Here are the results of the Spring Bird Count for 2007. The results are mailed to the Non-Game Species Division of the Illinois Department of Conservation. This information improves our understanding of the populations and problems of bird species.

The 2007 count total was 15,805 individual birds and 164 different species. This is more than last year's Spring Bird Count (154). 181 is the highest total number of species for any Spring Bird Count in Winnebago County (1999). Some of the previous year's counts are:

• 1990 - 141 | 1999 - 181
• 1991 - 140 | 2000 - 169
• 1992 - 156 | 2001 - 153
• 1993 - 164 | 2002 - 151
• 1994 - 143 | 2003 - 165
• 1995 - 139 | 2004 - 168
• 1996 - 147 | 2005 - 165
• 1997 - 166 | 2006 - 154
• 1998 - 155 | 2007 - 164

Some missing birds from the count: loons, Cattle Egrets, Osprey, Henslow's Sparrows, Kentucky, Mourning, Wilson's, or Canada Warblers, Yellow-breasted Chats, Pintail Ducks Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Least, Semi-palmated, or Pectoral Sandpipers, Dunlins, nighthawks, Eastern Wood-pewees, Acadian, Willow, or Least Flycatchers, White-eyed Vireos, or Red-breasted Nuthatches.

Species that decreased in umber from last year: Canada Goose, Wood Duck, Mallard, Blue-winged Teal, Turkey Vulture, Eastern Screech-owl, Killdeer, Great-crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, House Wren, American Robin, and European Starling

Notable increases in bird species this year were Great-blue Herons. Almost all numbers of individuals were much less than last year.

Most interesting or unusual birds found were: Least Bittern, Gadwall, Red-breasted Merganser, American Pipit, Dark-eyed Junco, Fox Sparrow, Golden-crowned Kinglet, and eigh (8) Pileated Woodpeckers.

Spring Count for next year will be MAY 10th, 2008. Please set aside the date!!

The Spring Counts are coordinated by Jack L. Armstrong who contributed this report.