The Chicago Park District has over 8,900 acres of parkland and more than 600 parks. There are more than 90 designated “natural areas” the district has created and maintained within its parks. This adds up to 2,000 acres designed to be inviting habitats for local and migratory wildlife. The natural areas include diverse ecosystems such as prairies, savannas, woodlands, wetlands, rivers, lakes and dunes. Many of these natural areas are well established and well known to Chicago birders. Some are in segments of parks that were birded well before the creation of the natural area, a process that can involve removing sod, planting native plants, controlling invasive species, and restoration of a natural habitat for the location, e.g., prairie or woodland.

Some Chicago Park District natural areas don’t appear on eBird. Are they too new to be discovered, too small, or just birdless? We thought we’d look at a few of them.

Kiwanis Park Natural Area

This is a brand-new natural area, just southeast of Von Steuben Metropolitan High School, along the North Branch of the Chicago River. The entire Kiwanis Park is 1.67 acres, but much of that is the natural area, with two paved pathways through it. A lot of work has been done to improve the riverbank. On a cold early-April afternoon, there wasn’t much plant life visible, but during a brief 10-minute walk, the following were heard and seen: Dark-eyed Juncos, American Robins, Red-winged Blackbirds, Mallards, and one Grackle. This park is near River Park and Ronan Park, and likely will share similar bird species, if not already, especially once planned improvements begin to thrive. Native trees and shrubs have been planted, and the area has been seeded with native wildflowers and grasses. Additional native non-woody grasses and flowers will be planted this spring. However, lesser celandine, an aggressive invasive, is quite prominent in the park at the moment.

West Pullman Park Natural Area

West Pullman Park’s natural area occupies 1.6 acres in the northwest corner of the park. Mature oaks of three different varieties (bur, red, and white) dominate the park, but on a cloudy mid-April morning, greening up the floor of the natural area were several native plants, including Virginia bluebells, false Solomon’s seal, Dutchman’s breeches and Jacob’s ladder. There wasn’t much in the way of birdlife – some House Finches and American Robins, a Northern Cardinal, a few Ring-billed Gulls. But maybe the reason this location has only a few birds and has been birded (at least, eBird-wise) only once back in 2019 is the very prominent Cooper’s Hawk, complete with a nest. A local resident, in fact, calls the park Cooper’s Park!

*Dutchman’s breeches, Virginia bluebells, Jacob’s ladder*

*Cooper’s Hawk, West Pullman Park Natural Area*

Ridge Park Wetlands Natural Area

Located half a block north of Ridge Park in the Beverly neighborhood, the wetlands natural area is a small one-acre park with a boardwalk and some mulch paths. Interspersed among the oaks, elms and black walnut trees is a wetland, fed from the ground of the ridge rising to the west. On a mid-April morning, yellow flag iris were growing in the water, and surrounding the water were other native plants, including Virginia bluebells and prairie dropseed. Seen and heard at this natural area were Ring-billed Gulls, several Red-winged Blackbirds and American Robins, singles of Red-bellied and Downy woodpeckers, a Dark-eyed Junco, Turkey Vulture, and a warbler (not willing to be identified). Easily observed was a robin sitting on its nest. A neighborhood chicken also let us know of its presence. The biggest excitement was seeing a group of American White Pelicans soaring overhead! Not endemic to this tiny wetland, but an advantageous sighting from this location.

Auburn Park Natural Area

Auburn Park, in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood, was established in 1913. The natural area is considered to be the 2.5 acres of the lagoon habitat, which is essentially the entire park. The lagoon is a remnant from the site's original condition as a wetland. The charming park/lagoon is spread over three blocks connected by stone bridges. The lagoon has fountains and is stocked with fish. On a very chilly, windy late-April morning, a Mallard couple, several Canada Geese (including at least one family), several American Robins, and one Northern Cardinal, Ruby-crowned Kinglet and Palm Warbler were seen and heard. However, a neighbor of the park excitedly shared photos taken last year of a Black-crowned Night Heron (in May) and a Great Blue Heron (in July) visiting the lagoon. There are local stray cats that feed on some of the fishing remnants, which might keep some birds away. Native plantings were not evident, although there were plenty of violets blooming.

Madigan Park Natural Area

About two miles west of Marquette Park, Madigan Park’s natural area is a recent development, started in 2021. Two acres of lawn that are south and east of the baseball fields have been planted with Illinois native prairie plants. Madigan Park is adjacent to an elementary school and extensive railyards. The prairie plants may all be mid/late-summer blooming, as the crabapple trees were the most evident flowering plants in late April. Hairy asters, wild bergamot and milkweed will be showy later in the year. Seen and heard during our visit were several Red-winged Blackbirds and American Robins, a few White-crowned Sparrows and White-throated Sparrows, and several youngsters warming up for a baseball game.

*Last year’s hairy aster and wild bergamot*

All of these natural areas deserve some birding attention, with perhaps more rewarding outcomes in the coming months. Some have yet to develop into the habitats that are likely envisioned by the Chicago Park District. Many Park District natural areas are surrounded by larger parks, but most of the ones we visited this April are isolated small landscapes surrounded by streets, railway tracks, schools, and neighborhoods. Yet, there were birds! Now that spring is here, it’s a good time to explore new sites and enjoy our very local flora and fauna.

Leave no park unbirded!

Sources:

https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/natural-areas

https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/kiwanis-natural-area

https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/west-pullman-natural-area

https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/ridge-park-wetlands-natural-area

https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/auburn-natural-area

https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/madigan-park-natural-area