12 THE« AUD EBON IS Wo Ee ae 
Iowa — Ilhnois — Mississippi Valley Bird Book 
By ELTON FAWKS 
For A LONG TIME the need has been felt for a lcceal bird book dealing with 
birds along the Mississippi river. The Davenport Public Museum and the 
Tri-Cities Bird Club are in the process of compiling data concerning the 
counties immediately adjacent to the Mississippi in both Hlinois and Iowa. 
Present plans call for the book to be published in sections. Until the 
time arrives to complete the volume, each section will first be mimeographed. 
The most important section at present is a badly needed check list for the 
Tri-Cities area. 
We are particularly interested in valid observations and information 
from students of bird life, particularly records describing kinds of birds, 
migration notes, life history studies, habitat preferences, and general bird 
observations made in the following counties: 
Iowa: Allamakee, Clayton, Dubuque, Jackson, Clinton, Scott, Muscatine, 
Louisa, Des Moines and Lee. 
Illinois: JoDaviess, Carroll, Whiteside, Henry, Rock Island, Mercer, Hen- 
derson and Hancock. 
Some thought has been given to extending the scope of the work to in- 
clude a strip of 50 miles inland from the river. We are appealing to any- 
one within this territory for help and ideas, and will accept records in 
whatever form proves convenient. We do have forms made out that we will 
send to anyone requesting them. These have specific questions and categories 
for different birds. 
We have not decided on the exact scope of the present study, and would 
welcome any suggestions. One problem we are working on is just how the 
river itself affects migration. We are in an ideal location to start a study 
showing how the river is used. It is well known that the wide Mississippi 
valley is used by birds. What is known about birds using narrow river 
valleys rather than the broad river basin? What birds go directly north 
and south regardless of the course of the river? For a distance of some 
50 miles the river near the Tri-Cities flows west. We know that most of 
the ducks and geese leave the river as it turns and pick it up again as it 
flows south. The reverse is also true as the birds fly north up the river. 
Any opinions and suggestions on the check list, scope of the work, or 
especially any thoughts on the Mississippi river as a migration route will 
be gratefully received. Replies can be sent to the Davenport Public Museum 
at 704 Brady Street, Davenport, Iowa, or to the writer. 
Box 112, Route #1, East Moline, Illinois 
