12 L HEY AW DG BION. BU Deka 
THE CHRISTMAS BIRD CENSUS—1971 
By Evelyn M. Spitzer 
Again we had 36 Christmas Census reports to tabulate, showing 140 different 
species, plus 6 more during the count period, and not including Krider‘’s 
Red-tailed Hawks as a separate species. However, you will notice that 11 
species were represented by just one bird. Significantly, most of the very 
high counts came from areas which included some sort of Refuge or other 
protected land. 
Some other notes gleaned from the compilers: Vermilion County— 
Bluebirds numbered 20, up from 4 last year, “due to nesting box program?” 
Jersey-Calhoun—“In spite of fog, we still had a count by airplane. ..flying 
above the low ground fog, permitting the observers a better view of water- 
fowl than was possible from the ground.’ They also reported the only 
LeConte’s Sparrow in the table, and I cannot remember when we had one at 
Christmas. 
As we did last year, here is a break-down of the Bald Eagle reports for 
you: In the 151 total, 55 were immature, 92 adult, and 4 unidentified. 
Since there were absolutely no comments about omission of participants’ 
names (other than compilers) from last year’s Christmas Census Report, we 
have again made up the Station Data in the same manner. This saves much 
time and space when you multiply 36 reports by 5 to 47 names. 
Finally, having spent many hours compiling this report for you, l 
must brag that my sole personal contribution to the Christmas Count Period 
was two Great Horned Owls in my back yard at dusk on Christmas Day. 
Many thanks to those of you who sent nicely typed or neatly printed reports 
to help the cause along. 
1776 Roger Avenue, Glenview, Illinois 60025 
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Census Editor’s Note: Again, we wish to thank the hundred of participants 
—census-takers and particularly census-reporters—whose work has made 
the 1971 Christmas Bird Census possible. The Illinois Audubon Society has 
reached an impressive figure, both in birds counted and in bird watchers. 
However, no one should assume that because our total count exceeds 
2% million birds, we have more wildlife in Illinois than ever. The figures 
for grackles and starlings in St. Clair County merely cloud an important 
issue. I couldn’t care less about the counts for these species. The pesticide 
makers and anti-conservationist forces can point to the Illinois (or National 
Audubon) census totals and say: “You see? Your own figures prove that 
you have more birds in America than you had 10 or 20 years ago.” We know 
that these totals can be deceptive. And I do know with certainty that, 
counting the same area of the Morton Arboretum in every Christmas 
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