Summary of Field Trip Results -- September to December, 2011
September through October, 2011 -- Lincoln Park Zoo and Ponds Saturday Walks. During the fall Saturday walks, 70 species were observed. Highlights included: Tundra Swan, 19 Warbler species, and 9 Sparrow species.
October 1, 2011 -- Northwestern Landfill. On a pleasant morning with 50 degree F temperatures, 15 observers identified 28 species.
October 8, 2011 -- Wooded Island. On a sunny 70 degree F morning with light southerly winds, five observers identified 21 species.
November 12, 2011 -- Fermi Lab. On a sunny morning with temperatures around 70 degrees F and light west winds, three observers identified 22 species. Hightlights were 48 Greater White-fronted Geese and two Coyotes.
Supplemental Information
Snowy Owls in Chicago -- It looks like it is going to be a good winter for Snowy Owls in Chicago, with several sightings already being reported along the Lakefront, with the closest being at Montrose Harbor.
Fort Dearborn to Collaborate with Lincoln Park Zoo. At the request of Lincoln Park Zoo Director Kevin Bell, Fort Dearborn Audubon will now be submitting our records from our Lincoln Park Zoo and ponds bird walks during migration to the Zoo in order to help the Zoo document the birds visiting the Zoo and the Nature Boardwalk on the south pond. To assist the Zoo, we will in the future note on our bird walk records whether a particular species was located on the Zoo grounds, in the north pond area, in the Caldwell Lily Pool area, or in the Nature Boardwalk area.
The City Dark. The City Dark is a new documentary film investigating the impact of light pollution and the disappearing night sky on the environment, wildlife and human health. This subject ties into our recent presentations on the Chicago Bird Collision Monitoring Program. A trailer of the film and screening information can be seen at http://www.thecitydark.com/.
Birding Trip to Belize. Brian Anderson, Chief of the Illinois Natural History Survey, is leading a basic birding trip to Belize for the Lincoln Land Community College. Dates are February 28 -- March 8, 2012. Cost is $1,625 to $1,974 excluding airfare. Only twelve spots are available. The trip is designed for new birders. Contact Mark Luscombe for additional information and reservation details
Birding America -- March 17, 2012. Chicago Audubon will be sponsoring its 9th annual Birding America workshops. Keynote speaker will be Dr. Erik Johnson of the National Audubon Society and conservation biologist for the Gulf of Mexico and the Mississippi Flyways. More details, including location, to be forthcoming later.
Birding Calendar on IAS Website. Be sure to check the birding calendar on the IAS website for additional birding opportunites beyond those sponsored by Fort Dearborn Audubon.
Calumet Ecological Park Association. The Calumet Ecological Park Association (CEPA) is working to make the Lake Calumet area a better place to live, work and enjoy nature. Check their website at www.calumetstewardshipinitiative.org.
Newsletter- September to December, 2011
Summary of Field Trip Results, April to August, 2011
April through May, 2011 -- Lincoln Park Zoo and Ponds Saturday Walks. During the spring Saturday walks, 93 species were observed. Highlights included: Red-headed Woodpecker, America Kestrel, Virginia Rail, Sora, Blue Jay, Cinnamon Teal, 17 warbler species, and 11 sparrow species.
April 17, 2011 -- Montrose and Bird Sanctuary. On a morning with light rain at the start, temperatures at 50 degrees F, and light west winds, four observers identified 35 species. Hightlights included a Turkey Vulture and five sparrow species.
May 7, 2011 -- Northwestern Landfill. On a mostly cloudy morning with 55 degree F temperatures, ten observers identified 43 species. Hightlights included Merlin and many White-crowned and White-throated Sparrows.
May 13-15, 2011 -- IAS Apring Fling, Crystal Lake. Celebrating its 50th anniversary, McHenry County Audubon hosted the annual IAS Spring Fling at the Holiday Inn in Crystal Lake. Field trips started Friday afternoon with a trip to the Hollows, a former gravel pit, and home to nesting Lark Sparrows. All observers had good looks at about ten Lark Sparrows as well as Bluebird, Olive-sided Flycatcher, and Nighthawk. The evening program was about Hackmatack, the proposed National Wildlife Refuge covering parts of McHenry and Lake counties in Illinois and Walworth and Kenosha counties in Wiisconsin. A final decision is expected by the end of 2011. Weekend field trips included Pleasant Valley, Hickory Grove, Coral Woods, Marengo Ridge, McHenry Dam, Moraine Hills, Lake Elizabeth, Volo Bog, Glacial Park, and Chain of Lakes. Saturday morning field trips began with cold, cloudy conditions and occasional rain. Sandhill Cranes were observed at many sites and the target species of Black Tern and Yellow-headed Blackbird were also found. The Saturday evening program featured Joan Garland of the International Crane Foundation and Bruce Pennypacker, Operation Migration Pilot, both talking about Whooping Crane recovery and the experimental migratory flock. Sunday morning field trips concluded with lunch at Volo Bog and the group trip list. A total of 135 species were observed, including 11 waterfowl, 8 raptors, 9 shorebirds, 22 warblers, and 10 sparrows. Highlights included: Common Loon, Black Tern, both Cuckoos, Prothonotary and Kentucky Warblers and Yellow-headed Blackbird.
May 21, 2011 -- Wooded Island. On a sunny 70 degree F morning with light winds, two observers identified 51 species. Highlights included: 3 heron species, Sandhill Crane heard, 5 swallow species and 10 warbler species.
June 4, 2011 -- Rosehill Cemetery. On a sunny and humid morning with temperatures around 70 degrees F and light west winds, four observers identified 24 species. Highlight was a Turkey Vulture.
July 9, 2011 -- North Park Village Butterfly Count. Five observers on a hot sunny morning identified ten species of butterflies and 51 individuals: 17 Monarch, 22 Cabbage White, 1 Sulfur, 2 Tiger Swallowtail, 1 Black Swallowtail, 1 Silver-spotted Skipper, 2 Question Mark, 1 Pearl Crescent, 4 Spring Azure, 1 Little Wood Satyr. Also identified were four species of dragonflies: 12-spotted Skimmer, Pied Skimmer, Eastern Pondhawk, and Yellow-legged Meadowhawk. Five species of birds were identified: House Wren, Great Blue Heron (2), Black-capped Chickadee, Indigo Bunting, and White-breated Nuthatch.
August 13, 2011 -- North Park Village Dragonfly Count. Six observers on an sunny morning identified seven species of dragonflies: Blue Dasher, Common Whitetail, Ruby Meadowhawk (3+), 12-spotted Skimmer, Green Darner, Eastern Pondhawk, and Black Saddlebags. Also identified were eight species of butterflies: Monarch, Cabbage White, Buckeye, Peck's Skipper, Question Mark, Spring Azure, Fiery Skipper, and Tiger Swallowtail. Also identified were ten species of Birds: Goldfinch, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, House Wren, Great-crested Flycatcher, Chickadee, Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, Chimney Swift, Mourning Dove, Spotted Sandpiper, and a hawk. Cardinal Flower and Royal Catchfly were in Bloom.
Online Supplemental Information
The following article on the Black-crowned Night-Herons of Lincoln Park by Mark Luscombe appeared in the Spring 2011 issue of Cardinal News. supplemented by a picture by Beverly Rodgers, sister of member Bob Rodgers
The Black-crowned Night-Herons of Chicago's Lincoln Park Black-crowned Night-Herons (Nycticorax nycticorax) have formed a significant colony in the heart of Chicago. The colony is located in Lincoln Park just sourth of the Lincoln Park Zoo. While a common heron throughout the world, Black-crowned Night-Herons are an endangered species in Illinois. Fort Dearborn Chapter of Illinois Audubon, which has been documenting bird sightings in and around Lincoln Park Zoo for almost 40 years, reports that Black-crowned Night-Herons have been regular visitors along Chicago's lakefront throughtout that history. Those sightings were primarily of resting or foraging birds, probably from a colony near Lake Calumet at the far south end of Chicago, not nesting birds. That started to change in 2007 when a few Black-crowned Night-Herons built nests and fledged young in the trees of a small island in the Lincoln Park pond just south of the zoo. The nesting colony continued to grow during the 2008 and 2009 nesting seasons. In 2009, the Lincoln Park Zoo commenced a major rehabilitation of the south pond, converting the pond from one with a relatively sterile edge to a Nature Boardwalk with native plantings and a boardwalk around the pond edge. The construction required draining of the pond, with much concern about the impact on the new breeding colony of Black-crowned Night-Herons. The start of construction was delayed until July, 2009, so that the heron chicks could fledge without being disturbed. When the herons began to return in the spring of 2010, construction was still not complete and the water level in the pond had not been fully restored. Perhaps for this reason or due to the numbers of herons outgrowing the nesting sites available on the small island in the pond, the colony in 2010 shifted the colony site to a tree-lined promenade just south of the pond, still increasing in size with close to 100 nests. With the nesting sites now off the island and over a popular public walkway in the park, the risk to the colony and to the public was increaed with excrement covering the promenade and walkers, bikers and dogs posing a risk to the young herons, which tend to leave the nest before they can fly. The area was finally fenced off in July of 2010 to protect both the birds and the public. The question was whether they would return to such an exposed nesting site in 2011. That was answered in late April when the first herons began to return, again to the trees lining the promenade rather than to the island. And they have kept returning. Recent counts of Black-crowned Night-Herons in the colony have reached as high as 400. A larger area around the colony was more rapidly fenced off this year. Doug Stotz of the Field Museum had estimated before this latest influx that there might be fewer that 500 breeding pairs of Black-crowned Night-Herons in all of Illinois. This large colony of Black-crowned Night-Herons in the heart of Chicago provides an excelent opportunity for the public to easily view this Illinois-endangered species. While they feed mostly at night and roost during the day, it is common for them to make daylight flights around the nesting colony. This colony near the zoo is not without precedent. The National Zoo in Washington, D.C. has a colony of wild Black-crowned Night-Herons that nest in the trees around its Bird House. With black caps and backs, pale grey wings, white underparts, red eyes, yellow legs, and two or three white plumes extending from the back of the head, adult Black-crowned Night-Herons are a beautiful addition to the urban landscape.
Oldest Known Wild Bird. The spring 2011 issue of Birdscope from The Cornell Lab of Ornithology reports that the oldest known wild bird is a Laysan Albatross on Midway Island, banded 55 years ago. Known by the name "Wisdom", she was already of breeding age (at least 5 years old) when she was banded. Wisdom had a chick again this year. The March 10, 2011 earthquake and tsunami off Japan also had a devastating impact on the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the tsunami wiped out an estimated 112,000 Laysan and Black-footed Albatrosses at the refuge, 110,000 of which were chicks. Wisdom and her chick, on higher ground, survived.
Newsletter -- April to August, 2011
Summary of Field Trip Results, January to March, 2011
January 22-23 -- Eagle Watch Weekend at Starved Rock State Park. Weekend included 50 to 70 Bald Eagle sightings, plus good views of the usual winter visitors: Canada Goose, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Northern Cardinal, Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Dark-eyed Junco.
February 19 -- 10th Annual Gull Frolic at North Point Marina in Wintrop Harbor. The gull frolic was a little warmer than nurmal and provided a few fewer gulls than normal. Fort Dearborn helped to man the Illinois Audubon table at the event, along with the Lake/Cook Chapter. Gull sightings included Glaucous, Iceland, Thayer's, Herring, and Ring-billed. Alvaro Jaramillo spoke on "Everything you've ever wanted to know about gulls but were afraid to ask." Other species sighted include Tundra Swan, Mallard, Ruddy Duck, American Coot and Gadwall.
March 19 -- Lincoln Park Zoo, Ponds and Lakefront. On a sunny morning with light winds and temperatures around 45-50 F, six observers identified 24 species, with a heavy emphasis on waterfowl. Highlights were the male Cinnamon Teal that had been hanging around North Pond for a week, a Redhead, a pair of Northern Shovelers, Greater Scaup, Coot, and Common Goldeneye.
Supplemental Information
200th Anniversary of John James Audubon's First Visit to Illinois. During the winter of 1810/1811, John James Audubon spent six weeks toruing southern Illinois while his passage down the Ohio River was blocked by ice. Every beginning birder will be comforted by the fact that even Audubon made a misidentification of an Illinois bird, labeling an immature Bald Eagle as a new species, the Washington Eagle.
Healthy Beaches. The Chicago Department of Environment is developing a healthy beaches program, to include volunteer beach minotors. Another aspect of the program involves oiling the eggs of Ring-billed Gulls at their nesting sites in order to reduce their population and the pollution that they contribute to Chicago's beaches.
Great Butterfly Sites. Places mentioned in the old Chicago Wilderness magazine for seeing butterflies in the area: Illinois Beach State Park; Bluff Spring Fen; Ginsburg-Markham Prairie; Indiana Dunes; Waterfall Glen; Iroquois County Conservation Area.
Chicago Park District Bird Walk. If you need still another bird walk, the Chicago Park District is sponsoring one at Northerly Island on Saturday, April 9, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. as part of its Nature Oasis program. The walk is free, but registration is required by calling 312-742-4914.
Illinois Birds: A Century of Change. This new book comparing 100 years of bird census data in Illinois (1906-1909, 1956-1958, 2007-2009), one of the oldest data records in the country, is now available from the Illinois Natural History Survey for $25.
Newsletter -- January to March, 2011
Summary of Field Trip Results, September to December, 2010
September through October Lincoln Park Zoo Saturday walks – The Lincoln Park Zoo, north lagoon, and lily pond walks on Saturdays in September and October, 2010 produced a total of 65 species, exactly the same number as in 2009. Highlights of the walks were twelve species of warblers, seven species of sparrows, Cooper’s Hawk, Redhead Duck, Winter Wrens and Hooded Mergansers.
September 18 – Wooded Island – On an overcast morning with 60 degree temperatures and north winds at 10-15 MPH, six observers identified 36 species of birds. Highlights included Monk Parakeet, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Cedar Waxwing, and Double-crested Cormorant.
October 9 -- Ryerson – On a sunny morning with light winds and temperatures in the upper 60s, four observers identified 21 species of birds. The low species count was somewhat compensated by the beautiful weather and the large numbers of individuals for many of those species present. Highlights included Red-tailed Hawk and Eastern Bluebird.
October 15-17 – IAS Fall Gathering, Altamont – Over three days of birding at Ballard Nature Center and surrounding natural areas, although no overall group count was tabulated, Mark Luscombe identified 42 species. Highlights included Turkey Vulture, Northern Bobwhite, Wilson’s Snipe, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, and Carolina Wren.
November 13 – Palos Area. On an overcast morning with little wind, occasional showers, and temperatures in the mid 50s, one observer (with assistance from an encounter with a group from Will County Audubon) identified 24 species of birds. Highlights included Hooded Merganser, Ruddy Duck, Horned Grebe, and Cedar Waxwing.
Supplemental Information
World's Most Expensive Book? According to the Wall Street Journal, an original copy of John James Audubon's "Birds of America" is to be auctioned by Sotheby's in London and it may fetch a price of as much as $9.3 million or more, making it one of the most expensive books ever sold at auction. A copy of the book fetched $8.8 million at an auction in 2000.
Newsletter -- September to December, 2010
Summary of Field Trip Results, April through August, 2010
April 24 -- Montrose and Jarvis Bird Sanctuary -- On an overcast, calm morning with light fog and temperatures in the low 50s, 5 observers identified 37 species, including Cormorant, Black-crowned Night Heron, Peregirine Falcon, and Bonaparte's Gull.
April 30 to May 2 -- IAS Spring Meeting, Navoo -- Two Fort Dearborn members joined other IAS members for an excellent three days of programs, dinners, and birding, identifying 129 species, including Bald Eagle, White Pelican, Osprey, Turkey Vulture, Sora, and 5 species of swallows.
May 15- Wooded Island -- Four oservers identified 49 species, including 11 warblers and a Cuckoo.
May 22 -- Northwestern Landfill -- On a foggy morning with temperatures in the low 60s, 15 observers identified 48 species, including 17 warblers.
April to May Sunday Walks -- Lincoln Park Zoo and North Pond -- Sunday walks produced 81 species of birds, inclduing Turkey Vulture, 10 sparrow species, Cormorant, and Bufflehead.
June 5 -- Rosehill Cemetery -- On a 70 degree morning with light winds and occasional showers, 5 observers identified 29 species, including an Olive-sided Flycatcher.
July 3 -- Butterfly Count at North Park Village Nature Center -- Six observers identified 13 species of butterfly, including 26 Monarchs, 21 Cabbage Whites, 16 Tiger Swallowtails, 17 Red Admirals, 13 Sulfurs, 4 Great Spangled Fritillaries, 2 Silver Spotted Skippers, 2 Black Swallowtails, and 1 each of Wild Indigo Duskywing, Pearl Crescent, Least Skipper, Painted Lady and Spring Azure. 18 species of birds were also identified, including the Red-eyed and Warbling Vireos and the Peewee.
August 7 and 14 -- Dragonfly Count at North Park Village Nature Center -- One observer on August 7, with 80 degree temperatures, sunny and humid conditions, and bad mosquitoes, identified 4 species of Dragonfly, including 4 Black Saddlebags, many Green Darners, 2 Blue Dashers, and 12 Spotted Skimmers. Also identified were 7 species of birds, 5 species of butterflies, Bullfrog, and Moneky Flower, Cardinal Flower and Pickeral Weed in bloom. Two observers on August 14, with 80 degree temeratures, overcast skies, humid conditions and many mosquitoes, identifed three species of Dragonflies including many Green Darners, 2 Blue Dashers, and a female Eastern Pond Hawk. Also identified were 8 species of birds, 3 species of butterflies, Bullfrog, and American Toad.
Supplemental Information
White Pelicans on the Mississippi. The June, 2010 issue of Outdorr Illinios traces the growth of the American White Pelican population on the Mississippi River in Illinois. The arrival of 24 Pelicans in 1997 started what by 2006 had become 1000 birds. In 2007, the first nesting colony was established with 50 young. By 2009, 2,500 nesting birds produced 400 young. Nesting occurs on islands in the Mississippi, with Pelicans on the ground, Cattle Egrets in the low shrubs, Great Egrets mid-level in the trees, and Cormorants and Great Blue Herons in the tree tops.
John James Audubon In Illinois. The July-August issue of Illinios Heritage includes an article on John James Audubon's visits to Illinois. Audubon made several trips to southern Illinois, with his first being accidental when his keelboat trip was delayed by river ice on the Ohio River. Among species Audubon identified were the Carolina Parakeet, Ivory-billed Woodpecker, Common Nighthawk, Prairie Chicken, and Passenger Pigeon. He also misidentified as a new species a Washington Eagle, which is now believed to have been an immature Bald Eagle.
Federal Bird-Safe Buildings. Federal legislation has been proposed for the government to adopt bird-safe design practices for government buildings. The design choices do not add to the cost of new construction or remodeling. Contact your Congressman to support the legislaiton (HR 4797).
Newsletter -- April to August, 2010
Summary of Field Trip Results, January to March, 2010
January 23-24 -- Eagle Watch Weekend at Starved Rock State Park. Weekend included only a couple of Bald Eagle sightings, which was typical for this winter. Programs were excellent as usual.
February 20 -- 9th Annual Gull Frolic at North Point Marina in Winthrop Harbor. The gull frolic provided its usual combination of cold temperatures, stiff wind, good crowd, good programs, good food, and good gulls. Gull sightings included the Glaucous, Iceland, Thayer's, Lesser Black-back, Greater Black-back, Herring, and Ring-billed. Program focused on the spread of the Slaty-backed Gull into North America from Asia.
March 20 -- Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe. Following a day with temperatures in the 60s, Saturday morning arrived with blowing snow and temperatures in the 30s. Two observers failed to connect with each other in the blizzard. Ten bird species were observed with the only highlight being the Orchid Show also going on at the Botanic Garden.
Supplemental Information
BCN Bird Monitoring
If you regularly visit a certain site or are a regular eBird user, or would like an opportunity to immerse yourself in the bird life of a preserve, and you recognize our breeding birds by sight or sound, please consider becoming a Bird conservation Network bird monitor. For more information on becoming a BCN bird monitor and upcoming workshops, please check out the BCN website: www.bcnbirds.org.
Feathered Dinosaurs
An article in the February 27, 2010, issue of Science News reports scientists have been able to reconstruct the colors that some ancient feathered dinosaurs and birds may have sported using the remains of tiny pigment-bearing structures in the feathers and body filaments. The analysis suggests striking colors -- reminiscent of modern birds: black and white wing bars, reddish-brown crests. The studies also suggest that feathers first evolved to send visual signals for mating or territory defense and only later served to aid flight. These feathered dinosaurs lived between 151and 161 million years ago -- ancient birds as long as 130 million years ago.
Newsletter -- January to March, 2010
Summary of Field Trip Results, September to December, 2009
September through October Lincoln Park Zoo Saturday Walks -- The Lincoln Park Zoo, noth lagoon, and lily pond walks on Saturdays in September and October, 2009, produced a total of 65 species. Hghlights of the walks were eleven species of warblers, nin species of sparrows, Cooper's Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, American Woodcock, and Great-horned Owl.
October 17 -- Chicago Botanic Gardens. On a partly cloudy morning with temperatures ranging from 40 to 50 degrees F, six observers identified 26 species of birds. Highlights included a Red-tailed Hawk, perched for easy viewing; six sparrow species, and two Red-breasted Nuthatches.
November 14 -- Lake Calumet. On a sunny morning with temperatures around 50 degrees F, four observers identified 17 species of birds. Areas birded included O'Brien Lock and Dam, Hegewisch Marsh, Indian Marsh, Deadstick Pond, Big Marsh, and Wolf Lake. Highlights included three Red-tailed Hawks, two Kestrels, six Mute Swans, and five duck species.
December 13 -- Winter Bird Count at North Park Village Nature Center and Emily Oaks Nature Center. On an overcast morning with little wind and termperatures in the upper 30s to low 40s F, six observers identified 23 species of birds. Highlights included two Red-tailed Hawks, a Great-horned Owl, Hermit Thrush, Hairy Woodpecker, and three Fox Sparrows.
Supplemental Information
Thank You and Good Birding to Marjorie Hickey
Majorie Hickey, who has long performed the printing and mailing duties for the chapter newsletter, is moving to the suburbs and has asked to retire from her newsletter duties. Thank you, Marjorie, for your years of faithful service. We wish you continued good birding! Susan Sullivan has agreed to take on Marjorie's newsletter duties.
Bird Songs and Calls on the Web
The Cornell Lab of Ornitihology offers an excellent website for birders: www.birds.cornell.edu. Included on the site is information on 585 species of birds and an ever-growing list of sounds and video on birds, currently covering 51 species. Although most helpful to beginning birders, the site can be a useful source of information for even experienced birders. The following are some websites that you may find helpful as you work to improve your identification of bird calls and songs:
Summary of Field Trip Results, June to September, 2009
June 11 -- Wooded Island in Jackson Park. On an overcast morning with occasional sprinkles, three observers wandered in search of late migrants and nesting species. In spite of poor lighting, a total of twenty species were sighted. Better birds included Black-crowned Night Heron, Caspian Tern, at least six Yellow Warblers, Purple Martin, Cedar Waxwing, and Baltimore Oriole.
July 4 -- Annual Butterfly count at North Park Village Nature Center. On a cool, cloudy morning with occasional light rain, three observers set out in search of butterflies. It was a very poor morning for butterfly watching, only two species were seen: a single Cabbage White and four Monarchs. Some of the birds seen were House Wren, Indigo Bunting, Chimney Swift, Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, Woodduck, and Black-crowned Night Heron.
August 15 -- Annual Dragonfly count at North Park Village Nature Center. On a pleasant morning, a lone oberver wandered in search of dragons. A total of five species were seen: seven Green Darners (including two pair flying in tandem), White-face Meadowhawk, Blue Dasher, Common Whitetail, and Yellow-legged Meadowhawk. Butterflies seen included four Monarchs, three Cabbage Whites, and a single Tiger Swallowtail, Black Swallowtail, and Clouded Sulfur. Bird sightings included Great Blue Heron, Coopers Hawk, and Red-bellied Woodpecker. Cord Grass and Big Bluestem were in bloom.
IAS Fall Gathering, September 11-13. Six members of Fort Dearborn joined 175 other members of the Illinois Audubon Society at the 2009 fall gathering in the northern suburbs of Chicago. Programs included presentations on Roger Tory Peterson and bird migration. Field trips were organized by the Lake Cook Chapter of IAS and included top birding spots in Cook and Lake Counties. A total of 113 species were seen during the weekend field trips, including Avocet, Little Blue Heron, and Snowy Egret.
September 19 -- Wooded Island in Jackson Park. On a partly cloudy morning with light southeast winds, 29 species were observed, including at least ten Double-crested Cormorants and over a dozen Chimney Swifts. Highlight of the trip was two immature Red-headed Woodpeckers.
Newsletter -- July through September, 2009.
Summary of Field Trip Results, March to May, 2009
March 21 – Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe – On a cold morning 6 observers searched the gardens for birdlife. The quest produced 28 species, including goldeneye, horned and pied-billed grebes, great blue heron, cedar waxwing, and super looks at 3 or 4 common redpolls.
April 11 – Wooded Island in Jackson Park – Three observers wandering in search of early migrants located 26 species. Among them were pied-billed grebe, cormorant, Caspian tern, tree swallow, sapsucker, yellow-rumped warbler. A report by the Geilens from April 17th totaled 28 species including 8 not seen on the 11th, creeper, waxwing, golden-crfowned kinglet, barn swallow, field sparrow, kestrel and red-tailed hawk.
April 25 – Montrose Magic Hedge and the Jarvis Bird Sanctuary – Access to the Magic Hedge was blocked by police barricades because of a charity race – as a result the two observers were forced to settle for birding at Jarvis. As we exited the car, the ground was alive with white-throated sparrows. A fair number of spring wildflowers were in bloom: red and white trillium, toothwort, spring cress, dutchmans breeches and marsh marigold. The larger of the eastern ponds yielded an American Bittern, and the grass to the south a Henslow sparrow that cooperated quite nicely. The morning species list totaled 43, including cormorant, turkey vulture, Caspian tern, five woodpecker species, but only 2 warblers – black and white and Northern waterthrush.
May 1-3 – IAS Spring Meeting in Southern Illinois – I left on the long trek south on the morning of April 29th. The first stop was at Gensburg Markham Prairie. Overnight rain made entry into the prairie impossible; from the parking lot I could hear meadowlark and see kestrel. As I approached the Volmer Road wetland, I saw red-tailed hawk and great egret. Near Tuscola, the first turkey vultures were sighted. A bit south of Champaign, a stop at the Arcola marsh produced many yellow-rumped and palm warblers, as well as scarlet tanagers and indigo buntings. Stopping at a wooded area near Shelbyville Reservoir produced great crested flycatcher, tufted titmouse, and Carolina wren. Wildflowers in bloom included pussytoes, spring beauty, red trillium, blue phlox and spiderwort. Baltimore orioles were seen at the Rend Lake rest stop. As I headed to dinner at the end of the day in Marion, a mocking bird sang from the roof of a neighboring building. Early the next morning I headed to Metropolis to visit Fort Massac on the Ohio River. Seen at this stop were fish crow, kingbird, warbling vireo, bluebird, and blue grosbeak. As I headed out of town, I stopped to see Superman in the town square. Next stop was Lake Mermet where I saw tree swallow, marsh wren, cormorant, and towhee. Onward to the tupeloe and Cyprus swamp at Heron Pond – this may be the best place in Illinois for prothonotary warblers. Other sightings included gnatcatcher, northern parula, summer tanager, black-throated blue warbler, and red-headed woodpecker. Mayapples and geranium were done blooming, but rue-anemone flowers persisted. After lunch, I headed back toward Carbondale and Giant City State Park. Here I wandered the Trillium Trail in the Fern Cliff Nature Preserve. This is wildflower heaven: great waterleaf, white trillium, jack-in-the-pulpit, celandine poppy, feathery solomons seal, ginger, bloodroot, shooting star, and lousewort. Birds seen were white-eyed vireo and phoebe. On to the motel in Golconda. Friday was an all day hike into the Lusk Creek Wilderness area including the latest IAS land acquisition. Highlight was the sighting of French’s Shooting star which only grows in a few sights in Illinois, and prairie warbler. Friday night was a pizza party and program on ruby-throated hummingbird research. Saturday morning was a hike into Grand Piere State Natural Area (prior IAS property). Plant highlights include Amorpha nitens (endangered), climbing milkweed, blue star, Virginia lily and American Colombo. Saturday afternoon was an easy walk at Rim Rock National Recreation Trail, and Garden of the Gods. The evening program was Saving Southern Illinois Natural Areas. Sunday I elected to repeat the Saturday afternoon walks to do some photography. Collectively the group saw 136 species, of which I only saw 81, but I spent as much time botanizing as birding. It was a great trip.
May 23 – Northwestern University Landfill – On a cool, breezy morning, 22 observers from Fort Dearborn and Evanston North Shore Bird clubs searched for late migrants. A total of 30 species were seen. Included were all 5 swallow species (50+ nesting cliffs), creeper, mockingbird (highlight), warbling vireo, yellow, black-throated green, and mourning warblers, and Baltimore oriole. Non-avian highlight was a muskrat.
May 30 – Rosehill Cemetary – On an overcast morning, 5 observers searched the areas around the ponds at Rosehill for birds. The search produced 36 species, including great blue, green, and black-crowned night herons, Coopers hawk, great crested flycatcher, catbird, thrasher, and nesting Baltimore oriole (highlight). Other observations included snapping turtle on land, creeping buttercup, and coyote pup.
Supplemental Information
Slipping Away
The banana is the world’s favorite fruit. It was discovered by stone age man in south east Asia. It is a genetic mutant which produces no seed. As a result it must be propagated from root cuttings, and as a result all banana plants are clones. The banana is in a whole bunch of trouble. The most common variety, the Cavandish, is succumbing to Panama disease, for which there is no cure. This isn’t the first time Panama disease has ravaged a banana species: in the 1960’s it claimed the Gros Michel. Since then the Cavendish, smaller and seemingly immune, has made a worthy stand-in. But now a vicious strain of the fungus is wiping out the world’s Cavendish plants. All are genetically the same, so what kills one, kills all. Researchers are experimenting with hundreds of feral varieties, trying to engineer a disease-resistant banana that’s tasty, and robust.
Newsletter by E-mail – Please send an email to sullivan4154@gmail.com to request your newsletter by email. Indicate IAS Ft. Dearborn Newsletter in the subject line.
TO REPORT A BANDED BIRD: Please call 800-327-BAND to report the band number
