eine a elUabe GQ Nast) tel. A ll 13 
-eaves From A Naturalist's Notebook 
by MARIE YN IGAMPBELT 
Chief Naturalist 
Vermilion County Conservation District 
During a brief trip through Southern Illinois en route to Ar- 
kansas during the latter part of January, I was pleasantly sur- 
prised at the numbers of hawks observed. The birds seen con- 
firmed my beliefs that the Red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 
and the Sparrow Hawk (Falco sparvarius) are holding their 
own—if not increasing—in population. 
Most of the 920 mile round-trip was along the interstate 
system, utilizing I-57, 1-55, and I-40. On the southbound trip, 
the weather was cold until we got into Arkansas. Jo Ann Bieder- 
mann, assistant naturalist, and I began to see increasing numbers 
of hawks from the Crab Orchard Wildlife Refuge southward. 
Between the refuge area and the Mississippi River, we tallied 
9 Red-tailed hawks, 1 Red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus) , 
4 other Buteos, 2 Marsh hawks (Circus cyaneus), and 9 Spar- 
row hawks (I prefer ‘‘Kestrels.’’) In Missouri, we recorded 4 
Red-tailed, 6 other Buteos, 5 Marsh hawks and 9 Kestrels. We 
Were traveling into the sun after reaching Arkansas, and could 
not identify the 5 Buteos seen as to species. We also counted 2 
Marsh hawks and 7 Kestrels. All Buteo hawks seen that day 
were perched in trees. 
The return trip brought some interesting comparisons. The 
weather was warm (60°) and sunny until late afternoon. In 
Arkansas, we recorded 6 Red-tailed and 4 other Buteos, plus a 
pair of Kestrels. All of the Red-tailed hawks were perched on 
fence posts along the interestate right-of-way. (In Arkansas, 
wooden fence posts are utilized rather than metal.) Enroute 
through Missouri, we recorded 7 Red-tailed, 5 other Buteos, 
1 Marsh hawk and 9 Kestrels. Here nearly all of the large hawks 
were in flight, and some were hunting in pairs. 
Between the Mississippi River and the Crab Orchard area, 
we counted 18 Red-tailed and 4 other Buteos, 2 Marsh hawks 
and 13 Kestrels. At Cairo we observed two large flocks of geese 
flying north. After leaving the refuge area, the sky became over- 
cast, and we saw only 2 Red-tailed, 2 Marsh hawks and 4 
Kestrels. 
