16 TH ECA UDU BON: B ULE TC Bean 
BIRD NESTING RECORDS, 1969 
All individuals or groups interested in participating in the 1969 
North American Nest-Record Card Program (NANRCP), 
sponsored by the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, should 
contact Dr. John R. Paul at the Illinois State Museum, Spring- 
field 62706. Reports for 1969 are to be submitted on a new form 
which has been devised to allow ready transcription of the data 
to computer punch cards. This new format is a bit more complex 
than the previous type and is accompanied by three pages 
of instructions. 
All persons still having 1968 nest records are reminded to 
send these to Dr. Paul for use in the annual report which will 
appear in the June issue of THE AUDUBON BULLETIN. 
An Anhinga In Marion County 
On October 10, 1968, I observed an Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) associé 
with a raft of waterfowl on the south end of the 585-acre lake at Step 
A. Forbes State Park in Marion County. 
The Anhinga maintained a distance of approximately twenty ye 
from the raft at all times while under observation. In this raft were 
proximately 37 Blue-winged Teal, 20 Shovelers, 35 Widgeon, and 4 Pint 
I first sighted the Anhinga about 1500 CST and noted that it was 
present at 1630 CST. I watched the Anhinga through 8 x 35 binoculars 
some twenty minutes alternating between it and the ducks. It swam vy 
its head and body above water, but at times only the head or head ; 
neck were visible. 
It had the typical straight, sharp bill, and evidently was a male 
cause it had a black head and breast. Several days later I learned that | 
Iilinois Natural History Survey employees (Charles M. Thoits III ; 
Russell Rose) had sighted an Anhinga on October 8, 1968, at the north | 
of the same lake. The bird they saw was also associated with a raft 
ducks and was probably the same bird. The bird was not sighted ai 
October 10, 1968. 
A brief summary of the available literature on Anhinga sighting: 
given by reference to Smith, H. R. and P. W. Parmalee (A distributic 
check list of the Birds of Illinois, 1955 :10) Gee ee Accidental.” Ridgway (lé 
records this bird as a “summer sojourner in extreme southern part of 
state.” Cahn (1930) lists two sight records of this species in southern IIlin 
observed in April of 1928 or 1930. Two recent records: Ridge Lake, | 
Ridge State Park, Coles Co., April or May, 1942 (P. W. Smith, Ill. Nat. H 
Survey); Near lake Springfield, Sangamon Co., May 23, 1942 (Hifert). 
should be noted by the reader that my observation was a FALL sighti 
—Paul Matthews 
Assistant Wildlife Specialist 
Illinois Natural History Survey, Urb 
