ot ese OD UB ONE BU L Eee N 5 
In July, the Cattle Heron was seen at Saganashkee Slough — an unusual 
record of a foreign species. Good spring rarities were: Purple Gallinule, 
Avocet, one or more Eared Grebes, a Long-billed Curlew, six Hudsonian 
Godwits, and a Hawk Owl (the latter seen by Mrs. Theron Wasson at the 
Morton Arboretum). Another record was the Glossy Ibis seen at 135th 
and Doty Aves. ' ; 
Good observations were also made in the fall. At Michigan City pier, 
two Western Grebes were found, as well as the American, Surf, and White- 
winged Scoters; two Snowy Owls; the Hooded, American, and Red-breasted 
Mergansers; Old-Squaw, Scaup, Ruddy, Buffle-head, Red-head, and Canvas- 
back Ducks. Pintails were seen later, and a Red Phalarope stayed for 
several weeks. 
Northern Shrikes were located in a number of places; two at Beverly 
Shores, Indiana, one at Navy Pier, one at Waukegan, and one in the out- 
skirts of the Arboretum. Later on, the Morton Arboretum gave us a real 
thrill with the finding of the Townsend’s Solitaire. It has been many years 
since that bird has been seen in the Chicago area. We found it during the 
Christmas Census. 
Mt. Hope Cemetery has been interesting, too. There I saw two Long- 
eared Owls and a Hairy Woodpecker in midwinter, and also heard Blue 
Birds. Six had been seen there, along with several Robins, a day or two 
before by Mr. Blair Coursen. 
On January 7, 1954, at a small dump yard near Beverly Shores, Indiana, 
Dr. Reuter-Skiold and I were sitting in her car with just one or two birds 
in sight. We tried the Audubon Bird Call, and from the trees and swamp 
came birds and then more birds. I began counting White-crowned Sparrows, 
both immatures and adults. I counted 20 to 25, as well as Juncoes and 
Black-capped Chickadees. Soon we heard a Carolina Wren calling, and 
another one answer from farther away. Presently a Red-shouldered Hawk 
became interested in our “squeaker.” Later, Tree and Song Sparrows came 
along. We were surprised beyond measure that such a flock of birds 
should come to see what all the “calling” was about. 
Waukegan produced an Arctic three-toed Woodpecker this winter. Here 
we also turned up a red-phased Screech Owl; I failed to find a gray one 
this season. On January 11, when Helen Lane and I were driving north- 
west of the Arboretum, we saw a flock of 100 (estimated) Mourning Doves 
feeding in a corn field. It was the first time we had ever seen a flock of 
this size in midwinter. 
The Arboretum has held some winter visitors that we have come to 
expect, such as the Great Horned Owl, the Long-eared and Screech Owls, 
over 200 Pine Siskins, and a Winter Wren. Regular winter birds here in- 
cluded Robins, Cedar Waxwings, Song Sparrows, Tree Sparrows, Juncoes, 
and Blue Jays. Altogether, it has been a good year, and we hope that the 
next will be even a better one. 
6335 S. Kimbark Ave., Chicago 37 
