The Sandpipers of Lincoln Park 
By WILL DREUTH 
There have always been a few sandpipers in Lincoln Park ever 
since I began studying birds there a number of years ago. The real 
increase among the members of this group, however, began with the 
filling in of the new land north of Diversey Parkway, and reached its 
climax in number of species and individuals during the progress of the 
work at the foot of Montrose Avenue in 1932. This area was being 
filled in with tin cans, garbage, cinders and other debris of a large 
city, making it a most unsavory spot; but the birds thought otherwise. 
It was a gathering place for gulls, plovers, turnstones and sandpipers. 
Few people came here and there was an abundance of food. Gradually 
this area changed; the odorous garbage was first covered with a layer 
of clay and later with sand, and a new beach for bathers was formed. 
All these changes cut off, to a great extent, the supply of food and 
so lessened the number of shore birds. At the present time, therefore, 
most of the birds are found at the shore-line and the sandy beach 
back of it. 
Of course the members of this family are not confined to Montrose 
Beach. Small numbers of woodcock, Wilson’s snipe, spotted and soli- 
tary sandpipers, yellow-legs and sanderlings may be found in suitable 
places throughout the length of the park. 
In this article I shall confine myself to the period of 1932-1937 
as this time was the most prolific both in individuals and species. The 
dates of occurrence are the extremes for both spring and fall for the 
whole period under consideration; this also applies to the number of 
individuals seen in one day and number of times observed in the year. 
Thinking that a few comments on the field identification of the more 
difficult species would be of interest, I have mentioned some of the 
characters that I have found useful. 
Woopcock. This species has come to the park every spring since 
1932 but is not common. I have seen from one to four during each 
spring migration but never more than one in one day. The extreme 
dates are March 15 to May 21. 
WILSON SNIPE. The snipe comes regularly each year, sometimes 
in spring only, and then again in fall only; in some years, both spring 
and fall. One or two birds are the most seen in one day, four to nine 
times each year, more often in the fall. April 13-30. August 30- 
November 7. 
HUDSONIAN CURLEW. A rare fall migrant. Only one seen in 1934; 
seen on two occasions in 1937, one individual each time. September 
1 Did Bey 
UPLAND PLOVER. A rare migrant observed in the park only in 
1937. One bird only was seen on each of the three following dates: 
May 26, September 10 and 24. 
SPOTTED SANDPIPER. A common sandpiper in the park both spring 
and fall; it probably nests within its limits. One to thirteen indi- 
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