6 THE AU DU BON*S U-t i Evia 
.observed as well as 14 species of sparrows. On April 16 of this year, I saw 
10 species of sparrows: song, fox, Nelson’s, Savannah, vesper, tree, field, 
Lincoln’s, swamp and white-throated. Besides these ten, I have also seen the 
common sharp-tailed, chipping, Harris’s and white-crowned. 
Herring and ring-billed gulls are occasional visitors, especially when Lake 
Michigan is particularly stormy and rough. Of the woodpecker clan, the 
flicker and yellow-bellied sapsucker are quite abundant in spring and fall 
migration. Both the golden and ruby-crowned kinglets are present at these 
times. Four types of vireos come through: yellow-throated, blue-headed, red- 
eyed and warbling. Red-winged, Brewer’s, and rusty blackbirds, together 
‘with the bronzed grackle and cowbird, comprise the visitors of that family. 
Among other migrants observed are the meadowlark, whip-poor-will, 
nighthawk, kingfisher, crested flycatcher, phoebe, winter wren, migrant 
shrike, scarlet tanager, rose-breasted grosbeak, indigo bunting, purple finch, 
and towhee. 
Lack of food makes the winter months rather poor for birding. About the 
only residents at this time are downy and hairy woodpeckers, cardinals, 
juncos, and crows. At times small flocks of tree sparrows or chickadees 
spend a few weeks; when the water in the lagoon is open, an occasional 
American or red-breasted merganser makes his appearance. Only toward 
spring did I see the brown creeper, red-breasted nuthatch and blue-jay. I 
have yet to see a white-breasted nuthatch. 
Among the summer residents are robin, brown thrasher, catbird, cardinal, 
grackle, red-winged blackbirds, song sparrow, flicker, chimney swift, purple 
martin, house wren, warbling and red-eyed vireos, Baltimore oriole, chipping 
sparrow, bluejay, goldfinch, mourning dove, barn swallow, sparrow hawk 
and crow. 
My most unexpected find was the blue-gray gnatcatcher, and the rarest 
was the blue grosbeak, which is rather uncommon this far north in Illinois. 
In one and one-half years of frequent trips through the park, twice only 
have I encountered people looking at birds. Why don’t more people take 
advantage of birding in Columbus Park? Probably because they have no 
idea of the treasures it has to offer. It is my hope that this little account 
may bring others to share my own pleasant and profitable experiences in 
the park. 4247 Washington Blvd., Chicago 24, Illinois 
ie cel ie 
A Wish Come True 
By Mrs. C. Harvey DaAvips 
ALL DURING NOVEMBER on my frequent visits to the Wilmette Harbor area, 
I'd glance at the pier that stretches into Lake Michigan jokingly say to 
myself that perhaps a Purple Sandpiper might be there! Of course, I never 
expected to have one turn up for me. 
On December 8, 1952, I received a letter from my friend Ellen Stephen- 
son, who, until she moved to Connecticut, was one of Chicagoland’s most 
active birders. She told of the exciting new birds she had seen on the East 
