Photo of Hooded Mergansers by Judy Cheske.
The Forest Preserves of Cook County (FPCC) and CAS held a blitz of the Kings Grove/Sauk Trail/ Schubert’s Woods complex near Steger. The FPCC is doing a restoration project there and would like to know what’s nesting where. Pairs of participants each took a section, noted all the birds seen and heard, and mapped locations of birds of concern. After birding, we got together to share sightings and enjoy a nice brunch (FPCC’s treat!). Dan Spencer explained the restoration to us which is taking place in several sections north of Sauk Trail.
Acadian flycatcher and house wren on nests photographed by Ian Sarmiento
We discovered a lovely site for birding during the nesting season with some sought-after southern Cook specialties like Acadian flycatcher and tufted titmouse, some great forest birds like pileated woodpecker, wood thrush, yellow-throated vireo and ovenbird, savanna specialties like the red-headed woodpecker, and a hooded merganser with 5 chicks. Together we found 60 species - the top three were robin, house wren (which were everywhere, even in a pair of boots!) and pewee. Our total included 7 Birds of Conservation Concern. The team that found the most species (40) was Ian Sarmiento and Alex Haza.
The Sauk Trail was a well-used route for Indigenous tribes connecting what we now call the Mississippi River with the Detroit area. One group found a historical marker along Sauk Trail which caused us to dig around and find this interesting history in the Chicago Tribune:
Historian and author Larry McClellan, of Crete, said the campground likely alludes to John and Sabra McCoy, whose homestead was just across the road. They established a campground along the trail to accommodate travelers a century before motels became commonplace.
The McCoys “had a good rapport with Indigenous peoples in the region,’ he said, in an era when distrust and misgivings ruled most such relationships.
Later, the McCoy family extended shelter, at their campground as well as their home, to people fleeing enslavement traveling along “what became a crucial corridor for freedom seekers,” McClellan said.
Thanks to all our awesome blitzers! Ian Sarmiento, Alex Haza, Dan Spencer, Judy Cheske, Jackie Smith, Margarita Poromanska, Judy Pollock, Jim Phillips, Simone Morris, Kris Hansen, John Elliott, and Chip O'Leary.
Here are our results - we recommend a visit to this great place. Explore the area around the King’s Grove picnic area and walk any of the trails.
