Photo Courtesy of South Shore Nature Center
Earlier this summer, several groups converged at South Shore Nature Sanctuary for a bird walk and habitat restoration day. Led by Chicago’s Feminist Bird Club and the South Shore Sanctuary stewards, the event brought out a sizeable group to remove grapevine from encroaching on the dune habitat, and assist Field Museum employees in collecting egg count and nest progress data on Purple Martins. Recently, I caught up with my close friend (and FBC Chicago leader) Bridget, who filled me in on all the highlights of the event.
For those unfamiliar, the Feminist Bird Club formed in 2016, with a focus on melding a passion for birds and social justice, to make the outdoors more inclusive for everyone. They host bird walks, nature bingo, and other events in parks all over the city. Truly embracing an “outdoors for all” ethic, their bird walks not only operate as a way to introduce as many new people to birding as possible, but also to raise money for organizations that champion values of equity, inclusion, and justice. This event in particular raised over $100 for the Midwest Access Coalition, a group that provides resources and support for those seeking abortions.
While working in the dunes, the group observed Eastern Kingbirds, Baltimore Orioles, Caspian Terns, and plenty of Purple Martins. Additionally, several species of notable flora were spotted as well, including flowering elderberry, sweet flag, spiderwort, American bur-reed yarrow, and even some Eastern prickly pear cactus. Volunteers rounded out the trip by meeting Field Museum researchers to collect egg counts and monitor nesting progress at the Purple Martin nesting boxes. Throughout the process, they learned about an incredible interspecies relationship between Purple Martins and human beings.
Over hundreds of years, these sleek birds have become one of the only bird species that prefer human-made structures over natural, self-constructed nests. Indigenous peoples of North America have been providing nesting locations for purple martins for thousands of years by hollowing out gourds and hanging them to dry. Native tribes recognized the benefit of having a thriving Purple Martin population nearby, as they relied on their insect-heavy diet as a form of natural pest control. Now, according to the Field Museum researchers, these modern nest boxes act as a home for multiple generations of birds. Purple martins often return to the same nest in which they were hatched, resulting in many lineages occurring at each nesting site.
The story of the purple martins and the positive experience for attendees of South Shore’s restoration day, is shining proof of the important relationship between humans and nature in urban spaces. This interspecies exchange is not only crucial for the birds and plants survival, but also for city dwellers & connection to the outdoors. In stark contrast to earlier comments by the 5th Ward Alderman calling South Shore Nature Sanctuary “dead” , “strangled”, and “unmaintained” this single event shines another light on the thriving plant and animal communities in the area. Despite continued efforts to convert the nature sanctuary into a PGA golfcourse, groups such as South Shore Stewards and Chicago’s Feminist Bird Club continue to introduce new people and create lasting connections to the urban oasis.
Articles for further reading:
https://www.appalachianhistory.net/2018/10/alabamas-gourd-martin-house-tradition.html
https://news.wttw.com/2019/09/19/ald-leslie-hairston-stands-comment-nature-sanctuary-dead
https://www.feministbirdclub.org/about
