Thanks to Annemarie Rand for these reports from the trail…
June 5, 2010
It seems as if the populations of American Robins, Mallards, Canada Geese, European Starlings and Common Grackles will be strong this summer. I did see a Northern Flicker in a nest hole, a Red-eyed Vireo, a Warbling Vireo, and an Eastern Wood PeWee (love their song!).
There was a Belted Kingfisher flying up and down the river, Cedar Waxwings up in the trees, Chimney Swifts making themselves heard high in the sky, and a Song Sparrow singing his little heart out. Barn Swallows are flying near the old Pumping Station. I also saw a Downy Woodpecker and a Northern Cardinal.
No Red-headed Woodpeckers were seen. I’m really hoping to see them this summer. Maybe next visit!
June 16, 2010
Wow, what a morning!
I saw five (yes, 5!) Black-crowned Night Herons at once on the river bank or on low limbs of trees. It’s exciting that they are doing so well here. I also saw a Green Heron fishing along the bank and a Great Blue Heron fishing along another area of the bank. It’s great so see all of the different types of herons! The Mallards are doing well. I didn’t see as many Canada Geese as expected. They may be at a different part of the river.
The American Robins, Common Grackles, European Starlings, Barn Swallows and Chimney Swifts are doing well. There were many of each of those species.
I saw two Baltimore Orioles, some Downy woodpeckers, an American Crow, a Common Yellowthroat, an Eastern Phoebe, a couple of American Goldfinches and Northern Cardinals, an Ovenbird, a Song Sparrow, and a Warbling Vireo.
Even though there were many species out and about at sunrise this morning, I’m disappointed that there are no Red-headed Woodpeckers. I was really hoping that after seeing them nest in the dead trees in the summer of 2008 that they would be back. I see that the European Starlings have taken the nest holes this year. The European Starling is the Red-headed Woodpecker’s largest competitor for nesting holes. There’s really nothing we can do about that. It is crucial that the dead trees stay up along the river there to encourage the Red-headed Woodpeckers to come back. They nested there once with the European Starlings nearby, they can do it again! I haven’t given up hope that they will be back someday.
July 19, 2010
Last night, I was interviewed over the phone by a man named Bob Fisher who is writing an article for the next issue of the Habitat Herald. He wanted to know my observations/impression of how Red-headed Woodpeckers are doing as related to habitat restoration. He was given my name by the wonderful Director of Bird Conservation for Audubon-Chicago Region, Judy Pollock, because I have seen nesting Red-headeds at Ronan Park in the past. It was great to talk to Mr. Fisher about Ronan Park and the wonderful improvements that are happening there. Even though I didn’t have the best report for him (about not seeing Red-headed Woodpeckers at Ronan for two summers now), I let him know that I’m not giving up hope. He agreed that I (and we) shouldn’t. This is what part of habitat restoration and conservation is about. We must continue to be diligent with our care of Ronan Park and we will definitely reap the rewards as will the wildlife that we care so much about. So here’s hoping that Ronan Park is mentioned in the next Habitat Herald!
