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Wooded Island Bird Walk

  • Wooded Island, Jackson Park Meet at the west side of the Columbia Basin Chicago, IL, 60637 United States (map)

Photo: Eastern Bluebird by John Larson

Hello everyone,

Summer returned and both the birds and the humans were seeking as much shade as possible.  The one exception was the Green Heron that was sitting on top of a large snag near the south bridge, calling away with it’s distinctive croak. It seemed like he/she was looking for someone. We saw the first Great Egret that we’ve had in several weeks and we also had our favorite heron trifecta (Great Blue, Black-crowned and Green). It’s become the group’s goal to achieve the trifecta each week. We managed to relocate the Hummingbird nest but there was no sign of a bird on it, unfortunately. We did, however, find a Yellow Warbler nest in Bobolink Woods and mom was on the nest.  Hopefully we’ll have warbler chicks soon.

BIRDERS: Becky, Cheryl, Marian, Jennie, Chris, Kristen, Bruce M., Eric, Meghan, Nick, Leti, Adriana, Nigel, Ka Yee, Max, Karin, Marisa.

TIME: 8:00am to 11:45am     

WEATHER: Hot, in the 80s, sunny

Compiler:  Cheryl       

Canada Goose   Number observed: 25

Wood Duck   Number observed: 3

Mallard   Number observed: 3

Chimney Swift   Number observed: 12

Ruby-throated Hummingbird   Number observed: 3

Ring-billed Gull   Number observed: 3

Caspian Tern   Number observed: 1

Double-crested Cormorant   Number observed: 1     Flyover 

Great Blue Heron  Number observed: 2

Great Egret   Number observed: 1

Green Heron   Number observed: 3

Black-crowned Night-Heron   Number observed: 2

Downy Woodpecker   Number observed: 1

Hairy Woodpecker   Number observed: 2

Northern Flicker   Number observed: 1     Flyover 

Eastern Wood-Pewee   Number observed: 4

Willow Flycatcher   Number observed: 2

Eastern Phoebe   Number observed: 2

Eastern Kingbird   Number observed: 4

Warbling Vireo   Number observed: 3

Red-eyed Vireo   Number observed: 1

American Crow   Number observed: 3

Black-capped Chickadee   Number observed: 4

Purple Martin   Number observed: 18

Barn Swallow   Number observed: 18

Cliff Swallow   Number observed: 8

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher   Number observed: 3

House Wren   Number observed: 1

European Starling   Number observed: 6

Gray Catbird   Number observed: 13

American Robin   Number observed: 7

Cedar Waxwing   Number observed: 9

House Sparrow   Number observed: 2

American Goldfinch   Number observed: 7

Song Sparrow   Number observed: 1

Orchard Oriole   Number observed: 2

Baltimore Oriole   Number observed: 12

Red-winged Blackbird   Number observed: 14

Brown-headed Cowbird   Number observed: 4    Flyover 

Common Grackle   Number observed: 2

Common Yellowthroat   Number observed: 2

Yellow Warbler   Number observed: 15

Northern Cardinal   Number observed: 3

Indigo Bunting   Number observed: 4

 

If you’d like more information about a bird, check out the All About Birds ID guide:

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/

Corrections, additions and comments are welcome.

Recordings are not used to attract birds.

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

Saturday morning walks: Start at 8:00 a.m. and cover a distance of two miles.  Birders walk from the meeting spot counterclockwise 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. After crossing the Music Bridge birders walk through the parking lot and around the Columbia Basin (North Lagoon) and return to our meeting spot.  In late fall, winter and early spring, the birders check for birds on the lakefront at the Outer Harbor near LaRabida Hospital and the Inner Harbor after the Wooded Island walk.

Meeting Spot:  Birders meet on the west shore of the Columbia Basin (North Lagoon).  Park on Stony Island Avenue near 59th Street, walk east across the parkland area, then cross Cornell Drive to reach the spot.

Good birding everyone,

Jennie

Later Event: June 5
Skokie Lagoons Workdays