46 TRHHE AUD BB Orne Ure 
Rockford 
The Nature Study Society of Rockford has for the past three years 
taken part in the Annual Christmas census published in Bird Lore. Ac- 
cording to the Rockford Morning Star, nine members of the Society were 
in the field last year on Dec. 27 and were able to report twenty-three 
species of birds seen, one lone Robin furnishing the major interest. Mrs. 
G. D. Sundstrand, chairman of the census takers, reported the territory 
canvassed as including Corey’s Bluff, Prairie Road, Ingersoll Park, Black 
Hawk and Sinnissippi Parks, Alpine Heights and the road on the west 
side of Rock River as far as Macktown. At this place the census-takers 
took time out for a winter picnic and steak fry in the clubhouse, where 
County Forester IT. G. Lindquist had a fire burning in preparation for 
their arrival. 
The findings of the census are as follows: Forty Crows, one Rough- 
legged Hawk, one Sparrow Hawk, one American Osprey, a covey of 
Quail, one Screech Owl, one Kingfisher, one Red-bellied Woodpecker, three 
Hairy Weodpeckers, six Downy Woodpeckers, one Horned Lark, seven 
Blue Jays, one Tufted Titmouse, twenty-eight Chickadees, five White- 
breasted Nuthatches, one Robin, seven Starlings, sixteen Tree Sparrows, 
sixteen Redpolls, two Rusty Blackbirds, nine Juncos, three Cardinals, 
and about five hundred English Sparrows. 
Miss Frances S. Dobson, Secretary of the Club, reports that the 
Starling made its appearance in that territory two years ago and is now 
seen in increasing numbers. “he Western Meadowlark is a common vis- 
itor in the Spring. Quail are becoming quite plentiful, as they find pro- 
tection in the various county forest preserves. “These preserves are really 
refuges for wild life, as County Forester Lindquist is interested in this line 
of work. : 
The membership of the Rockford Nature Study Society is 35, with 
dues of one dollar a year. It has held regular meetings during the year 
on the first Saturday of the month. “These meetings are varied to meet 
the needs of the membership, which is composed of both old and young. 
During the spring and fall there are hikes to forest preserves and nearby 
beauty spots, while in the winter city parks are visited and members open 
their homes for indoor meetings. ‘This year, in addition to the study of 
trees, birds and wild flowers, the Society had a day for cultivated flowers, 
visiting the gardens in a city park and identifying as many as possible. 
‘The Club has an honorable record for activities relating to conserva- 
tion at home and elsewhere. It has a membership in the National and 
State Audubon Societies, the Illinois Academy of Sciences, and it gives 
to the Jack Miner Fund for feeding wild geese. 
