34 ILLINOIS AUDUBON BULLETIN 
NUTHATCHES, CREEPERS, WRENS and THRUSHES. With the number of 
wintering Red-breasted Nuthatches, it was difficult to detect spring-arriving birds; 
however, departures were more easily recorded with most gone by 8 May in the south, 
mid-May in the central, and by 20 May in the north; the one outstanding exception was 
one bird at Springfield, 4 June (D. Bohlen). Brown Creepers lingered at various localities 
through early May; it may become difficult to truly determine departures if breeding 
evidence continues to increase throughout the state. A Winter Wren was observed in full 
song at Allerton Park, Monticello, 20 May (D. Friedman). Bewick’s Wrens were found in 
eight Districts this spring including District 2; the earliest reported arrival was at 
Springfield, 26 March (D. Bohlen). There was nothing reported as exceptional for any of 
the thrushes; however, Hermit Thrushes lingered into early May at some locations — 
slightly longer than usual and Gray-cheeked Thrushes seemed to be more common this 
year — as common as Swainson’s in many areas, and arriving somewhat earlier than 
normal. Veeries were also reported more commonly this spring than in other recent 
years. 
PIPITS, SHRIKES, VIREOS and WARBLERS. One Spragues Pipit was closely 
observed at Springfield, 26 April (D. Bohlen). A Northern Shrike was still present at 
Antioch, 21 March (J. Neal). White-eyed Vireos continued their northward appearances 
— at least one had arrived in District 3 by 18 April; one was found at Oregon, 26 May 
(*M. Swan); the species was recorded in all 16 Districts for which a migration report was 
received; the earliest arrival was 2 April, in District 16. 
At least five Swainson’s Warblers were present at Heron Pond Nature Preserve by 
18 April (R. Madding). The more northerly records of Worm-eating Warblers included 
one at Woodstock, 22 April (fide E. Burstatte), one at Chicago, 2 May (C. Clark), and one 
at Morton Arboretum (Lisle), 18 May (J. Frank); the species had arrived in mid-I]linois 
by 18 April which is normal for this area. Blue-winged Warblers were noted as early as 
16 April in District 16 (P. Gilliland) and 18 April at Urbana (J. Frank). One Brewster’s 
Warbler was encountered in Will County, 5 May (K. Struthers). Everyone reported 
Yellow Warblers; however, this species, especially the breeding populations, should be 
closely monitored because in some parts of the country it is on or a candidate for the 
national “Blue List”. An exceptionally early-arriving Cape Warbler was closely observed 
for several minutes at Springfield, 23 April (W. O’Brien, et al.). There were only a 
scattering of Black-throated Blue Warblers; as expected, most were in the northeast 
corner of the state; two were observed at Decatur, 2 May (T. Nearing). The latest 
Yellow-rumped Warblers reported were observed at Springfield, 27 May (D. Bohlen), and 
in District 3, 28 May (fide J. Neal). A note from Turner Nearing states that “On 19 May 
we had an invasion of Bay-breasted Warblers in our Norway Spruce and Scotch Pine. 
Beautiful plumage and Pauline (Mrs. Nearing) watched them for about 20 minutes, she 
found that Sprunt describes the feeding behavior very accurately. Hovering, feeding like 
chickadees and titmice. There were two waves, one of some eight birds and the later one 
of three or four. Nothing but Bay-breasted.” Prairie Warblers were found on schedule in 
southern Illinois; singles were noted at Urbana, 22 April (J. Frank) and in District 3, 15 
May (fide J. Neal). Connecticut Warblers staged an unprecedented westward migration 
extension; as always, the birds passed through Illinois during the last two weeks of May 
— however, single birds were found in St. Clair County, 21 May (*B. Peterjohn) and in 
Jackson County, 22 May (B. Peterjohn) and 25 May (M. Morrison). Yellow-breasted 
Chats and Hooded Warblers were found in practically every District including all three 
of the northern Districts. 
WEAVER FINCHES, BLACKBIRDS, GROSBEAKS, FINCHES and CROSSBILLS. 
The first Chicago-area record of a European Tree Sparrow was documented at the 
Northwestern University land-fill, 28 March (*M. Mlodinow, *m.ob.). Five male Yel- 
low-headed Blackbirds were present at E. Moline, 1-16 May (P. Petersen); one female 
appeared briefly at Champaign, 8 May (*J. Frank). A very early Blue Grosbeak had 
