20 THE, AUDUBON (BU eee 
About 6,000 individuals—Gulls, Terns and Sandpipers at Lake Calumet ii 
early September including September 8. —Charles Clar} 
There were about 600 individuals at Lake Calumet September 15, but we 
saw Herring, Ring-billed and Bonaparte’s Gulls, Caspian, Forster’s, Commor 
and Black Terns, Sanderlings, Semipalmated Sandpipers, Dowitcher, Semi 
palmated Plover, Ruddy Turnstones, Golden and Black-bellied Plovers 
Killdeer, both Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Avocets (3), Water Pipit (2) 
and Great Blue Herons. Good work-out. This is a huge new mudflat formec 
this summer by a dike having been built all the way across Lake Calume; 
cutting off and draining the entire north end. We suppose by this time nex 
year it will be built up with a warehouse. But it is quite an area now 
—Margaret Lehmann, Marge Shawvon, Isabel Wasson & Helen Wilsor 
Wood Ducks—Evening flight count on the Calhoun Division of Mark Twair 
National Wildlife Refuge indicates a strong decrease in population anc 
probably poor breeding success this year. Reason for this is not known 
—Sarah Vass¢ 
Mute Swan—Our lovely Mute Swan at Rawson Lake near Princeton, whc 
came there 6 or 7 years ago, a bird of mystery, was killed by some animal 
Jones & Laughlin Steel Co. sent to Massachussets two years ago and go 
a mate for him. They had nest for two years, but eggs never hatched 
—Vinnie Dyk 
Catbirds—Young Catbirds banded at Morrisonville in late May are ver) 
difficult to tell from adults. Even though the rufous in the tail appearec 
to be quite like that of the adult, all young birds caught during Augus' 
right up to the 31st, had some yellow color in the mouth lining. Adult: 
all appeared to have black lining of the mouth. 
House Sparrow—By August 26 almost all young House Sparrow could be 
sexed when held in the hand. The males by this date had a few rufou: 
feathers in the “shoulder” while the young females have a few feather; 
that are obviously new since they not only appear to be fresh, but als 
are a darker brown than are the old feathers. The females new feather: 
are also located on the “shoulder.” 
Dickcissel—Last one heard singing at Morrisonville on the 24th of August 
During late August they can be found traveling along ditch-banks anc 
creeks looking and acting quite differently than they did during the earl; 
summer. They are easily mistaken at this time for House Sparrows, un 
less you see the yellow in the bend of the wings. —Don Varne: 
A Fine New Guide to Field Identification 
‘BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA’ 
by Robbins, Bruun and Zim 
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