—permitting evaluation of the importance of certain colonies within specific ecosys- 
tems, 
—establishing baseline data on fundamental parameters of the reproductive biology 
and productivity of certain species, 
—detailing the location and characteristics of colonies which might be considered for 
extended research, or which are located in areas of proposed land-use change, and 
—aiding in the preparation of environmental impact statements, required under the 
National Environmental Policy Act. Colonies can be most effectively protected by 
considering their existence and location during the planning stages of a project. 
Although the program was announced early in 1976, only one person responded (Bruce 
Peterjohn) and he submitted the appropriate information for a Great Blue Heron colony at 
Rend Lake. It is hopeful that every heron, gull and tern colony, ete. in Illinois be duly 
recorded and registered. This is very useful information and will be combined with all 
North American data. The Non-game Section of the Department of Conservation has been 
asked to coordinate this program for Illinois; appropriate forms and informational materials 
are available from the Non-game Section. 
The Breeding Bird Atlas, begun three to four years ago in various parts of the state, 
has had its difficulties. The chief problem has been the general lack of interest in Illinois 
breeding species in observers’ own counties or neighborhoods and the “I don’t care what 
happens” attitude of many birders. The chief purpose of the Atlas has: been to document 
here and now the actual presence of breeding species so that the data would be available for 
comparative purposes in the future. Without that data now, no one in the future will ever 
know if certain species have bred at certain locations now or in the past and the loss of 
breeding habitat or the degradation of the environment can never be documented; there- 
fore, those bent on destroying the environment will be able to continue their free reign 
unabated. Much appreciation is extended to the Thorn Creek Aubudon Society (Park 
Forest) for their great contribution to the Atlas program — especially Aura Duke and Kit 
Struthers. 
The Mid-June Birding Challenge is a new annual project to be conducted statewide, the 
purpose of which is to further study and understand the abundance and distribution of all 
Illinois breeding species. Challenge Areas were established according to latitude and 
longitude and 7% minute U.S. Geological Survey maps were used to determine the exact 
boundaries of each Area. The Challenge is to find nests or nesting evidence of each species 
within the Challenge Area and accumulate points according to a specially designed scoring 
system for all observations during a nine-day Challenge Period. This project has numerous 
advantages over a Summer Bird Count or similar counts and can be highly competitive as 
well as cooperative for everyone in their attempts to achieve high birding scores and 
further document Illinois’ avifauna. Fourteen Challenge Areas were established in 1976 and 
the results for thirteen were: 
1976 RESULTS -- MID-JUNE BIRDING CHALLENGE 
Area | Challenge “ No. Nest Record No. Species 
7%" Quadrangle Name No. Points Achieved Cards Submitted Recorded* {Contributors 
Silvis 6 689 13 (11 species) ie) Elton Fawks, Peter Petersen, Walter Zuurdeeg, 
Allan Mueller and Jake Frink. 
Homer 3 | 600 46 (13 species) 66 Lois Drury, Matt Hewings, Virginia Stolpe, 
i Katie Hamrick, Jackie Worden, Ray Boehmer, 
| Alice Pickard, Ken & Dorothy MacInnes 
Thomasboro 5s 561 34 (19 species) 59 Robert Chapel, Janice Polk, Inex McClure 
Crab Orchard Lake 3eaad 504 12 ( 5 species) 80 Mike Morrison 
Gorham 5 | 406 6 ( 4 species) WS Mike Morrison 
Urbana 1 t 397 21 (10 species) 33 Beth Chato, Helen Parker, et al. 
Mt. Sterling (15') UL-6 | 320 1l ( 9 species) 60 Ted, Loraine, Mary and Lois Funk. 
Urbana 3 i 301 5 ( 3 species) 51 Darlene Friedman, Helen Parker, Beth Chato, 
: etral. 
Liberty (15') LR-4 ' 251 9 ( 7 species) 40 Jim and Melba Funk. 
Mt. Sterling (15') LL-5 : 240 5 ( 4 species) 46 Jim and Ted Funk. 
Mt. Sterling (15') A ee 190 1 ( 1 species) 43 Jim Funk 
Park Ridge 6 164 1 ( 1 species) 33 Richard Mizera 
Nebo (15') UL-3 | 108 0) Jim and Melba Funk. 
Total: 168 (42 species) 130 
* The number of species recorded includes the presence of any species observed in the Challenge Area during the Challenge 
Period (12-20 June) and those species for which nests were located earlier than the Challenge Period but the species 
presence was not recorded during the Challenge Period. 
Note: In some parts of Illinois there are no 74' topographic maps available; therefore, 15' maps were used and 
divided into four equal parts, each of which is the same as a 74' map. Hence, the use of the letters in the Area No. 
column: UL, Upper Left; UR, Upper Right; LL, Lower Left; and LR, Lower Right; referring to which portion of the 15 
map used. Each 74' map is then divided into six equal sections; hence, the use of Area Numbers. 
