52 THE AUDUBON BULLETIN 
waterfowl, it was interesting to note the usual numbers of ducks and 
geese. No Snow or Blue Geese were seen, however. The area covered in 
this report is in the valley of the Sangamon River, northwest of Spring- 
field. 
Port Kyron 
Mr. J. J. Schaefer, a frequent contributor, again reports for his 
area along the Mississippi River in northwestern Illinois. 
The weather has been very mild during December. Dandelions in 
bloom on Christmas and bees were flying about on several days. Prairie 
Horned Larks were heard singing on some of the warmest days of the 
month. During Christmas week the following birds were seen and heard: 
Cooper’s Hawk, Sparrow Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Bob-white, Screech 
Owl, Hairy, Downy, Red-headed and Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Northern 
Flickers, Prairie Horned Lark, Blue Jay, Crow, Tufted Titmouse, Chicka- 
dee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Starling, Goldfinch, Tree Sparrow, Junco, 
and Cardinal. No Brown Creepers were seen. Juncos are scarce and 
the Great Horned Owls are all gone. A farmer living about two miles 
north of here has a steel trap on a pole and is catching them as fast as 
they come. Cardinals and ‘Vitmice are more common than in other win- 
ters. A few Starlings are here and have been reported as nesting in the 
area for the past three years. One farmer reported that the Starlings 
killed a Bluebird on his place. He then killed the Starlings. Nighthawks 
were common during the Fall migration, but no Tree Swallows were seen. 
Specimen “last seen” records from field trips during the past three 
months may be of interest: 
November: Bronzed Grackles, 24; Rusty Blackbirds, 23; Killdeer, 
21; Red-winged Blackbirds, 20; Marsh Hawks, 12; Bluebirds, 6. 
October: Robins, 31; Meadowlarks, 25; Myrtle Warblers, 17; 
Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 15; Phoebe, 7; Chimney Swifts, 2. 
September: House Wren, 30; Rose-breasted Grosbeak, 29; Mourn- 
ing Dove, 26; Catbird, 23; Brown Thrashers, 23; Nighthawk, 15; Ruby- 
throated Humming Birds, 14; Crested Flycatchers, 14; Cliff Swallows, 8; 
Baltimore Orioles, 8; Kingbirds, 3. 
One Western Meadowlark was heard Oct. 16 and during the Spring 
migration. Double-crested Cormorants were seen flying over on April 13 
and Oct. 14. We had a very large colony of Cliff Swallows this year. 
On May 31 about 256 nests were finished under the eaves of our barn. 
During the very hot weather the latter part of June many of the young 
swallows came out of the nests too soon and perished. 
