Submitted by Jennie Strable on Wed, 04/19/2017 - 12:00pm
Event date:
Saturday, April 8, 2017 - 8:00am
Location:
-
Hello to All,
Spring is on the buds and birders have returned to Wooded Island and the Saturday morning bird walks. The Green Heron was a nice surprise. The single bird flew onto branches hanging over the East Lagoon in front of the SW corner of the east parking lot.
A coyote has been seen on the Island for the past couple of weeks. I was sitting on the first bench south of the Japanese Garden when the coyote came up from the edge of the East Lagoon and walked passed me a few yards away. Later several of us saw the coyote again west of the area once known as the Rose Garden.
Reminder: Chicago Audubon Society’s Presentation on Wooded Island is scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, April 13th ,7:15 p.m., at the North Park Village, 5801 N. Pulaski, Building D.
BIRDERS: 16. (1) Gary M. (2) Ben S. (3) Jennie S. (4) Renate G. (5) Kevin V. (6) Dennis K. (7) Arlene McF. (8) Hannah K. (9) Paul G. (10) Mary Nell M. (11) Eric G. (12) Bruce McC. (13) Edith H. (14) Karin D. (15) Karin C. (16) Pat D.
TIME: 8:00 a.m. to10:45 a.m.
PLACES: Wooded Island, Lagoons and Bobolink Meadow
DISTANCE: 2 miles
WEATHER: Sunny. Temperature: 41 – 48/67 F later in the day. Wind South 10 – 20 mph.
TOTAL SPECIES COUNT: 28
X = commonly seen and/or not counted.
Mallard 3
Blue-winged Teal 2
Red-breasted Merganser X Dominant species in lagoons. Estimate ~ 60
Pied-billed Grebe 3
Horned Grebe 2
Double-crested Cormorant 7
Green Heron 1 One flew and perched along East Lagoon shore in front of birders. Known local nesters
Black-crowned Night-Heron 1
Ring-billed Gull X Flyovers
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2
Downy Woodpecker 3
Northern Flicker 5
Eastern Phoebe 2
American Crow 3
Black-capped Chickadee 2
Brown Creeper 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
American Robin X
Brown Thrasher 2 Reported by Ben Sanders
European Starling X
Dark-eyed Junco 1
Song Sparrow 8
Northern Cardinal 5
Common Grackle 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 2
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 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