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!”
Categories: Wildlife
This just in from Alderman Richard Mell:
In an effort to increase green space in the 33rd Ward, I would like to meet with you about a proposal I am making for an expansion of Ronan Park that runs on the west side of the North Branch of the Chicago River from Argyle on the north to Lawrence on the south.
The tentative date for this important community meeting will be Wednesday June 25 at 7:00 p.m. in the lower level of the Horner Park field house near the southeast corner of Montrose and California.
This proposed green space expansion will replace a townhouse development that was to be built on the north side of Lawrence east of Sacramento but I need your help to make it happen.
All 33rd Ward residents are invited so please tell your neighbors.
Categories: Alderman · Expansion · Meetings
See the Plants page for the notes from my first meeting and trail walk with Becky Schillo, Chicago Park District volunteer coordinator and self-professed ‘botany geek’. I get another lesson tomorrow and will try to post more of what I’m learning from her. Thank you, Becky!
Categories: Plants · WebsiteNotes
The first Ronan Park Nature Trail community trail day is Saturday, June 28th. Meet at the north end of the Trail at 9AM or as early as you can make it. This new website will be expanding throughout the summer. Watch here for news about the Trail and what’s happening this summer (and winter) or call Michael Herman (volunteer park steward) at 312-280-7838. And then please join us on the Trail – for a walk or a run or a workday!
Ronan Park lies at the southern tip of a miles-long greenway that connects us by river, canal and bike trail to the Lake, Wilmette, and other points north. And nestled along the River there, from Lawrence north to Argyle, is Ronan Park Nature Trail. Wooded and shady, green and flowering, you might know it as the “scenic route” to River Park or the warm-up/cool-down section of your running workout.
Along the Trail, you’ll find native species that have been planted and tended over the last seven or eight years, columbine, sedge grasses, alexander, goldenrod, wild geraniums, and a variety of other spring wildflowers. Hazelnuts – I’d be curious if anybody’s ever harvested their fruit. Geese and other birds. Watch out for the moms with babies! You’ll also find non-native plants like garlic mustard, burdock, buckthorn thistle and a bunch of other invasives that are trying (through no fault of their own!) to overrun the place.
One way to learn what’s out there in our backyard is to come help take care of it. This summer we’re inviting friends and admirers of the Trail to get together, walk the trail, learn what’s there, cut back invasives, maintain the pathway, pick-up trash, meet others who enjoy being outside in our little patch of woods, and generally keep a bunch of caring eyes on the place.
Please Join Us!
Categories: Contact · Plants · Trail Days
