THE AUDUBON BULLETIN pk) 
The 1930 Season at Quincy 
By T. E. MussELMAN 
1930 has been a great old year for Western Illinois. During the two 
weeks of subzero weather in January about fifty Quail were banded. Mor- 
tality among them was very great. Most birds were so weak they could 
not fly even when tossed into the air. A covey of five birds was found, in 
which four had eaten the grain-filled craw out of the fifth, which lay dead 
at their feet. Because of the summer drought the number of eggs in nests 
was small, and many young birds died because of no water in the creeks 
or ponds. The fall shooting consequently was poorer than in years. Among 
the banded Quail killed, one had travelled nine miles northeast, another six 
miles east, a third two miles south, and three were killed on the farm where 
banded. 
During the heavy snow Pine Siskins, Redpolls, Purple Finch, and Gold- 
finches practically lived on the seeds gleaned from the frozen Osage Hedge 
Balls. 
Horned Larks gathered by the hundreds about the cattle feeding troughs. 
Russell Davis, of Clayton, captured over one hundred at a single fall of 
the nets. All were banded, then released. Starlings are very much on the 
increase. A pair nested at Carthage, Illinois. Bluebirds arrived February 
11, on the same wind with Robins and Killdeer. Meadowlarks arrived 
February 16, with a great increase in Kinglets and Juncos. Maples were 
in full bloom February 21, which date marked the first big flight of prob- 
ably ten thousand Mallards and Pintails. February 22, Kingfishers are 
here. February 23, Dwarf White Trillium in bloom. First thunder and 
lightning. Many White Throated Sparrows. March 2, Great Horned 
Owls sitting on full complements of eggs. March 6, first Towhee. March 
10, saw first Migrant Shrike, also a Female Northern Pileated Wood- 
pecker. March 15, Flickers are here—mating. Phoebes and many little 
Red Bats are flying about the mouth of Burton Cave. Antiopa Butterflies 
are common. March 16, First Field, Chipping and Fox Sparrows, Be- 
wick’s Wren and Hermit Thrush. ‘Yortoise-shell and Red Admiral But- 
terflies are sampling the pollen of the Hepaticas and Spring Beauties. 
I find that Juncos sleep in abundance in the husks of the standing corn 
shocks, after the ears of corn have been removed. Hylas are chirping. Elms 
and cottonwoods are in bloom. March 21, First Martins—False Crowfoot 
in bloom. March 27, Great Blue Herons here. April 2, two nests of Wild 
Turkeys located on old game preserve across the river in Missouri. April 
4, first Pieris Butterflies. First Hog Nosed Snake. Anemones, Violets, 
Purple Trilliums, Dog-tooth Violets in bloom. Water Cress is at its best 
—tall, crisp, tender. First turtle eggs. 
