Helena Daly OO Nebel Lilsiel LN 33 
Shelbyville West 
State Park 
Shelbyville 
NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF 
HIDDEN SPRINGS 
STATE FOREST 
HIDDEN SPRINGS 
STATE FOREST 
by RICHARD H. THOM 
Forestry Department, University of Illinois 
There are at least two good reasons for studying the birds of public recre- 
ation areas. First, these lands are readily available for anyone to use; 
secondly, the ownership and management patterns are likely to be relatively 
stable, making uninterrupted studies over a long period of time possible. 
In spite of increasing interest in bird study, there is no information 
available for many of Illinois’ recreation sites. Even when published 
material does exist, it often consists merely of lists of the species which may 
occur. Quantitative data and nesting reports are almost nonexistent. This 
report presents information on the seasonal frequencies, the earliest and 
latest dates of seasonal occurance, and the nesting status of the birds of 
Hidden Springs State Forest. 
Hidden Springs, formerly Shelby State Forest, is located about 10 miles 
south of Shelbyville. Since publication of a preliminary list of birds and a 
description of the area (Thom, 1964) several changes have taken place. 
Some additional land has been acquired, bringing the total acreage to 
around 1,200, while most of the open areas have been planted with pine, 
deciduous trees, and wildlife food patches. (Further description of the forest 
and visitor information are available in a pamphlet from the Department 
of Conservation, 1972.) 
The information here came from data gathered on 57 field trips from 
December 29, 1960, to March 27, 1967. The people who assisted me in making 
these field trips were Ernest and Jean Kunze, Violet Scherer, Vera Shaw, 
