ILLINOIS AUDUBON BULLETIN 
Published Quarterly by the 
ILLINOIS AUDUBON SOCIETY 
Number 166 Fall 1973 
e resident’s essage 
Sse | eae 
In my last message, reference was made to a proposed Society 
birding tour to Spain in the Fall. Due to the difficulty involved in 
lining up field trips in an area that would achieve maximum birding 
potential, it was felt that more research and advance planning were 
required. Avalene Barron is chairman of the committee engaged in 
olanning the tour, and | am sure she will come up with a fine one. 
The destination may be changed from southern Spain, and we would 
welcome members’ suggestions on foreign areas they would like 
us to consider. 
The long awaited society publication, “Bird Finding in Illinois,” 
is now at the printer. Edited and compiled by Paul Lobik and Elton 
Fawks, this book has been in the works since 1956. The manuscript 
was reviewed by local experts in 1970 to assure its timeliness. 
Complete with maps locating the various birding areas, the book 
hopefully will be printed in time for Christmas giving. It’s expected 
to be 160 pages in length and will sell for $3.00. 
Mentioning Christmas brings to mind the subject of planning 
early for the Christmas Bird Count. The latest “American Birds” gives 
us the dates for the 74th count: December 15, 1973, through Jan- 
vary 1, 1974. The editors of the last one pointed out some problem 
areas—first, in the correct, accurate and uniform determination of 
habitat types, and, the second, in the calculation of party hours. 
As the counts are increasingly used for bird-population research, 
it becomes obligatory for all participants to exercise extreme caution 
in recording their observation, covering the assigned area, and ~ 
turning in all necessary information promptly to the compiler. 
Too frequently, the count is looked on as a kind of sporting 
event. Who can get the highest personal list? Which count-area will 
“top” its neighbors? Actually, thorough coverage of all habitats 
produces the best list and also fulfills the aims of the count. The 
key is in enough qualified observers to cover all habitats thoroughly 
and their knowledge of their territories. 
So, plan early and well for your count, enlist as many good 
birders as possible, and plan to submit your count both to “American 
Birds” and to our ILLINOIS AUDUBON BULLETIN. 
—PETER C. PETERSEN 
235 McClellan Blvd. 
Davenport, la. 52803 
