Pip iene oe nA Uo DIU BON] BE UlloIek TUN ay 
Egrets at Lake Renwick were probably part of the nesting colony there 
(2 June—C. Clark). Three Least Bittern nests were under observation at 
Lake Mermet (Massac County) during June (V. Kleen). 
WATERFOWL. The Department of Conservation imported a few more 
Mute Swans from Traverse City, Michigan; these birds were released in 
Springfield and in Fulton County. Earlier introductions are hanging on at 
Lake Sangchris and in Fulton County. An unusual number of dabblers and 
divers summered at the intermittent lake known locally as Nigger Lake 
southeast of Havana; the Green-winged Teal was a noteworthy breeding 
species as young were found there in July; Gadwalls and Pintails remained 
throughout the nesting season, but young were not found. Other Illinois 
non-nesting records, reported by C. Clark, included a female Gadwall at 
Lake Calumet, 30 June; three female Pintail at Chicago, 26 July; a pair 
of Redheads at Lake Calumet, 9 June; and a male Ring-necked Duck at 
Powderhorn Lake, 30 June. A later report of four Redheads, in female 
plumage, from Lake Calumet, 11 and 18 August, suggests breeding; if so, the 
first state occurrence (C. Clark). At least four female Red-breasted Mergan- 
sers remained until 8 June at Lake Sangchris (R. Palmer). Young Hooded 
Mergansers were found in Massac County, 1 June (V. Kleen). Nesting may 
also have occurred in Sangamon and Mason Counties (D. Bohlen). 
HAWKS. We need data about nesting hawks; if you know anyone ob- 
serving hawks and studying their nests, please let us know. These species 
are gradually (and in some cases, rapidly) disappearing. A pair of Turkey 
Vultures were thought to be nesting in Waukegan; if so, that may have 
constituted the first 20th-century record of that event there (R. Russell). 
Black Vultures continued to be normal in southern Illinois; locations of 
three nests were reported in Dixon Springs State Park (M. Jakle). Three 
Mississippi Kite’s nests were under observation at the Union County Refuge 
all summer (J. Garver). No one reported nests of Sharp-shinned or Cooper’s 
hawks. No one reported nests of Red-shouldered Hawks or Broad-winged 
Hawks, either. The Swainson’s Hawks’ nests of last year also went unre- 
ported this year. Everyone already knows that Bald Eagles constructed nests 
at both Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge and at Union County Ref- 
uge; both were abandoned early—no one knows if eggs were laid. Marsh 
Hawks should nest in Illinois, but none were reported. Ospreys??? American 
Kestrel—are these declining, too? 
GROUSE through GALLINULES. The Ruffed Grouse populations es- 
tablished in Pope and Alexander counties continue to survive; they remain 
elusive and the total number of birds is hard to determine. Greater Prairie 
Chickens were down 22% from last year (R. Westemeier). The Sharp-tailed 
Grouse established in Fulton County several years ago have apparently dis- 
appeared. What is the status of our Rails? We need more observations on 
these species; five species possibly breed in Illinois. Three immature Soras 
were found at Nigger Lake, 3 August (D. Bohlen). Purple Gallinules were 
again present at Lake Mermet; however, nests or young were not observed 
(D. Bohlen, et al.). 
SHOREBIRDS AND TERNS. Several species of shorebirds are consid- 
ered rare or endangered in Illinois. Special attention should be given to 
the following nesting species: Piping Plover, Common Snipe, Upland Sand- 
piper, and Wilson’s Phalarope. Wilson’s Phalaropes summered at Nigger 
Lake but nests or young were not located (D. Bohlen); a single adult bird 
was also noted at Moline, 23 June (E. Fawks). A few Least Terns were found 
in southern Illinois along both the Mississippi and Ohio rivers; the colony 
