Pere oe lO Cero pease tre el N 43 
(Smith and Parmalee, 1955; Ford, 1956). As an example, the Whistling 
Swans are rarely seen this far inland and/or around water bodies the largest 
of which is only 10 acres. They were doubtless sidetracked along the Fox 
River. The Canvasback also follows a migration pattern of more open water. 
The Hooded Merganser, Northern Shrike, White-eyed Vireo, and Mer- 
lin are listed as rare, accidental, casual, or uncommon migrants, or winter 
residents. The Merlin is, however, seen in the Chicago area almost every 
year (Smith and Parmalee, 1955 and Ford, 1956). 
Two species deserve special mention: The Western (Arkansas) Kingbird 
is commonly found in those states west of the Great Plains (Petersen, 1941), 
but is casual to accidental within 50 miles of the Chicago loop (Smith, 1958), 
and individuals apparently are likely to appear in almost any temperate to 
tropical North and Central American locality (Ford, 1956). The Pine Gros- 
beak, unnoticed during the first five years of censuses, descended in small 
but ever increasing numbers throughout February of 1972. Flock sizes in- 
creased to approximately 25-30 individuals feeding within 15 acres of an 
abandoned nursery on horticultural varieties of crabapples. 
Literature Cited 
Dillon, S. T. 1968. A Bird Census on a Restricted Site in Northeastern 
Illinois. The Audubon Bulletin, Illinois Audubon Society 146 (16-20). 
Dillon, S. T. 1970. Some Observations Concerning Avian Habitat Preferences. 
The Audubon Bulletin, Illinois Audubon Society 155 (1-8). 
Dillon, S. T. 1971. Additional Avian Species Seen at McGraw Wildlife 
Foundation. The Audubon Bulletin, Illinois Audubon Society 159 (18-20). 
Ford, E. R. 1956. Birds of the Chicago Region. The Chicago Academy of 
Sciences Special Publication Number 12. 117 pp. 
Petersen, R. T. 1941. A Field Guide to Western Birds. Houghton Mifflin 
Company. 240 pp. 
Smith, E. T. 958 (Revised 1972). Chicagoland Birds—Where and When to 
Find Them. Field Museum of Natural History. 57 pp. 
Smith, H. R. and P. W. Parmalee. 1955. A Distributional Check List of the 
Birds of Illinois. Illinois State Museum, Popular Science Series, Vol. IV 
and Illinois Audubon Society. 62 pp. 
A fi Salt aI 
Whooping Cranes: A Possible Sighting 
The worst snowstorm in half a century paralyzed northern Illinois on 
Apr. 9 with sixteen inches of snow on the ground in some areas and drifts 
as high as ten feet in others. Schools and businesses closed; travelers were 
stranded; helicopters and snowmobiles rescued the stranded and the ill. 
Many dramatic tales unfolded. This is one: 
On Tuesday, Apr. 10, around 5 p.m., Walter Zimmerman was sitting 
on his sofa, leisurely watching birds and surveying the tremendous snow 
drifts outside his home on Van Brocklin Road (between Pearl City and 
Freeport). Suddenly, two absolutely enormous birds flew toward his home, 
flying from the east and heading west. He screamed for his wife (who 
teaches conservation in the Pearl City High School), and she joined him 
as they watched in utter disbelief. 
