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Wooded Island Bird Walk

  • Wooded Island, Jackson Park Meet at the west side of the Columbia Basin Chicago, IL, 60637 United States (map)

Hello everyone,

The creatures of the Island were defending their territory today. We saw a flock of Barn Swallows chase a Cooper’s Hawk across the lagoon. That’s one I’ve never seen before! I saw a Chipmunk chase a Robin down a path. And both Mark C. and I were divebombed and smacked on the back of our heads by a very aggressive Red-winged Blackbird in the meadow. No blood was lost by either of us but we sure were startled.

We found the Robin in the Japanese Garden feeding three chicks and Mike found a Yellow Warbler feeding chicks too. Our raccoon family was home and they watched us as we watched them. They are so adorable!

Osaka is back! Our favorite Black-crowned Night Heron was on their perch above the path in the Japanese Garden. It was great to see them again. Of course we don’t really know if it’s the same bird that hung out there last summer, but I choose to believe that it is.

We spotted a Great Crested Flycatcher on the center path of the Island as well as a Hummingbird. House Wrens were singing everywhere. We had a very nice flock of Cedar Waxwings too.

We had an impromptu community service project. Someone had thrown large, gold, shiny plastic paper confetti all over the path near the entrance to the garden. So we all pitched in and picked it up. I just don’t understand why people feel that damaging a natural area is acceptable in the name of a celebration. I know that no one reading this report would do something like that, but please remind people you know that they shouldn’t do something so destructive.

BIRDERS: Luther, Darby, Maddy, Kristin, Marian, Mike, Jennie, Cheryl, Mark C., Caterina, Daniela, Eric, Gary, Mark M., Lucy, Paul, Miyoko, Jane, Larry, Marisa, Renate and welcome to Amy and Aidan

TIME: 8:00am to 12:00pm                 

WEATHER: 62 degrees, mostly cloudy

Compiler: Cheryl

  1. Canada Goose   Number observed: 65

  2. Wood Duck   Number observed: 1

  3. Mallard   Number observed: 8

  4. Chimney Swift   Number observed: 7

  5. Ruby-throated Hummingbird   Number observed: 1

  6. Ring-billed Gull   Number observed: 6

  7. Herring Gull   Number observed: 1

  8. Caspian Tern   Number observed: 2

  9. Double-crested Cormorant   Number observed: 1

  10. Black-crowned Night Heron   Number observed: 3

  11. Green Heron   Number observed: 3

  12. Great Egret   Number observed: 1

  13. Great Blue Heron   Number observed: 3

  14. Cooper's Hawk   Number observed: 1

  15. Northern Flicker   Number observed: 2

  16. Eastern Wood-Pewee   Number observed: 1

  17. Willow Flycatcher   Number observed: 2

  18. Eastern Phoebe   Number observed: 1

  19. Great Crested Flycatcher   Number observed: 1

  20. Eastern Kingbird   Number observed: 9

  21. Warbling Vireo   Number observed: 9

  22. Red-eyed Vireo   Number observed: 1

  23. American Crow   Number observed: 3

  24. Black-capped Chickadee   Number observed: 1

  25. Tree Swallow   Number observed: 3

  26. Purple Martin   Number observed: 13

  27. Northern Rough-winged Swallow   Number observed: 3

  28. Barn Swallow   Number observed: 11

  29. Cliff Swallow   Number observed: 3

  30. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher   Number observed: 6

  31. House Wren   Number observed: 6

  32. European Starling   Number observed: 40

  33. Gray Catbird   Number observed: 4

  34. American Robin   Number observed: 19

  35. Cedar Waxwing   Number observed: 18

  36. House Sparrow   Number observed: 1

  37. House Finch   Number observed: 2

  38. American Goldfinch   Number observed: 7

  39. Song Sparrow   Number observed: 3

  40. Orchard Oriole   Number observed: 6

  41. Baltimore Oriole   Number observed: 7

  42. Red-winged Blackbird   Number observed: 17

  43. Brown-headed Cowbird   Number observed: 4

  44. Common Grackle   Number observed: 2

  45. American Redstart   Number observed: 1

  46. Yellow Warbler   Number observed: 19

  47. Northern Cardinal   Number observed: 3

  48. Indigo Bunting   Number observed: 1

 

If you’d like more information about a bird, check out the All About Birds ID guide:

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/

Corrections, additions and comments are welcome.

Good birding everyone,

Jennie

Photo: Least flycatcher by Sandra Rothenberg

Earlier Event: June 1
Wooded Island Bird Walk
Later Event: June 15
Wooded Island Bird Walk