Monthly Archives: April 2010

43 species at Volo Bog

Yesterday we joined McHenry County Audubon’s walk at Volo Bog. We joined them last year at the bog around this time. We didn’t keep track of all species seen the first time, but I have a feeling our count of 43 yesterday beats last year’s tally. We had six FOY birds: American Wigeon, Barn Swallow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Great Egret and Brown Thrasher. Our full list follows.


Our first FOY of the day was a singing Brown Thrasher


This Eastern Towhee gave us great looks from high atop a tree


As last time, Tree Swallows were numerous


There were lots of American Robins, too, like this group that proceeded us on the path


We came across Sandhill Cranes several times during the morning

It was a great walk on a beautiful day. The jury’s still out on my new camera, though.

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Location: Volo Bog State Natural Area (Lake Co.)
Observation date: 4/10/10
Number of species: 43

Canada Goose – Branta canadensis 5
Mute Swan – Cygnus olor 2
Wood Duck – Aix sponsa 2
American Wigeon – Anas americana 1
Mallard – Anas platyrhynchos 12
Blue-winged Teal – Anas discors 7
Northern Shoveler – Anas clypeata 1
Ring-necked Duck – Aythya collaris 2
Hooded Merganser – Lophodytes cucullatus 4
Great Blue Heron – Ardea herodias 2
Great Egret – Ardea alba 1
Red-tailed Hawk – Buteo jamaicensis 1
American Coot – Fulica americana 20
Sandhill Crane – Grus canadensis 6
Killdeer – Charadrius vociferus 1
Ring-billed Gull – Larus delawarensis X
Mourning Dove – Zenaida macroura 5
Red-bellied Woodpecker – Melanerpes carolinus 9
Downy Woodpecker – Picoides pubescens 3
Hairy Woodpecker – Picoides villosus 1
Northern Flicker – Colaptes auratus 1
Eastern Phoebe – Sayornis phoebe 1
Blue Jay – Cyanocitta cristata 2
American Crow – Corvus brachyrhynchos 3
Tree Swallow – Tachycineta bicolor X
Barn Swallow – Hirundo rustica 1
Black-capped Chickadee – Poecile atricapillus 6
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – Polioptila caerulea 1
Hermit Thrush – Catharus guttatus 1
American Robin – Turdus migratorius X
Brown Thrasher – Toxostoma rufum 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler – Dendroica coronata 12
Eastern Towhee – Pipilo erythrophthalmus 1
American Tree Sparrow – Spizella arborea 5
Song Sparrow – Melospiza melodia 4
Dark-eyed Junco – Junco hyemalis 1
Northern Cardinal – Cardinalis cardinalis 6
Red-winged Blackbird – Agelaius phoeniceus X
Eastern Meadowlark – Sturnella magna 1
Common Grackle – Quiscalus quiscula 2
Brown-headed Cowbird – Molothrus ater 2
American Goldfinch – Carduelis tristis 2
House Sparrow – Passer domesticus 3

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

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Downy noms nuts

I love this peanut feeder my dad made out of firewood. The woodpeckers adore it and they are so fun to watch when they attack the shells to nom the peanutty goodness inside.

I tried to take a still picture of the above Downy Woodpecker but he was too fast.

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Posted in Video, Yard Birds | 2 Comments

That new hedge-magic

It took us a while, but last week we finally got to check out what’s what at Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary in Chicago. We’ve been living in the suburbs for a year and a half and just managed to visit the Magic Hedge for the first time the other day. Goofballs.

The Magic Hedge started as a row of honeysuckle shrubs planted along a fence on the west side of a U.S. Army barracks built here in the 1950’s. The hedge covered the first-floor windows of the two-story building. The Army left around 1970, but the honeysuckles remained.

Lakefront bird watchers noticed that the ragged row of bushes attracted masses of warblers and other birds during migration, diving in and out of the hedge “like magic,” a name that stuck and survives to this day.

Over the years, the hedge was enlarged with many species of shrubs, including serviceberry, chokeberry, sumac and viburnum. These provide seeds and fruit and attract insects for the migrant birds to eat, as well as offer more shelter.

We saw some great birds, including our FOY Northern Flicker, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Towhee, Golden-crowned Kinglet and Hermit Thrush. Unfortunately none of them would pose for a photo. Others were more obliging.

We stopped by again yesterday, a week after our first visit. It was about 40°F cooler than the first time. A bit less birdy too, but still a great place.

Think we’ll be back.

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Migration Awareness 1

This morning Arthur and I are walking our Rescue & Recovery route to look for fallen injured or dead birds that have struck buildings in Chicago during the night and early morning. This is our fourth week volunteering for R&R this spring.

Birders know that spring migration is starting to heat up, with reports of new arrivals appearing on state birding listservs on a daily basis. Because of our volunteer work I’ve been thinking a lot about migration and the amazing and dangerous journey so many of our feathered friends make each spring and fall. I’d like to highlight some of the perils birds face on their migration by sharing a website or information about migratory birds each week while we are volunteering this spring.

The American Bird Conservancy recently issued a new online brochure called How to Prevent Birds from Colliding with Home Windows/Doors. Bird strikes don’t just occur on metropolitan skyscrapers – the windows on your home could also pose a threat to birds. The brochure is a two-sided sheet with general bird-strike information on the front and five practical tips on the back.

You, my birding friends, are probably aware of what you can do to prevent bird strikes at your home. But what about your friends and family – the ones that aren’t birders? This printable brochure would be great to share with someone who might not think of the birds as we do.

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Hungry, squirmy and precious

On the last day of our internship, during the lunch break Dawn had to feed some baby squirrels. I got a chance to feed one of the older babies.

It is important to note that this was done under strict supervision of a licensed wild animal rehabilitator. Untrained members of the public should NEVER EVER (even if you think you can!) feed a baby squirrel – or any other wild animal. If you are a friend to animals, the right thing to do when you find a wild animal in trouble is to get in touch with a licensed rehabber.

Okay, on to the photos!

During feeding time, the squirrels are taken from the incubator and placed in a shoebox for transport.

First Dawn fed the younger babies.

Then I got to feed an older girl. She was hungry, squirmy and precious. I enjoyed every moment!

Many thanks to my classmate Lee for taking the photos of me feeding the squirrel!

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Raptor Internship Week 12

Last Tuesday was the final day of the Raptor Internship I took at Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation this spring. After 11 weeks of lecture, study and handling work, we spent the first part of week 12 taking our 150-question test and practical examination. After passing the practical portion we were able to take a walk with Old Red, FCWR’s wise old Red-tailed Hawk, on our own. This was the first time we were able to walk solo with a such a big bird. She was magnificent! I did get a few photos during the day, but not of raptors – and I’m saving them for a future post on a different subject. Instead, here is a collection of some photos taken throughout the internship.

During the second week we learned about equipment and put together our own falconry gloves. I was distracted by Meepy, who I could see from my classroom chair.


Meepy resting in her mew

In week 4 we worked with the equipment and got to practice removing and applying equipment with Pip, a Barn Owl with a lot of character.


Posing with Pip after the exercise

In week 5 I went to take Meepy out of her mew. This was the first time I took a bird onto my glove. Luckily there was a student reporter in our class with us who documented it (and my awkwardness) in photos.


Meepy thinks about getting on my glove

In week 6 we got to work with Junior for the first time. I was happy to have another stroll with Meepy, too.


Junior and me


Meepy and me

In week 7 I got to walk with a bird on my own for the first time. Darwin the American Kestrel was a perfect gentleman.


Darwin and me

During week 9 I was lucky enough to get to hold a Red-tailed Hawk for the first time. 0511 was a bit restless. I love this photo, even though it’s blurry. I’ve got a look of surprise on my face – I’m feeling 0511’s strong talons on my hand. You can see Dawn, behind us, has a big smile on her face. She’s laughing at my reaction to 0511’s incredible strength.


0511 and me, with Dawn in the background

In week 10 I got to hold Meepy while she was having her beak coped. Later I held FCWR’s longtime resident Old Red.


Meepy and me after the deed


Old Red and me

I enjoyed the internship so much and I’m really sad it’s over. I highly recommend the Raptor Internship! Before it began I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do it and I was late signing up, but I’m so glad I did.

Along with Arthur I’m volunteering with Rescue & Recovery during the spring migration. I hope to continue volunteering at FCWR going forward and I’m sure you’ll hear all about it here on the blog!

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Kane County Pelicans

Last year around this time, there were lots of reports of American White Pelicans throughout Lake and McHenry counties. We even saw a few. This year, local reports are more sparse.

However, a flock of the birds regularly visit Nelson Lake in Kane County during their spring migration. They are a local attraction of sorts and even caught the attention of Chicago’s PBS channel, which ran this piece on Chicago Tonight April 1st. Check out the cute size comparison where they show the armspan of a Chicago Tonight intern vs. the wingspan of a pelican.

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