(icc rss ONES UE EIN 67 
Starlings are common throughout the year. “The assembly for the fall 
migration is especially noteworthy in the Museum area. The region about 
the slough is apparently the gathering ground for all the birds for miles 
around; not for Starlings only, but for Grackles, Rusty Blackbirds, Cow- 
birds, and Robins. Flocks of these birds, sometimes with many thousands 
in a flock, may be seen toward sunset flying over Maywood, River Forest, 
and Forest Park, all headed toward this one area. Each related group has 
its own area; there is no great amount of intermingling. “The Blackbirds 
(Grackles, Rusties, and Cowbirds) occupy the tops of trees in the central 
part of the oval woods south of the slough and within its crescent. “The 
Robins roost in brushes and low trees in a broad band around the margin 
of the blackbird roost. The Starlings may ke seen blackening the topmost 
branches of tall cottonwoods just north of the slough, and in tall oaks close 
about the Museum. All of these species bathe just before dark in the 
slough itself, often lining the water’s edge in an almost solid mass 10 or 
more feet wide. 
The dates of these flocks for 1934 were: 
Robins—September 15-October 15. 
Starlings—September 28-October 30. 
Blackbirds—September 15-October 18. 
BN stare Study Sart, of Rockford, Hi 
In addition to its usual activities this year the Nature Study Society of 
Rockford, working with the County Superintendent of Schools, is sponsor- 
ing a contest among the children of the rural schools of the county on the 
general subject “Birds About Our Homes and Schools,” first, second and ~ 
third prizes being given to the pupils turning in the best papers and a set 
of Audubon Bird cards to the school turning in the largest number. In 
order to bring this to the attention of the community the Society is pre- 
senting a series of talks over the local radio station on Saturdays when the 
children can come to the studio and answer questions in regard to the vari- 
ous phases of nature. The Society hopes in this way to make the rural 
children more nature conscious. 
In the early Spring, Apple River Canyon, a new state park of rare 
beauty in the northern part of the state was visited and in October the 
White Pines State Park near Oregon. At both of these places our native 
trees were studied. 
The State Fish Hatchery northwest of the city offers bird students a 
splendid opportunity of studying the ducks and the waders, and also offers 
the birds a welcome sanctuary during the hunting season. On May 14 two 
new species were seen there, the Marble Godwit and the Hudsonion God- 
