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Report and Results: 
Pah fis 74 pring CB 
by VERNON M. KLEEN 
Illinois Department of Conservation 
The early date (May 4th—earliest possible) and late spring were 
responsible for the shortage of species reported this year. However, we 
set records for the number of participants, 1,046 (first time over 1,000); 
number of counties participating, 77; and total number of birds counted, 
324,213. 
The low total of 241 species reflects the delayed arrival of many 
passerines and inadequate documentation of extreme rareties. Observers 
were afield somewhere in the state during all hours of the day and night, 
but mostly during the day logging a total of 2,841-+ party-hours and 
14,222 miles (walked and driven); a few additional miles were surveyed 
via bicycles and canoes. 
Procedures governing the count were the same as those of the two 
previous counts. Use of the standard checklist by compilers greatly assist- 
ed in the preparation of this report. By next year, it is hoped that the 
count will be set for computer analysis and therefore results should be 
available to participants more quickly. 
The Count Day was an excellent day for birding with clear skies in 
the morning changing to partly cloudy in the afternoon. Early morning 
temparatures ranged from the very low forties in the north to mid-forties 
in the south climbing to daily highs in the upper sixties and lower seven- 
ties. [he early morning calm changed to light, then moderate, breezes— 
often variable, but generally from the NW to NE. Occasional late after- 
noon gusts reached 25 mph in the south. 
Observers were able to visit all of their favorite birding areas and 
Were not restricted by flooded conditions as last year or unfavorable 
weather conditions. [he record number of 77 participating counties 
reflects the increased statewide coverage. New counties participating for 
the first time included: Carroll, Ford, Schuyler, Scott, Douglas, Law- 
rence and Perry; old standbys which were lost this year were: JoDaviess, 
Alexander and Massac; five other counties—all southern—also helped 
