30 THE A:UID U BON MB een 
Notes From the Barrington Bird Club 
An unusual opportunity for studying water birds delighted bird 
students this past fall. On the eastern edge of Barrington is a tract 
of many acres formed through the past three years by waters filling a 
burned out peat bed. Swampy margins and small islands covered 
with willows make the place attractive to birds all summer but migrat- 
ing water birds were most abundant. Some shooting was done during 
the duck season by the owner but the locality was posted against pub- 
lic hunting. 
An artificial lake southwest of town has been made a bird pre- 
serve by the owner. Large numbers of Blue and Snow Geese stopped 
here from late October until mid-November. There were also about 
three hundred Canada Geese and innumerable ducks of at least eleven 
species. We hope a more extended report on this refuge may be made 
next year. The owner has planted the lake with wild rice and other 
appropriate food and also feeds much corn. No shooting is allowed 
and the grounds are well guarded. 
At both of these lakes the birds can easily be seen from the high- 
way. Florida Gallinules were observed in numbers at the latter lake. 
In August four herons were in sight at the same time, two American 
Kgrets, a Green Heron, Night Heron, and a Great Blue Heron. 
Mrs. CLIFFORD STOUT, 
Mrs. RoBert Work, Barrington. 
A Day in January 
Bright sunshine, blue skies, white snow, delicious pure air and 
peace and quiet over Morton’s Arboretum. What a relaxation from a 
busy world of care to get out into such an atmosphere to enjoy winter 
in all its glory! Has there ever been a winter when the alders, parent 
seeds of which came from the Black Forest of Germany, have been so 
beautiful? With their lovely purple catkins of four to six in a group 
hanging in such abundance, and the black cones full of seeds of last 
summer’s harvest on the trees, giving the whole group a purple cast 
in the bright sunlight, they were a sight to remember long after. 
In this tranquil haven you might ask if there were birds to add to 
our delight and we answer, Oh, yes!—the Cardinal and his mate and 
Juncos met us at the gate. Among others were Downy and Hairy 
Woodpeckers, a Mourning Dove, Blue Jays, Crows, Marsh Hawk, Sharp- 
shinned Hawk, two female pheasants, and hark!—-yes, it is a Gold- 
finch! A lovely Purple Finch appeared with two females, Chickadees, 
one sending his phoebe call ringing through the woods, Golden-crowned 
Kinglets, Starlings, and last but not least, a flock of twelve Pine Sis- 
kins eating seeds up in the alders. What a dear little group they made, 
some right side up, others up side down, hanging by their feet, giv- 
ing us a splendid opportunity to study their colors of brown and yel- 
low, and not at all fearful of us. 
See ge ties AMY G. BALDWIN, 
6335 Kimbark Avenue, Chicago. 
