58 THETAU DU BONES UU eae 
Notes From Sullivan, Illinois 
By LorEN BRUMFIELD 
Golden Plover 
In April of 1928 I saw about one hundred plover feeding in a pasture 
land two miles northwest of Sullivan. I stopped my car and allowed some 
of them to approach within fifty yards of me. Since I had never identified 
the Golden Plover I determined to come back the next day with my field 
glasses. After I had viewed them through the glasses I was positive of my 
identification. I talked with several of the old residents of Sullivan; they 
told me that they had seen others there during the spring for many years. 
The birds seemed to be feeding and resting and were not easily frightened ; 
but when they were, they usually all took flight at the same time, would 
circle for some distance and again alight near the same place or in a nearby 
pasture. 
I saw the Golden Plover in the same fields again in April, 1929, and 
in April, 1930. But in the spring of 1931 they failed to return to their 
old haunts. However, I did see them about. 12 miles straight south near 
Windsor, Illinois. They usually remain about two weeks before leaving 
for their nesting ground far in Canada. 
Do Hawks Have a Common Resting Ground? 
About five miles east of Sullivan is a little branch called Jonathan 
Creek. The creek meanders along near and across the road for a distance 
of two or three miles. Along this branch are little groves and woods pas- 
ture of mostly elm with a few hickories and oak. Here my partner and I 
have observed many hawks, Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned Hawks and a few 
Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks. The great majority of the hawks 
rest in certain favorite trees. I believe that hawks from a radius of several 
miles use this community as their resting grounds. It is seldom that hawks 
can be seen here except from noon to evening. I believe that for genera- 
tions back the parents have used this community as their resting grounds, 
or it may be that the hawks have a certain route that they cover in their 
hunting and visit this community only once every two or three weeks, 
stopping for a rest of a few days. I am certain that these hawks are not 
raised within ten or fifteen miles of this place. 
I love to see the Red-tail soar high above me over the fields and 
woods; I love to startle the Cooper or the Sharp-shin in the heavy woods 
and see him dash madly away to safety, but I feel that he sometimes be- 
comes too numerous and plays havoc among the game and song birds. 
I have driven over most of the territory around here and I fail to find 
hawks except in the Jonathan Creek community. 
The Prairie Chicken in Moultrie County 
I believe the Prairie Chicken to be practically extinct throughout this 
section of the state. I have not heard of one being seen in this county for 
