Nachusa's Spring Savanna Flowers 2011

Spring was bursting at the seams the second week of May.  During a hike through an oak savanna at the Nachusa Grasslands, a number of wildflowers were blooming.  The lupines were just opening up, and there was a single columbine.  The scent of fresh growing things filled the air (along with several Turkey Vultures).  Clockwise from the top left, the pictures show a wet sdege meadow, Wild Lupine, Wild Columbine, Wild Geranium, Shooting Star, and Blue-eyed Grass (a State Endangered plant). 

Indigo Bunting 2011

When I was a child, my Grandmother Smith would take me on Sunday morning spring bird walks at Forest Park Nature Center in Peoria with a group of 12 or so people.  At age 10, I was by far the youngest.  One of the birds that the leader would point out  was Indigo Bunting.  For some reason, my young eyes never saw it.  Since INBUs favor the best highest branch in the tops of trees, they were usually too far up or obscured for me to see.  But I wanted to see him so desperately!  The field guide my grandmother gave me had a beautiful plate of this bright blue bird.  With more practice I learned to see INBUs a little more easily.  In the shade they appear rather dark, but in the sunlight their blue color gleams intensely. With some luck I was able to photograph these guys in an old oak savanna at the Nachusa Grasslands.  There were at least 4 males constantly darting around each other in the lower branches, singing their little hearts out. 

Volo Bog 2011

A visit to Volo Bog State Natural Area in mid-May brought forth a number of prairie and bog plants.  Clockwise from left to right they are Bog Buckbean, Pasque Flower, Starflower, Hoary Puccoon, Purple Pitcher Plant, Prairie Smoke.

Wesley's Three Simple Rules

My father commissioned these beautiful banners for my church, and he gave them to me on Easter Sunday, the same day he was discharged from the hospital after his heart attack.  Ms. Gloria Delinger made the banners by hand.  The theme is John Wesley's Three Simple Rules to Do No Harm, to Do Good, and to Stay in Love with God through the means of grace such as worship, prayer, Bible study, Lord's Supper, fasting, etc.  They are now hanging in the Fellowship Hall.  Thanks, Dad!

Scarlet Tanager 2011

During a field trip with the Illinois Audubon Society, this handsome male Scarlet Tanager was foraging on the ground, unusual behavior for a neotropical migrant that spends most of its time higher in the trees.  The weather may have been a factor--cold, breezy, and a little drizzly. 

Baltimore Oriole 2011

This male Baltimore Oriole was singing in the lower branches along the trail at Morain Hills State Park.   

Moraine Hills State Park 2011

The Black Tern Marsh wetland habitat at Moraine Hills State Park in McHenry County used to be home for Black Terns and Yellow-headed Blackbirds, but they have not returned for several years.

Sandhill Crane, however, are easily seen.  There were at least 6 pairs seen on the 2 mile loop trail around the wetlands.

Clay-colored Sparrow 2011

The highlight of my team's Spring Bird Count, besides a 19 species of warblers, was finding this Clay-colored Sparrow at Lyman Woods in Downers Grove.  It was the only species that we had to document, since it was not expected to be found at this site.  CCSP is a common bird in dry uncultivated brush of the northern prairies.  It has probably benefited from the effects of human settlement and disruption of prairie fires, which has resulted in declining grassland habitat and increasing shrubs and trees in the northern Great Plains.  CCSP is briefly present but rare in the Chicago wilderness during migration. 

Rollins Savanna 2011

Rollins Savanna in Lake County (IL) is home to some of the most majestic pre-settlement oaks in northern Illinois.  The mosaic of mature oak-hickory woods, expansive grassland, and numerous wetlands attracts a number of species.  The photo above shows (left to right) a male Blue-winged Teal, a Sandhill Crane, a female Gadwall, Mute Swan, and a male Green-winged Teal.  Sandhill Cranes are a State Threatened species.  The presence of three other species highlight the important habitat that Rollins Savanna provides. 

Common Moorhen

The best bird of the day was Common Moorhen, a new Illinois bird for me.  This State Threatened species was once common through much of the state, but has declined in recent decades as quality wetland habitat also declined.  Common Moorhen is a rare breeder in the Chicago Wilderness.  The red face-shield distinguishes it from the very abundant American Coot.  It was very exciting to see this guy swimming in the open, since they can be secretive in the reeds, as shown in the lower right photo.     

Bobolink

Another delight to see and hear was Bobolink, a grassland species of Priority 1 concern in the Chicago Wilderness.  Male Boblinks establish their territory with an etheral bubbling song that sounds like a 1960s space computer.  His plummage is a striking black and white with a yellow cap.  Bobolinks are also under pressure in wintering grounds in South America.

Yellow-headed Blackbird

The Yellow-headed Blackbird is a rare breeder in the Chicago Wilderness, and is a State Endangered species. They prefer high-water marshes with dense cattails, and are sensitive to changes in water levels due to "development."  The long-term trend for YHBL shows a 4% annual decrease.  The males have a bright yellow head and a raucous voice that sounds like a chainsaw!

Fullersburg Spring Wildflowers 2011

The spring wildflowers at Fullersburg Forest Preserve (DuPage) were in full force.  Clockwise from top-left they are Common Blue Violet, Common White Violet, Wood Poppy, Spring Beauty, Large-flowered Bellwort, Rue Anemone, Lesser Periwinkle (introduced), White Trillium, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, and Common Yellow Violet.

Gray Catbird 2011

A new yard bird!  This handsome Gray Catbird arrived this morning, the first time I have observed GRCA in the yard.  Like many other birds, they enjoy scratching through the leaf-litter, so it's best to leave some leaves for them in your yard.  The Gray Catbird gets its name from the "mewing" call that it gives from the secrecy of shrubs.  Unfortuately, cats are a serious threat to them. 

These common birds are declining (50% in the past 50 years).  One of the main reasons for the decline is predation by domestic cats.  Outdoor cats kill hundreds of millions of birds each year.  Many bird species are under increasing pressures such as habitat loss, pesticides, window and tower collisions, mineral and gas exploration, and climate change.  But one of the biggest threats is outdoor cats.  It is also one of the easiest threats to reduce: KEEP CATS INDOORS.

For more information on the impact of domestic cats on wild birds, check out this video (http://www.youtube.com/abcbirds#p/u/1/-fvN7FNUPas) and the resources from the American Bird Conservancy.

Blackburnian Warbler 2011

The Blackburnian Warbler is one of my favorite warblers.  I love the male's flaming orange-yellow throat and bold facial pattern.  They favor the top of the tree canopy, making it a challenge to get a good view of them.  This guy was at LaBagh Woods  in Chicago with a cloud of birds, working the lower branches.  He even made a visit to the ground, so he was very easy to see.  Chicago is just one stop in his migration from the mountains of Peru to the North Woods of Canada and back.  BLBW was named after Anna Blackburne (1726 – 1793), an English botanist who helped describe new species from the New World. 

Prothonotary Warbler 2011

Usually Prothonotary Warblers are found in wet woods and swamps where they nest in tree cavities and nest boxes.  Perhaps he and his mate will find a suitable place to nest in the Chicago wilderness.  This one was hanging out at LaBagh Woods in Chicago with a flock of traveling buddies, mostly Palm Warblers and Chipping Sparrows.  His bright yellow-orange coloring made him stand out from the crowd.  He was quiet the whole time I was watching.  PROW's song is very loud: "Sweet-sweet-sweet-sweet-sweet-sweet-sweet!"

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2011

Blue-gray Gnatcatchers are fairly easy to see.  This little guy was buzzing around for bugs on a low shrub at Gompers Park in Chicago.  He was very chatty while foraging. 

Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2011

I put out the hummingbird feeder on May 1, and within 24 hours I found this male Ruby-throated Hummingbird making use of it.  They have been in the area at least since April 27.  I was pretty excited about this one's arrival, since I have not noticed RTHUs coming through the yard much in the past two years.