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I k V , PAGE 8 - PLAINDEALER - WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26,1964 Road projects announced Three contracts have recently >efcri a\ «• • Rare baby bluebirds found, nursed to health by residents betfri awarded for highway improvement work in McHenry Cdtinty, according to the Illinois Efepartment of Transportation. A $902,356 contract was awarded for the widening and resurfacing of Route 47 between Hebron and the Wisconsin state line^' * - . Tte contract was awarded to Curran Contracting Company, Crystal Lake, which expects to fii&^ the job by the end of the y q k , . same time, utility coniDpnies will be making other jvements. road is closed to through traffic for reconstruction in Wisconsin. A 6604,334 contract was awarded for the reconstruction of Route 176 through its in­ tersection with Walkup Road in Crystal Lake. The contract was awarded to Wayne E. Zimmerman Con­ struction Company, Huntley. Meanwhile, utUities will be making other improvements. A $415,907 contract was awarded for the bituminous resurfacing and traffic signal modernization on Routes 14 and 173 in Harvard. + The contract was awarded to Alliance Contracting Company, Inc., Woodstock, which expects . to finish the job by Nov. 22. Routes 176,14 and 173 will not be closed to traffic. Recently, the McHenry County Conservation District Wildlife Rehabilitation Center and Education Project released three Eastern bluebirds into the wild. The birds were orphaned when only one day old. Two members of McHenry County Chapter of Illinois Audubon Society, took the babies to the rehabilitation center where their lives were saved. An improvised hot water bottle provided necessary warmth to the featherless birds. At the center a team of volun­ teers pitched in, feeding them an approved diet every 15 minutes for at least 12 hours a day. The birds when fully-feathered and able to gather their own food, at about 40 days of age, were" finally released. Years ago, bluebirds were very common in the area. But a few years ago, following an unusually cold winter, many of them never returned to the area. As a result of regularly- scheduled bird counts, it soon became evident that the bluebird population in Northern Illinois was not only on the decline but was actually threatened. Since bluebirds nest in cavities, the decline was also aggravated by a loss of nesting habitat - a favorite site being a hole in an old wooden fence post. Metal fence posts have almost completely replaced wooden ones now. Dead trees which Bluebirds nest only three to four feet above the ground and hence must contend with a number of predators, such as raccoons, dogs, cats, curious children, and other birds strange as it may seem. In particular, house sparrows, wrens and tree swallows not only compete for the same nest sites but will often kill bluebirds or destroy their eggs and nests. In 1978, McHenry County Audubon set up a bluebird trail. Holies were made according to recommended specifications and placed in likely habitats.- an open field with a small tree or two nearby and a not too distant source of water. The Eastern portion of the might also furnish a nesting site ^ county seems to be preferred by are usually cleaned away. the bluebirds. Especially favored areas have been in Bull Valley and around Spring' Grove. Each year, the number of bluebirds fledged has in­ creased. In 1983 Audubon members counted 72 bluebirds raised to maturity. The count this year was lower, only 62. In light of this, according to a spokesman for the group, the rearing and release by the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of three bluebirds which would never have made it on their own takes on a real significance. Persons who then have a suitable location for bluebird houses and are willing to monitor their progress, should call the bluebird committee chairman, Charlotte Eggert at 648-2864. LM fii! ^ # l i W , f • Ui Ui 1 s £ 1 &*</> > » - c • o # M •••••••_••••••••••••••••••••• L y> 4) !H*l 0 Oh 05 ••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••• < Ml HI < Ml •MS Ifl ftSfc OzM (A w«S Is ^ Wm QimS -j =3 © © >- £ ^ Ai S141 k fc-s m V uagflC "g" * Mii|3 »£"" . . P - g - g i s t l •• VI ̂ H- S- o •2-5 ii o </> w f -v-> 2 * • o ' 123 U m 15 is Co mp aro b Eig ht- O- CI Br an d' • -5 w O 19 Co mp aro b Eig ht- O- CI Br an d' • -5 w O |B • -5 w O 0 e « W 3 M * <A MM s I e <£ i </> S DE LI D EI 1 E ck rk li llr I • IA Ik* lifr S </> m i 0 oo £ « 0 «/) CN (A $0 i ) •A s S :2 ™ « £ M- Oil M 1 1 I ' - <41 •MM