Chicago Bird Alliance congratulates the birding trip leaders who have made this weekly walk a Chicago institution. Started by Doug Anderson, continued by Pat Durkin and then a team of Jennie Strable, Cheryl Muth and Marian Nicksich, this walk exemplifies the values of welcoming and inclusiveness that Chicago Bird Alliance strives for. Below is a recap of the day by Jennie Strable, and then a remembrance of Paul Douglas by Pat Durkin.
Trip co-leader Cheryl Muth with flowers and commemorative pin
from Jennie Strable:
The snow and the graupel that fell throughout the walk did not deter the great group of birders who came out to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Wooded Island Bird Walks.
I began the walk with a short speech that told a bit of the history of the walks. We then proceeded to the north bridge where Cheryl led a flower toss to commemorate the past, present and future of the walks. Alan Anderson, Chicago Bird Alliance board member and friend of Doug Anderson (the founder of the walks, no relation to Alan), tossed the first bouquet into the lagoon as a memorial to those who birded the Wooded Island before us. Cheryl then asked Judy Pollock, president of Chicago Bird Alliance, to toss the second bouquet in honor of all of us who currently bird and support the island. She then asked Lucy Lewis, one of our younger birders, to toss the third bouquet in honor of the birders who will enjoy and protect the Wooded Island in the future.
A flotilla of Red-breasted Mergansers paraded by to join in our celebration during the bouquet ceremony. Matt pointed out a female Ring-necked Duck that had just flown in. And a nice flock of Double-crested Cormorants flew over in their “V” formation. I’m sure that they wanted to take part in our celebration too.
As we left the bridge and entered the island, we spotted an American Kestrel perched in the first large tree. I guess he was watching the ceremony too. Three Northern Shovelers were cruising and shoveling in the east lagoon. We found our first Ruby-crowned Kinglet of the season as well as a Belted Kingfisher. Fox Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos are still around, and the Red-winged blackbird numbers are increasing quickly. We ended up with 32 species, which is a pretty impressive count for a cold day in March.
After the walk we went inside to continue our celebration. Everyone headed straight to the coffee and tea pots to warm up and then we enjoyed a nice brunch buffet. Marian presented a more detailed history of the Wooded Island and the bird walks. Then many people shared their memories of and feelings about the walks, of Doug Anderson, the founder of the walks, of Pat Durkin, who took on leadership duties from 2007 to 2020, and of departed birders, such as Karin Cassel and Harriet Rylaarsdam, who were champions of the birds of the Wooded Island.
On a personal note, I am so very pleased that you enjoy the walks, the birds, and the companionship of fellow lovers of nature and birds. When I tell people that I lead the walks every week (unless I’m out of town), many have commented that it’s quite a big commitment to do so. I don’t feel that it’s a commitment, I find it to be a true pleasure. It’s an honor to be involved with what has become a Chicago birding institution and I look forward to every Saturday morning. Here’s to the next 50 more years of Wooded Island Bird Walks!
I created an album in my Flickr account to keep all the great photos of the day. Here’s a link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jscatbird/albums/72177720315671414
BIRDERS: Luther, Alan, Pam, Nathan, Mark C., Caterina, Cheryl, Marian, Jennie, Daniela, Paul W., Lucy, Kristin, Paul C., Ashley, Leslie, Judy, Larry, Bruce, Matt, Monica, Renate, Mike.
TIME: 8:00am to 10:20am
WEATHER: High 30s, partly sunny, turning cloudy, light snow and graupel for most of the walk.
Compiler: Cheryl
Photographers: Pam, Eric, Leslie, Doug, Jennie
Link to eBird list: 32 species observed
Remembrance of Paul Douglas by Pat Durkin
Senator Paul H. Douglas – A Remembrance
Last Saturday, March 23, 2024, the Chicago Birding Alliance (formerly known as the Chicago Audubon Society) held a commemorative celebration to honor the fiftieth anniversary of the continuous Jackson Park Wooded Island Bird Walks begun by Doug Anderson in 1974 at the request of Alderman Leon DuPres and with the encouragement of Senator Paul Douglas. The Walks began as a community effort to reclaim Wooded Island from gang territory and were held at least weekly. The Walks were and remain free and open to one and all.
Doug Anderson was called upon to lead the Walks because he was a tall young man with a willingness to take on the assignment. His father, Douglas B. Anderson was Senator Paul Douglas’s administrative aide in his Chicago Office from 1949 to 1967. A small group, armed with a copy of Roger Tory Peterson’s “A Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern and Central North America” met on the Darrow Bridge and proceeded to look for birds, accompanied by a Chicago Police Officer arranged by Alderman DuPres.
Senator Paul Douglas was a champion to the young Doug Anderson. It is fair to say Senator Paul Douglas was a champion for us all. It was Doug who was called upon to disperse the Senator’s ashes after his death in 1976. The Senator instructed that his ashes be scattered on his beloved Wooded Island. As you enter the Japanese Garden on the north end of Wooded Island there is a knoll. Doug dispersed the ashes at the water’s edge below the giant Catalpa Tree that stands today. Thereafter Doug would begin the Wooded Island Bird Walks every spring on March 26th, no matter what day of the week that date fell. March 26th was the birthday of Senator Douglas.
Doug often mentioned Senator Paul Douglas during the Walks. Through Doug’s efforts and support from other birders, notably Dale Pontius, in 1977, the Chicago Park District dedicated the portion of Wooded Island, south of the Japanese Garden as the Paul H. Douglas Nature Sanctuary. There is a sign mounted if you can find it on a pole.
Now for some words about Senator Paul H. Douglas (March 26, 1892 – September 24, 1976).
Senator Douglas was born in Salem, Massachusetts but spent his childhood in the backwoods of Maine. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Bowdoin College, then completed a Master’s degree from Harvard University, followed by a PhD from Columbia University. He was a tall athletic man who enjoyed nature and outdoor life from his youth.
He relocated to Chicago, after the end of his first marriage, to teach economics at the University of Chicago. In 1931 he married a local Chicago woman named Emily Taft, daughter of the sculptor Lorado Taft.
In 1937 the Memorial Day Massacre happened at the Republic Steel South Works. The smaller plants on the southeast side were not given a union contract as workers at larger plants. A gathering of the workers and their families was held outside the plant entrance, located at 117th St and Avenue O. The Company was ready with police and guards. Shouting led to rock throwing, followed by gun fire. Ten people were killed and more than fifty hurt. Two weeks later a protest was held at the plant entrance. Paul Douglas was there along with Dorothy Day and others. Some people thought Paul should be fired from his job at U of C. The strikers lost that day and were fired and blacklisted. In 1942, under the threat of another strike and pressure from the National Labor Relations Board, Republic Steel was forced to pay $20 million in backpay to the striking workers. “In the Fullness of Time’…
Paul Douglas served as a Chicago Alderman from 1939 to 1942. He ran and lost for Illinois US Senator against incumbent Senator C.Wayland Brooks.
In May 1942, at the age of 50, and with Quaker convictions, Paul Douglas enlisted as a private without waivers in the Marine Corps. Paul had political pull with the Secretary of the Navy, Frank Knox, the former Chicago Daily News Publisher and fellow corruption fighter. Paul was the oldest recruit in the history of Parris Island, where the training center is named after him. He entered as a private and left as a Lieutenant Colonel. He was in combat in the Pacific and was severely wounded in his left arm, with a severed main nerve. After fourteen months in hospitals Paul was honorably discharged with a permanent disability. He was awarded two Purple Hearts and Bronze Star.
In 1948 Paul Douglas ran for US Senate once again against Senator Brooks. With wit and a sense of drama he campaigned for six months, traveling over 40,000 miles and giving more than 1,100 speeches. Senator Brooks refused to debate so Douglas debated an empty chair switching seats to provide his and Senator Brooks answers. Paul Douglas won this time with 55% of the votes. (Source Wikepedia) He entered the Senate along with freshman Senators Hubert Humphrey and Lyndon Baines Johnson. These collegial relationships proved beneficial in the Senator’s fight to save the Indiana Dunes.
Often referred to as “Indiana’s Third Senator” Paul Douglas battled tirelessly to save the Indiana Dunes from industrial development. Paul had a summer home in Dune Acres. After LBJ became president, Douglas got the political support to push for a portion of the Indiana Dunes to be preserved. The following is a letter of gratitude from a supporter.
“You should know that I am one of the many who appreciate your toils and efforts in behalf of an Indiana Dunes National Monument. I have known those dunes for more than 40 years and give my blessing and speak earnest prayers for all who are striving for this project. Those dunes are to the Midwest what the Grand Canyon is to Arizona and the Yosmite is to California. They constitute a signature of time and eternity: once loss would be irrevocable. Good going for you!”
Signed Carl Sandburg – June 1958
The last of fifteen books authored or co-authored by Senator Paul Douglas was an autobiography entitled “In the Fullness of Time.” The words are from the Bible, St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians 4: 4-7. Eventually, after a long time and a series of events a mystery will be revealed. The Memorial Day Massacre, World War II, Save the Dunes the end was uncertain as the struggle continued. Words to remember and live by.
A grateful admirer of the late Senator Paul H. Douglas and the late Doug Anderson
Patricia (Pat) Durkin, Retired leader of the Wooded Island Bird Walks.