4 TiH/E AUD U.B ON] 3B UL eee 
for the first time. Winter is a desirable time to begin because there are 
few birds, and leafless trees make identification less difficult. The study of 
trees and shrubs without their foliage proved interesting. The temperature 
was below freezing and ice two to four inches thick covered the fioodplain. 
Our party of nine kept on the higher ridges, startled many times by the 
loud cracking of the ice. 
The group assembled each Saturday morning at ten o’clock and a short 
talk was given by one of the leaders on some pertinent problem of the 
fauna or flora. The session lasted two hours, but many loitered in the 
museum when the class was dismissed to study the live birds in Miss Moe’s 
hospital. The saw-whet owl, screech owl, barred owl, great horned owl and 
short-eared owl have in turn been befriended by the curator. Mounted 
birds and eggs were also of interest. At present there is a young blue jay 
that can imitate the other inmates of the museum. 
During the month of May it was found more desirable to meet from 
nine to eleven o’clock as the days lengthened. Pupils were encouraged to 
bring field glasses, bird books, and to take notes and keep weekly records. 
Many obtained the C. O. S. list of birds of the Chicago area and a small 
leaflet giving the list of winter residents and the arrivals for each spring 
month. 
Due to the courteous publicity given by Dr. Gloyd, of the Chicago 
Academy of Sciences, earnest students came from Chicago, Western 
Springs, Elmhurst, Lombard, Berwyn, Maywood, Oak Park and River 
Forest. Several adults and scouts traveled two hours each way by trolley 
for our two-hour class. At the height of the spring migration the class 
numbered over one hundred. During the three months of 1943, 150 indi- 
viduals were enrolled in the groups and 100 species of birds were identified. 
The season of 1944 showed an increase in interest. Weekly reports have 
been sent each season to the local papers, with indications that they have 
been appreciated by the public. 
The first meeting in the 1945 season occurred April 7 at Trailside Mu- 
seum, River Forest, located on the corner of Chicago Avenue and Thatcher, 
two blocks north of Lake Street. The time was 9:30 to 11:30, and it was 
under the direction of Mrs. Theron Wasson and other competent leaders. 
Here are a few notes selected from the 1943 and 1944 reports: 
February 27, 1943—-White-breasted nuthatch, tufted titmouse, crow, 
cardinal, English sparrow, starling, ring-necked pheasant, sparrow hawk, 
downy woodpecker, herring and ring-billed gulls were observed. A blue jay 
called in the distance. Studies were continued at Mrs. Wasson’s bird 
counter. Downy woodpeckers entertained us outside as we ate a delicious 
luncheon. Later we saw delightful colored movies of the Audubon school 
for bird study on Hog Island, Maine, which Mrs. Wasson and Elizabeth 
attended last summer. 
March 6—Driving snow and a temperature of 12 were not enticing for 
tramping. Yet eight members assembled at Trailside Museum where a 
mourning dove sang jubilantly. Birds remain under cover and go hungry 
during a blizzard. We found only six species; the hairy woodpecker and 
