[6 THE “AU: DOU2B NV 36 US ese 
of, we started for the beach where we found common, Forster’s and 
Caspian terns expertly scooping minnows from the shallow water. 
A black-bellied plover was scavenging along the shore. Its beautiful 
spring plumage was just beginning to change to the less colorful dress 
of the fall. A little farther along we came upon a small compact 
flock of sanderlings searching the sand for minute waterlife. 
On our way back to camp we were picking wild raspberries fer 
our dinner when I spied a marsh hawk coming toward us carrying a 
spermophile in its talons and, suspecting a nest, I watched it as it 
dropped out of sight in a marsh. I quickly followed and after a thor- 
ough search found the nest, a mound of sedges, grasses and weeds, with 
two infertile eggs and two young about three weeks old. Continuing 
on our way Wwe came across a large tree with a hole in its trunk. 
Hoping it might be the home of an owl, I picked up a stick and started 
pounding on the tree trunk. To my great surprise, instead of an 
owl out came a northern flying squirrel. This rodent is rarely seen 
because of its nocturnal habits. 
We had now reached our camp and dinner was more than wel- 
come. Our eyes were heavy so we made short work of cleaning up 
and getting into our sleeping bags. The monotonous cry of the whip- 
poor-will was the last sound we heard. 
The next morning I was awakened by the beautiful warble of 
the yellow-throated vireo whose soft song was interrupted by the 
harsh caw of the crow. We could tell the crow was angry so we looked 
for the cause. What a thrill when its victim,.an adult golden eagie, 
came into view, its white tail coverts being plainly visible. We were 
able to judge its size by an osprey which flew a few feet to one side. 
This is the only golden eagle I have seen in the East although they 
seemed fairly common in California when I was there. 
After breakfast I went hunting for salamanders. These I found 
after lifting up a few rotting logs, red-backed in both phases, and 
Jefferson’s. A rustling of leaves startled me and I turned just in time 
to see a blue racer scoot into the bushes. 
We then decided to go to Mud Lake. On our way there we were 
greatly startled when some woodcocks rose: directly in front of us. 
We arrived just in time to see a mixed flock of wood ducks, mallards, 
and blue-winged teal fly away. While we were resting on the side 
of a hill we watched a king rail catch crawfish and a long-billed marsh 
wren feed its young. Along the shore were several solitary sand- 
pipers and we could hear the familiar song of the towhee. 
On our way back to camp we picked and ate wild blueberries. 
We were pretty tired and not one of us was really very sorry when 
my father arrived to take us home. However, we plan to go back 
next year. 
Chicago, Illinois. 
(We hope that the above article by a young enthusiast of four- 
teen years will encourage others to go and do likewise.—Editor) 
PRINTING PRODUCTS CORPORATION—CHICAGO 
