eter ee aL) Be OoNe Bal tue Tl LN 25 
RARE CIRCUMSTANCES—tThis Purple Gallinule (photo) hung around an 
area of Morton, Illinois for six weeks in April and May, and gave members 
of Peoria Audubon Section a unique opportunity to observe and photo- 
graph. Florida Gallinules have been spotted often in the region—but not the 
Purple. —wWilliam Stroud, 916 Kay, Morton 61550 
BIRDS TAKE OVER—LIKE ‘OLDEN DAYS’ 
The Mississippi and Rock River floods in Northwest Illinois, with record 
rains, caused many pools of water that remained well into the summer. The 
Little Meredosia Levee broke near Hillsdale and Erie, making a lake that 
extended 12 miles towards the Mississippi, and held from there by a railroad 
embankment. 
Birds took over as in olden days, when this was a famous hunting area, 
attracting hunters from all over the world, including the Prince of Wales. 
From 300 to 600 Sora Rails, one dead Virginia Rail, and a hundred or more 
Great Blue Herons were seen May 1-3. Four or five Black-crowned Night 
Herons were also seen as well as hundreds of Sandpipers. These were re- 
ported by Don McCorkle, conservation officer. 
The open water here and elsewhere caused many ducks to stay the 
summer, with Pintails and Blue-winged Teal raising young. Other ducks 
