2 THE 2A°U2D WU B:O Ni B Us eer iy 
Report and Results: 
ie Te pring Cae 
Almost a quarter-million birds 
and 255 total species 
are counted by 852 observers 
by VERNON M. KLEEN 
Staff Biologist, Department of Conservation 
Director, Illinois Audubon Society 
The late spring caused great concern for the success of our second state- 
wide Spring Bird Count. 
But, it was much better, in every way, than last year’s first count, 
except for the total species observed—255—only one less than last year. 
Nearly a quarter million birds were counted by 852 observers in 
the 73 counties that submitted proper reports. 
At least 2,227 party hours were spent in the field, beginning as early 
as 0100 hours; some 13,000 miles were walked and driven; a few addi- 
tional miles were surveyed from canoes. Most observers were afield only 
during daylight hours and therefore neglected the night-time species. 
Procedures governing the count were the same as those established 
formlo 72 
Saturday, May 5, 1973, was an excellent day for birding (weather- 
wise). Early morning temperatures ranged from the mid- to upper-thirties 
in the north and the upper-thirties to lower-forties in the south; the after- 
noon temperatures ranged from the upper-sixties to the seventies state- 
wide. All these temperatures were somewhat cooler than those reported on 
count-day-1972. The sky was clear most of the day and only became 
