Submitted by Jennie Strable on Sun, 02/25/2018 - 6:17pm

Event date:

Saturday, February 24, 2018 - 8:00am 

Location:

-

 Hello everyone,

It was a chilly morning for birding, and although we didn’t see very many birds it was still nice to be outside. The most interesting sighting of the morning was two opossums in a tree on the shoreline of the lagoon just off the parking lot. Unfortunately, one of the critters had a wound on the right side of its face, and it wasn’t moving about too much. Its companion seemed to be guarding it to keep it safe.  Poor thing – nature is not always very pretty.

The best part of the walk, for me anyway, was seeing and hearing red-winged blackbirds for the first time this season.  Hearing their call reminds me that spring will arrive soon.

BIRDERS:         Catherine, Karin D, Gary, Eric, Jennie, Raman, Doug and our favorite bird dog, Copper.

TIME:               8:00am to 10:00am

PLACES:           Wooded Island, Bobolink Meadow, Outer Harbor

WEATHER:      Cloudy, 30s, a bit breezy

The following list was compiled by Eric – many thanks for sharing.

X = commonly seen and/or not counted.

Jackson Park, Chicago--Wooded Island/Bobolink Meadow area

Feb 24, 2018

Comments: Two possum

54 Canada Goose

19 Mallard

7 Common Goldeneye

49 Red-breasted Merganser

1 American Coot

5 Ring-billed Gull

3 Herring Gull

1 Downy Woodpecker

1 Hairy Woodpecker

1 Northern Flicker

8 American Crow

1 Black-capped Chickadee

2 European Starling

2 Northern Cardinal

2 Red-winged Blackbird

Number of Taxa: 15

Jackson Park, Chicago--Inner/Outer Harbors

Feb 24, 2018

9 Canada Goose

3 Mallard

5 Redhead

X Greater/Lesser Scaup

1 Bufflehead

2 Common Goldeneye

X Red-breasted Merganser

X Ring-billed Gull

4 Herring Gull

1 gull sp. -- Very large 1st year. Greater BB?

2 American Crow

Number of Taxa: 11

This is a group report, with many birders contributing to the list. Most of the birds were seen by at least several or all of the birders.

Corrections, additions and comments are welcome.

Recordings are not used to attract birds.

This report will be recorded on eBird as a group report for the Wooded Island Bird Walks.

The Walks are free and open to one and all. They are held year round. Newcomers are warmly welcomed. 

Darrow Bridge: Darrow Bridge has been barricaded by the Department of Transportation. A high black iron fence has been erected on all four sides. The fence will remain in place until Darrow Bridge is completely rebuilt, which could be several years away. The Bridge has been deemed unsafe.

Saturday morning walks: Start at 8:00 a.m. covers a distance of two miles.  Birders walk counterclockwise around the Columbia Basin (North Lagoon) onto Wooded Island. Exiting Wooded Island at the south end, the birders walk along the soccer field and enter the south end of Bobolink Meadow. The Meadow’s path leads to the Music Bridge and back to the East Parking Lot. In late fall, winter and early spring, the birders check for birds on the lakefront and Outer Harbor near LaRabida Hospital, and the Inner Harbor.

Directions:  Exit Lake Shore Drive at Science Drive, which is the stoplight just south of the major 57th Drive intersection by the Museum of Science and Industry.  Turn Left (south) at the stop sign at the intersection of Science Drive and Columbia Drive. Go through the parking lot to the southwest end.  Metered parking is available and birders meet in the southwest corner of the east parking lot.

Good birding everyone!

Jennie