54 THE'AUDY BON; BULCEE EEN 
December 26 gives a conception of the winter bird life in the vicinity of 
Ottawa. Our course lay along the south bank of the Illinois river, through 
the trails of Starved Rock State Park to Utica, and back along the I. M. 
Canal and Buffalo Rock. The list is as follows: Mallard, 19; American 
Golden-eye, 11; BufHlehead, 1; American Merganser, 16; Ducks, un- 
identifiable, 10; American Rough-legged Hawk, 1; Red-tailed Hawk, 1; 
Bob-White, 18 (2 coveys) ; American Coot, 12; Herring Gull, 35; Ring- 
billed Gull, 15; Eastern Mourning Dove, 1; Eastern Screech Owl, 1; 
Great Horned Owl, 2; Barred Owl, 1; Northern Flicker, 1; Eastern 
Hairy Woodpecker, 3; Northern Downy Woodpecker, 10; Prairie Horned 
Lark, 2; Northern Blue Jay, 6; Eastern Crow, 49; Black-capped Chick- 
adee, 16; Tufted Titmouse, 23; White-breasted Nuthatch, 4; Brown 
Creeper, 1; Eastern Golden-crowned Kinglet, 1; Winter Wren, 6; Caro- 
lina Wren, 5; Northern Shrike, 1; Starling, 13; English Sparrow, 50 
(est.) ; Redwing, 600 (est.) ; Eastern Cardinal, 14; Slate-colored Junco, 
200 (est.) ; Eastern Tree Sparrow, 350 (est.) ; Mississippi Song Sparrow, 
2>.> Lotal> 35<species, 1,524 (est) aindividuals: 
A number of other half-hardy birds have been wintering here, despite 
the cold and snow of December. I observed two Robins on December 23, 
which used a thick clump of evergreens for a roost. On the 24th I saw 
three Eastern Meadowlarks, and six Mourning Doves. A Kingfisher was 
noted on January 2, hovering over the surface of a frozen pond. 
December 27 will always stand out in my memory. On that day, 
with two companions, Phillip and James Drury, I noted a large bird on 
a dead tree, a short distance below the Starved Rock Dam. Going closer 
I took note of its large size and blackness of plumage. I knew it to 
be an Eagle, but I was in doubt whether an immature Bald or Golden. 
We circled closer until less than two hundred feet away, and I had just 
time to glimpse the dark brown back, before the Eagle spread its wings 
and flew close to the water, There, as it wheeled about, we saw a distinct 
white patch at the base of the tail. For the next ten minutes the majestic 
bird, flew and soared near us, its body appearing black, with two white 
patches being visible on the primaries. ‘The Eagle had some surprises for 
us, for suddenly it darted upward, turned over, and swept downward. 
‘his it repeated several times in quick succession—reminding me of a 
Swallow darting upward after some passing insect. The Eagle’s call, 
uttered several times, was a deep throaty “Cah, Cagh.” 
I observed a Short-eared Owl in a dried-up marsh, and many Gold- 
finches, December 28. A Short-eared Owl was given to me by a hunter, 
who had slightly wounded it. The Owl was put in a cage, but it refused 
to eat Sparrows or meat. After two days the Owl was given its release 
though it could not fly. 
A friend saw four Great Blue Herons on December 19. With the 
chance that they might still be there I made a trip to the designated spot 
on the Fox river, December 30. When I saw the ice-coated river, I had 
