Submitted by Jennie Strable on Tue, 05/02/2017 - 12:08pm
Event date:
Saturday, April 22, 2017 - 8:00am
Location:
-
Hello to All,
We had a fun morning of birding, sharing tips on identification of birds and plants.
Our regular rendezvous with “Copper” and Doug took place. Copper loves birders more than birds. Below are a portrait of Copper and a photo of Pat instructing Kiersten on how to give a treat to Copper, under Copper’s direct supervision.
BIRDERS: 19. (1) Marian N., (2) Chuck B., (3) Randy S., (4) Eric G., (5) Tobias G., (6) Karin D., (7) Karin C., (8) Lorie M., (9) Marilyn M., (10) Raman S., (11) Dennis P. and (12) Sriram V. – birders visiting from Ann Arbor, MI, (13) Laurel R., (14) Tracy W., (15) Gary M., (16) Kyra J and (17) Kiersten J. – new birders, (18) Kevin V., (19) Pat D.
TIME: 8:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
PLACES: Wooded Island and Bobolink Meadow
DISTANCE: Two miles
WEATHER: Sunny. Temperature 45- 53 F. Winds NNE off the Lake 10 – 20 mph.
TOTAL SPECIES COUNT: 45
Canada Goose 25
Wood Duck 2
Gadwall 1
Mallard 7
Pied-billed Grebe 1
Double-crested Cormorant 83. Several large fly over flocks.
Great Blue Heron 2. They have returned to Oakwood Cemetery. Two active nest sites.
Black-crowned Night-Heron 3
Killdeer 1
Ring-billed Gull 7
Caspian Tern 8
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 Still in juvenile plumage. No red on head or throat. Smudgy appearance. Confirmed by Randy.
Downy Woodpecker 4 Birders noticed a quick episode of copulation by a couple. After sharing a joint, the male rolled over and fell asleep. (joking)
Hairy Woodpecker 1 all white outer tail feathers clearly seen.
Northern Flicker 4
American Kestrel 1
Eastern Phoebe 3
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 5
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 6
Tree Swallow 4
Barn Swallow 2
Black-capped Chickadee 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 7
Hermit Thrush 2
American Robin 13
European Starling 10
Northern Waterthrush 1
Yellow Warbler 1
Palm Warbler 6
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
Dark-eyed Junco 2
White-throated Sparrow 15
Song Sparrow 7
Lincoln's Sparrow 1
Eastern Towhee 1
Northern Cardinal 10
Red-winged Blackbird 9
Common Grackle 1
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 10
House Sparrow 8
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. Randy S. was the major complier.
Tracy Weiner took the photos during today’s bird walk.
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 metal 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.
Birders meet in the southwest corner of the East Parking Lot.
Metered parking is available in the East Parking Lot that is accessible from South Lake Shore Drive. There is a Stop Light at 57th Street Science Drive. Make a turn at the Stop Light towards the Museum. Turn Left (south) at the intersection of Science Drive and Columbia Drive. Go through the parking lot to the west end. Birders meet in the southwest corner of the East Parking Lot.
Parking and Lots: While restoration is ongoing, heavy equipment has taken over half of the east parking lot, off of South Lake Shore Drive, and half of the southwest parking lot which has an entrance off of Hayes Drive (63rd St.) and just east of Cornell Drive. Birders will be able to find metered parking in both lots. The East Parking Lot is preferred. There is also unmetered parking along Stony Island Avenue from 56th to 59th Street.
Best of Birding to All,
Patricia Durkin