Newsletters
Summary of Field Trip Results
March 20, 2021 – Montrose Point. On a sunny but brisk day, 7 observers identified 26 species of birds, with a mixture of winder holdovers Scaup, Bufflehead, Red-breasted Merganser, and Junco, and early spring arrivals of Killdeer, Red-winged Blackbird, and Grackle. Highlights included a fly-over Great Blue Heron and Tree Sparrow.
Record Global Big Day. Ebird reports that October 17, 2020 was a record global big day, with 7,097 species reported by over 32,200 birders on around 78,000 checklists. Colombia led with 1,285 species, Peru 1,152 species, Ecuador 1,105 species, and Brazil 1,101 species.
Native Habitat Restoration. Looking to make your yard more attractive to birds and other wildlife. Check out the booklet The Journey to Restore Native Habitat available for free on the Illinois Audubon website, illinoisaudubon.org.
Summary of Field Trip Results
September through October, 2020. Lincoln Park Zoo and Ponds Tuesday and Sunday Walks. During the fall Tuesday and Sunday walks, 85 species were observed as compared to 58 on the Sunday walks the prior year. Highlights included: Northern Saw-Whet Owl, Osprey, 7 Woodpecker species, five Thrush species, 18 Warblers species, and 7 Sparrow species. September 12, 2020 – Wooded Island. Observed 29 species, as compared to 26 the prior year. Highlights included Red-headed Woodpecker.
October 10, 2020 – LaBagh Woods. Observed 19 species. Highlights included three Chimney swifts still around.
December 20, 2020 – Christmas Bird Count at North Park Village Nature Center and Emily Oaks Nature Center. On a mostly sunny day with moderate winds and temperatures approaching 40 degrees, six observers identified 15 species. Highlights included an American Kestrel; Red-bellied (1), Hairy (1) and Downy (5) Woodpeckers; Mourning Doves (15); Dark-eyed Juncos (15); American Goldfinches (2); American Robins (2); White-breasted Nuthatches (2); Black-capped Chickadee 2); a Great Blue Heron; Canada Geese (30); Northern Cardinals (3); House Sparrows (4); and Rock Pigeons.
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Fort Dearborn New Members for 2020. Welcome to the following new Fort Dearborn Chapter members for 2020: Kristin Dulcan, Craig Martinaltis, Liz Murray, Mary Naftzger, and David Painter (returning).
New High Illinois Bird Count. Even with the COVID pandemic going on, birders in 2020 were able to set a new record for bird species sighted in Illinois. With the year not yet over, Nathan Goldberg has sighted 340 species and Steve Huggins 339 species. Member Jeffrey Sanders was leading the Cook County bird count. Recent unusual sightings include Great Kiskadee, White-winged Dove, Neotropic Cormorant, Western Tanager, and Spotted Towhee.
Illinois Audubon Preserves Additional Illinois Land in 2020. During 2020, Illinois Audubon continued to preserve additional significant wildlife habitat for future generations. This included expansion of the War Bluff Valley Sanctuary, the Prairie Ridge State Natural Area, the Adams Wildlife Sanctuary, and the acquisition of the twenty-acre Ryback Tract near the Amboy March Nature Preserve.
Summary of Field Trip Results
April through May, 2020 - Lincoln Park Zoo and Ponds Sunday walks. Walks were cancelled due to the zoo and lakefront parks being closed.
The following field trips were also cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic: April 11, 2020 - Montrose and Magic Hedge; April 25, 2020 - Wooded Island; May 1-3, 2020: IAS Spring Gathering, Emiquon/Chautauqua Area; May 2, 2020: Northwestern Landfill; May 23, 2020: Rosehill Cemetery and West Ridge Natural Preserve.
May 9, 2020 – Spring Bird Count, Chicago River – Montrose to North Avenue turning basin. Identified 21 species of birds: 32 Canada Geese (including 14 goslings), 8 Mallards, 22 Rock Pigeons, 1 Mourning Dove, 2 Killdeer, 4 Ring-billed Gulls, 4 Caspian Terns, 1 Black-crowned Night-Heron, 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, 3 Northern Rough-winged Swallows, 10 Barn Swallows, 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 4 European Starlings, 1 Grey Catbird, 8 American Robins, 8 House Sparrows, 1 White-crowned Sparrow, 4 White-throated Sparrows, 4 Red-winged Blackbirds, 9 Common Grackles, and 1 Northern Cardinal.
July 11, 2020 – North Park Village Butterfly Count. Identified 9 species of butterflies (three less than in 2019) and 35 individuals (more than the 27 in 2019); 9 Monarchs (12 in 2019), 11 Cabbage Whites, 2 Red Admirals, 1 Tiger Swallowtail, 6 Black Swallowtails, 1 Hackberry, 1 Pearl Crescent, 1 Eastern-tailed Blue and 3 Silver-spotted Skippers. Also identified were 4 species of dragonflies: Green Darner, Common Whitetail, Widow Skimmer, and 12-spotted Skimmer. 9 species of birds were identified: Turkey Vulture, Yellow-shafted Flicker, American Robin, House Wren, House Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Cedar Waxwing, Warbling Vireo, and Chimney Swift.
August 8, 2020 – North Park Village Dragonfly Count. After a very slow start, identified five species of dragonflies (up from four in 2019), and only 12 individuals: 2 Green Darners, 3 Eastern Pondhawks, 2 Black Saddlebags, 3 Eastern Amberwings, and 2 Widow Skimmers. A couple of Damselflies were observed. Also identified were 7 species of butterflies: Monarch, Cabbage White, Tiger Swallowtail, Black Swallowtail, Red Admiral, Silver-spotted Skipper and Summer Azure. Also identified were 8 species of birds: Chimney Swift, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Cedar Waxwings, House Wren, Black-capped Chickadee, and American Robin.
Other News
Piping Plovers at Montrose. Monty and Rose, the piping Plover pair at Montrose Beach, successfully reared three chicks, after raising two chicks last year. The chicks this year were banded. Monitors provided daylight coverage to protect the nest and nestlings from the first egg laying until they fledged. Last year was the first record of a successful Piping Plover nest in Chicago since 1955. Restricted beach access due to COVID-19 made it a little easier on the plovers this year.
Birding During COVID-19 Pandemic. Some of our favorite birding spots, such as Montrose Point, have been off-limits or difficult to access during the COVID-19 restrictions. Many organized bird walks and field trips have been cancelled.
Summary of Field Trip Results
April through May, 2022 -- Lincoln Park Zoo and Ponds Sunday Walks. During the spring Sunday Walks, 78 species were observed. Highlights included: 3 swallow , 8 sparrow species, 14 warbler species, 4 woodpecker species, a Least Bittern, and the large colony of Block-drowned Nigh-Herons.
April 16, 2022 -- Wooded Island and McCormick Bird Sanctuary. Identified 37 species of birds, including 7 sparrow species and five duck species. Also observed Muskrat and Racoon.
April 23, 2022 -- Illinois Audubon Spring Gathering in Central Illinois. Identified 105 species. Highlights included: Neotropic Cormorant, 7 sparrow species, 13 warbler species, 6 woodpecker species, Barrow Owl, 12 shorebird species, Osprey, American Eagle, and Wild Turkey.
May 7, 2022 -- Spring Bird Count from Horner Park to North Avenue Turning Basin along Chicago River. Identified 39 species. Highlights included Sora, Virginia Rail, Cooper's Hawk, and Red-tailed Hawk on nest.
May 14, 2022 -- IAS Big Day, Montrose Point and Wooded Island. Identified 72 species. Highlights included: 3 vireo species, 5 swallow species, 15 warbler species, Bobolink, Summer Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and Indigo Bunting.
May 21, 2022 -- Rosehill Cemetery and West Ridge. Identified 30 species. Highlights included: Indigo Bunting and Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
July 9, 2022 -- North Park Village Butterfly Count. Identified 7 species of butterflies and 69 individuals: 4 Monarchs, 40 Cabbage Whites, 18 Cloudless Sulfurs, 4 Black Swallowtails, 3 Fritillaries, 1 Little Wood Satyr, and 1 Silver-spotted Skipper. also identified were 2 species of dragon flies: Common Whitetail and Meadowhawk. 6 species of birds were identified: e Swift, American Goldfinch, House Wren, American Robin, Red-winged Blackbird, and Northern Cardinal.
August 5, 2022 -- North Park Village Dragonfly Count. Identified 8 species of dragonflies and 36 individuals: 3 Green Darners, 2 Blue Dashers, 12 12-spotted Skimmers, 1 White-faced Meadowhawk, 12 Common Whitetails, 3 Eastern Pondhawks, 1 Saddlebags, and 2 Eastern Amberwings. A couple of Damselfly species were observed. Also identified were 4 species of butterflies: Monarch, Cabbage While, Clouded Sulfur, and Hackberry, Also identified were 6 species of birds: Chimney Swift, Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, American Goldfinch, White-breasted Nuthatch, and Mourning Dove.
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Piping Plovers in the Great Lakes. While only one of the offspring of Monty and Rose, Imani, spent the summer at Montrose and did not obtain a mate, it was otherwise a good summer for the Great Lakes Piping Plover population, with 43 chicks fledged.
Birds Are Stretching the Boundaries of Language. An article in Atlantic Magazine highlights recent studies finding some similarities between the calls and songs of some bird species and human speech, including learned vocalizations and regional dialects.
Summary of Field Trip Results.
February 17, 2024 - Annujal Gull Frolic at North Point Marina in Winthrop Harbor. Unusually warm weather held down the usual variety of gulls this year, although it was cold and clear on frolic day. The gull frolic produced Herring, Lesser Black-backed, Rign-billed, and Iceland Gulls. Other species identified: Sandhill Crane, Canada Geese, Redhead, Bufflehed, Ruddy Duck, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, and Bald Eagle.
March 16, 2024 - Montrose Point. On a cold, windy day with paartial sun, five observers identified 21 species of birds: Eared Grebe, Canada Goose, Mallard, Redhead, Lesser Scaup, Red-breasted Merganser, American Coot, Ring-billed Gull, Downy Woodpecker, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, European Starling, American Robin, Rox Sparrow, Song, S;parrow, House S;parrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-singed Blackbird, Common Grackle, Brown0eaded Cowbird, and Northern Cardinal. Alternatively, when you select a text box a settings menu will appear.
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10,000 Bird Species