Wooded Island Birding Outing

Saturday, March 7, 2026
8:00 AM 10:00 AM 08:00 10:00

Jackson Park Chicago, Illinois (map)

Google Calendar ICS

Hello everyone,

I have two public service announcements for you today.

1. The city is accepting public comments about the redesign of the Morgan Shoal area on the lakefront. Below is information that Marisa received from a friend. Note that she sent it via text so I don’t think that the links will paste into this email, but you can copy and paste them into your browser.

The lakefront stretch from East 45th-51st St, Morgan Shoal, is being redeveloped by the City of Chicago with significant new parkland built out into what is now lake. Project information can be found here. (https://www.lrd.usace.army.mil/Missions/Projects/Display/Article/4112328/morgan-shoal/) The full Supplemental Environmental Assessment (SEA) can be found here. (https://www.lrd.usace.army.mil/News/Project-Documents-Notices-Public-Review/Display/Article/4252283/morgan-shoal-revetment-reconstruction-45th-51st-street-draft-supplemental-envir/)

Public comments are open and are a great chance to remind the city to consider birds in their design! I was hoping you could share this project with your members and fellow bird lovers.

Comments can be submitted using:

Comment form:

https://forms.osi.apps.mil/r/xYZUr1yx9G (https://forms.osi.apps.mil/r/xYZUr1yx9G)

Crowdsource mapping tool:

https://usace-lrc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/reporter/index.html?appid=c6778ad2d85c4b5699413055e46d05f4

Or by email here (mailto:morganshoalNEPA@usace.army.mil?subject=Morgan%20Shoal%20SEA%20NEPA%20comment&body=%5BWrite%20your%20message%20here.%5D)

2. Just a reminder that Chicago Bird Alliance is screening the documentary, “Hawk Watch” this Sunday at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. Here’s the information:

The screening will be held on Sunday March 15 at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Lincoln Park. Admission is free but you must register, otherwise you'll need to pay admission to the museum.

Here's a link to the event announcement on the Chicago Bird Alliance website with all the information and a registration link: https://chicagobirdalliance.org/new-events/2026/3/15/movie-screening-hawk-watch-documentary

Here's a link to the Hawk Watch website for more information about the documentary: https://www.borregospringshawkwatch.com/

Now for this week’s report:

What a wonderful spring morning! Long underwear was not needed for the first time in months, the snowdrops are blooming, and the birds are returning. We had lots of great birds and lots of first of season birds.

We were greeted by “our” bald eagle perched in their usual spot on the tree by the Darrow Bridge. It’s wonderful to be able to show it off to our new bird walk members. Mark W. (accidentally) flushed an American Woodcock which flew across the street and landed in the parkway. A group of us tried to re-find it but we were unsuccessful. If that bird was there, it was magnificently camouflaged in the leaves and invisible to humans.

We had numerous species of waterfowl on the east lagoon, including the merganser trifecta and first of season Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal, and Northern Shovelers. A flock of Greater White-fronted Geese flew over. We also had a first of season Common Grackle, an Eastern Bluebird and the first female Red winged blackbird of the season. A Belted Kingfisher was patrolling the area and diving for breakfast.

At the very end of the walk as we approached Stony Island, Madhu spotted a flock of white geese in the sky. We ID’d the beautiful birds as Snow Geese. However, the eBird reviewers disagreed and declared that they were Ross’s Geese, which is also a treat. Take a look at Madhu’s photo and decide for yourself.

BIRDERS: Elizabeth, Caterina, Daniela, Marian, Mike, Jennie, Mark W., Jane, Leslie, Cheryl, Mark C., Madhu, Katie, Traci, Luther, Mark N., Sandra, Andy, and welcome to Claire, Cody, Grace, and welcome back to Steve, who last joined our walk 45 years ago.

TIME: 8:00am to 11:25am

WEATHER: 60 degrees and cloudy

Compiler: Cheryl

Snow Goose Number observed: 11

Greater White-fronted Goose Number observed: 11

Canada Goose Number observed: 69

Wood Duck Number observed: 6

Blue-winged Teal Number observed: 1

Northern Shoveler Number observed: 4

Mallard Number observed: 12

Green-winged Teal Number observed: 2

Common Goldeneye Number observed: 2