Te Hee Aes) Ue B-OnNee Sb. Urli tae lyN 15 
inety Species—Including Rare Gull— 
oted in Cornell Laboratory Census 
Lesser Black-backed Gull, rare in North America, was one of a record 
imber of birds sighted in the Ithaca area during the Cornell University 
iboratory of Ornithology’s annual bird count. 
The count, results of which were reported at mid-January, included 
rds from 90 species, the highest number in the 25-year history of the 
idertaking in the Cayuga Lake Basin. Last year, 72 species were reported. 
James Tate Jr., assistant director of the laboratory, said the Lesser 
ack-backed Gull is a European species so rare in this continent that it 
not illustrated in field guides of North American birds. The bird, sighted 
Stewart Park, has been wintering there alone for the past seven years, 
ute said. The Gull is about the size of a large Crow and feeds by scaveng- 
g the lake shore. No one knows why it has selected the south shore of 
uyuga Lake for its winter habitat. 
The bird count was made in two segments, one including the lake 
isin and the other including an area with a 15-mile diameter centered 
Turkey Hill. The laboratory’s count was taken between 4 a.m. and 
p.m. on January 1 to coincide with a national count sponsored by the 
ational Audubon Society. The national results are published by the so- 
ety in the Audubon Field Notes. 
Blue Jays are unusually populous for this time of year, with 375 
ported in the Ithaca area. There also was a good count of Cooper’s Hawks, 
od-tailed Hawks and Sparrow Hawks. This is encouraging, Tate said, 
cause these species are endangered by environmental pollution and are 
coming uncommon. 
Some species were conspicuous by their absence in the Ithaca area. 
hese included the Short-eared Owl, the Snowy Owl and the Rough-legged 
awks. The reason for their absence, Tate said, could be that the deep 
1ow cover here has sent them to other areas where the snow is not so 
sep. The three species feed principally on rodents which they must see 
. catch. 
In the Ithaca area count, embracing the 15-mile diameter centered at 
urkey Hill, 67 species and 8,436 individual birds were counted. This com- 
ares with 62 species and 8,027 individual birds counted in the same area 
st year. 
ft 8 A 
IAS Census Results Set for June Issue 
mong Illinois Audubon Society members and friends, there was, as well, 
le ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CENSUS of bird life in the state. Usually this 
stailed compilation and accompanying “station data’ appear in the 
arch issue of this publication. This year, however, because of the time 
quired for editing and production, these 1969 results will be featured 
| the next issue—June. 
