Banner Photo: Dickcissel Russel D Smith/AudubonPhotography Awards
The Chicago area and in particular the Forest Preserves of Cook County (FPCC) are fortunate to have several different types of natural habitats that birds need to thrive. Where can we find these different habitats, what kinds of birds can be found there at different times of the year, and what efforts are required in those habitats to ensure a continuing supportive environment for birds? These questions and more are answered in “Partnering for Birds,” a free publication created by the Chicago Bird Alliance in collaboration with FPCC, using data from the Bird Conservation Network and eBird. The four different habitats detailed are grasslands (highlighted here), shrublands, woodlands and savannas, and wetlands. Birds of concern found in these habitats are listed, with charts and maps showing the number of species of concern found in each area.
Grasslands
Grassland birds nest on the ground, and thus need large preserves to hide and protect their nests from predators. Many grassland birds will not nest in an area smaller than 50 to 75 acres. The FPCC has over 7,000 acres of grasslands total, with more than 2,000 acres involved in prairie reconstruction projects. The goal is to increase prairie acreage to over 10,000. Birds found in these grasslands include Bobolinks, Eastern Meadowlarks, Henslow’s Sparrows, Grasshopper Sparrows, American Kestrels, Dickcissels, and Northern Harriers. “Partnering for Birds” includes a map showing the various grasslands, and the number of grassland bird species of concern found in them.
Success stories include the transformation of Bartel Grassland, a former farm in southern Cook County, into a haven for grassland birds. Now called the Bartel Grassland and Bobolink Meadow Land, the 985-acre open prairie and wetland complex supports seven grassland bird species of conservation concern, including wintering Northern Harriers and Short-eared Owls, and nesting Bobolinks and grassland sparrow species. The site’s Bobolink numbers during breeding season have doubled, from 128 during the late 1990s to 252 by 2016. The wetter environment also supports populations of wetland birds, from nesting King Rails to migratory shorebirds and waterfowl.
Not far from Brookfield Zoo, Miller Meadow is one of several areas in which the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District excavated drop shafts for the Deep Tunnel and Reservoir Project. When the project was completed, some of the disturbed area was reclaimed as grassland and hosts nesting birds. At least seven species of concern have been found in the relatively small (over 300 acres) forest preserve.
In the northwest corner of Cook County, the Spring Creek Forest Preserve is another example of the transformation from farmland and tree plantations to native prairie habitats. One area of Spring Creek, Galloping Hill, had 40 acres of brush mowed in 2005. Other woody vegetation was removed the following year, creating a single 110-acre field, attracting grassland bird species not likely seen in many years. More recently, additional FPCC acreage was added between Spring Creek and Horizon Farm, allowing for an uninterrupted habitat for birds and other animals.
Results of Woody Vegetation Removal at Galloping Hill
A new project to reestablish wetlands at Paul Douglas Preserve will increase not only current wetlands but also grasslands, as the upland area (formerly hay fields) will be planted with native grasses, sedges, and forbs.
Overall, grassland birds in the Chicago area are declining less rapidly compared to other regions of Illinois, according to a recent analysis by the Bird Conservation Network.
Bobolink Lynn Cleveland/Audubon Photography Awards
Cook County had vast areas of uninterrupted prairies, woodlands, wetlands, and waterways 200 years ago. Now there are only islands of suitable habitats for birds. The FPCC contains the majority of protected natural land in and around Chicago. The challenge is to maintain these niches of resource-rich areas for migrating and breeding birds. The work to restore these areas to become prime bird habitats involves many organizational partners, along with volunteers working alongside area stewards. If you want to become involved, please find a list of opportunities on the FPCC site.
The information in “Partnering for Birds” is informed by the work of the Bird Conservation Network and its 21 member organizations, other birders and bird monitors, researchers, conservation partners, and the ecologists and stewards of the Forest Preserves of Cook County and the broader Chicago region.
Resources
Bird Conservation Network, Breeding Bird Trends of the Chicago Region (1999-2020)