadequate forwarding service. Two rey ft 
arrive until February, and they could not be included in tk u 
will find them under ‘Additional Reports” at the end of the 5. 
For all we know, some census reports may be wandering arou: Th 
yet. —Paul H. Lobik 
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