Bird Report

Here’s the latest from Annemarie Rand on the birds at Ronan Park:

I went to Ronan Park early on Sunday morning, May 10, to see what migrants were coming through. Since our winter was so long and brutal, it’s nice that spring is here and if you like birds, this is the time to get out and see some beauties!

Springtime is the time for the brightly colored warblers, the jewels of the bird world. They are tiny and quick, but their colors will make you gasp. I was able to see a Nashville warbler, a Black and White warbler, Magnolia warblers and a Palm warbler.

There was a hermit thrush, nesting American Robins, a Gray Catbird, and I heard a Rose-breasted Grosbeak. (I couldn’t see him though, so he must have been way up in the tree.)

There are a lot of Canada geese with babies. They like to walk right on the path, so if you encounter them, please don’t make them feel threatened in any way. They can get quite nasty and will attack. My advice is to stand very still, admire their babies, then get out of their way!

The Belted Kingfishers were flying overhead being very vocal. I also saw and heard White-crowned Sparrows and White-throated Sparrows. The Black-crowned Night Heron was under the old pumping station as usual. There were a lot of Barn Swallows and Chimney swifts as well.

I’m waiting to see the Red-headed Woodpeckers again. They weren’t there yet. I’m really hoping they come and nest again in the dead trees.

In March, I was invited by Audubon-Chicago Region to attend a talk given by National Audubon’s Senior Scientist for important bird areas. This scientist has a program that he would like Audubon-Chicago Region to pilot for him. I was thrilled to be asked to attend the meeting and it was very interesting. I don’t know exactly what the decision will be, but I was able to speak a bit about Ronan Park and the great improvements that have been made there and the wonderful birds that I see. Audubon-Chicago Region knows that I would be willing to do this program at Ronan Park if they and the Chicago Park District decide it’s something they want to pursue.

Bird Report

Annemarie Rand, volunteer bird monitor, sends this report:

On the morning of October 11, I went to the trail for a fall bird monitoring session. Thank God for the later sunrise in the fall! I saw some great birds. Many were just passing through in their travels south. I saw two Hermit Thrushes, an Eastern Towhee and many Golden-crowned Kinglets. There was also a Brown Creeper making its way up one tree.

It was a great morning for herons: I observed two Black-crowned Night Herons (one successfully fishing) and a Great Blue Heron.

The usual Mallards were there as well a the European Starlings and the Belted Kingfishers.

I was looking for the Red-headed Woodpeckers, but didn’t see them at all. I’m not sure if they have left already. I truly hope that they are back again next spring as they are one of the species declining in population in our area.

It’s great to see the signs up at each end of the trail declaring it a recognized bird and butterfly habitat. We truly have a gem of a natural area at Ronan Park!

Woodpeckers, Herons, Kingfishers and more

Annemarie Rand, volunteer bird monitor, sent this report:

I went to Ronan this morning, but not at sunrise! Now that we are out of June, I don’t have to go at sunrise unless I want to. I showed up around 9:45-ish to see the birds and the new fence etc…

I think I have pin pointed which tree the Red-headed woodpeckers are nesting in. Although I didn’t see any young, I did see an adult make a food delivery. That’s great news!

The immature Black-crowned night heron is still hanging out where I usually see him. A Herring gull was successfully fishing and eating right in front of his face, poor guy!

I saw two Belted Kingfishers, but couldn’t tell if they were male, female or juvenile from where I was.

I watched a Green Heron fish successfully beneath the Argyle bridge.

I saw a bird I hadn’t seen before which I think may be some type or tern, perhaps a Black tern. It flew over the river back and forth. It had a charcoal gray/blackish body. Peterson Field guide says that we are in their summer range, so it very well could be a Black tern. It’ll be interesting to see if it is there again for our next Trail Day.

Thanks!

Birds

Ronan Park is an important bird habitat and Annemarie Rand monitors bird activity there for the Audubon Chicago Region. She was out there last Saturday early morning…

…[they want] the monitors to be there by 5:15 am when the sun is just coming up and the birds are most active. (UGH!) I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by what I saw. There were 2 red-headed woodpeckers drumming on the dead trees and calling to each other. The populations of red-headed woodpeckers have been in decline in recent years, so I was thrilled to see them there. Hopefully they will stay. Lots of competition with European Starlings which there are plenty of!

Also, there were 2 black-crowned night herons by the river. Both were juveniles. One was completely brown streaked (young) and the other was in its first summer, so had muted colors still. Eventually as they grow to adulthood, they will be white and black (very striking looking)! There are also some Belted Kingfishers who hang out at Ronan, River and Legion Parks…

Our first community Trail Day is coming up THIS SATURDAY, JUNE 28TH… I’m hoping Annemarie will join us and be able to tell us what we’re seeing when somebody says “Hey, look at that bird there!”