From the Presidential Bird Feeder - Kane County Audubon
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FALL 2018
From the Presidential Bird Feeder
A s I write this in the middle of August, it’s hot outside. At the end of July, there was a fuddle in a cornfield on
Seavey Road that drew many birders—sighted there were American Avocet, White-Rumped Sandpiper,
Willet, and both Red-Necked and Wilson’s Phalaropes. A fuddle is a puddle in a farmer’s field. We visited the
fuddle with our grandkids, and they added five birds to their life lists! The fuddle dried up, and with it, the
sandpipers. We can always hope for rain and with it will come the fuddle and once again shorebirds on their way
south.
In September, some KCA members will head to Springfield to pay tribute to Marilyn Campbell. She was a
long-time executive director of the Illinois Audubon Society and did much to save the society from falling apart
(and from financial ruin). She came to a couple of KCA meetings and entertained us with her birding exploits.
Kath and I miss her friendship.
At upcoming meetings, we will hear about Operation Migration by its director Joe Duff. Two of our members
will present programs about birding not only throughout the U.S., but also in Europe. The first meeting in
September will be our annual potluck dinner. Come eat some great food and be entertained by members’ bird
images. We have some great photographers in our club.
In June, KCA members participated in a restoration effort at Dick Young Forest Preserve. We will continue, at
least once a season, go to local forest preserves to help restore our wild places. Thanks to our “hands-on” activities,
the Kane County Forest Preserve District will not have to cut or burn some choice birding habitat.
Almost every weekend, KCA will be birding somewhere. Check out the calendar of events for dates and
locations. We provide many opportunities to learn about birding and places to bird—come and join us. The
Christmas Bird Counts (Fermi and Big Rock) are great opportunities to get out and participate as a citizen scientist.
Check out the newsletter for contact people.
If you are not receiving notices about our “rambles” (spontaneous bird walks throughout the year), or have not
been getting newsletters by email, please contact me.
Good birding!
—Bob Andrini
East Coast Birding Trip Yields 139 Species
O n May 23, 14 KCA members embarked on our seventh out-
of-state birding tour. The destination was the eastern
seashore of the U.S. We start in Cape May, NJ, and birded down
the coast, visiting well-known spots such as Bombay Hook
National Wildlife Refuge in Delaware; Chincoteague National
Wildlife Refuge in Virginia; and Cape Hatteras and the Croatan
National Forest of eastern North Carolina. What an adventure it
proved to be!
The first two days were spent in and around Cape May,
mostly in pursuit of shorebirds, and nobody was disappointed.
Tens of thousands of shorebirds congregate
May and June are the prime months for the horseshoe crab annually near Cape May, NJ. Photos by Paul
migration into the Delaware Bay area, where they move onto the Mayer
beaches to deposit their eggs. These eggs, which are laid by the
millions, are an important food source for migrating shorebirds and were they ready! Literally tens of thousands of
Semipalmated Sandpipers, Semipalmated Plovers, Black-Bellied Plovers, Red Knots, Dunlin, Short-Billed
Dowitchers and an occasional White-Rumped Sandpiper covered the beaches in hot pursuit of the crab eggs. It was
awesome to watch the birds simultaneously take flight, fly out over the water, and then return to the beaches to
continue feeding. The topper was to witness a group of banders at their trade as they mist-netted and banded 30 to
100 birds per day. Everyone got to witness the process and even helped to release some birds.
During a boat trip out of Cape Hatteras, KCA members spotted myriad pelagic birds, including Wilson’s
Storm Petrel (right) and Black-Capped Petrel.
The second stop of the trip was quickly determined when an alert
came across eBird that a Ruff had appeared at Bombay Hook NWR.
After a two-hour morning ferry ride across Delaware Bay and another
hour or so up the Delaware coast, we arrived at Bombay Hook, eager
to add a Code 3 lifer for just about everyone. The bird was quickly
located thanks to other birders already at the spot and on the bird.
Because of its distance and coloration it was tough to find, but once
on it, the differences in size and plumage from the sandpipers and
dowitchers were obvious. For the rest of the afternoon, Bombay Hook
provided a nice variety of shorebirds, as well as herons, egrets,
passerines, and Bald Eagles to cap off a very good day. Red-Cockaded Woodpecker
Chincoteague NWR would be the next stop, with Piping Plover
the main target bird for the day. There’s always some good news and
bad news. The bad news was that it was Saturday of Memorial Day
weekend and Chincoteague is a major vacation spot for much of
Virginia, Maryland and Delaware. Thousands of people and their cars
filled the roads and beaches, making getting around and finding good
birds challenging. The good news was that the Piping Plover was
fairly quickly located in a protected nesting area. The remainder of the
afternoon was spent picking up a few target passerines, including
Yellow-Throated Warbler, Brown-Headed Nuthatch, Great-Crested
Flycatcher, Carolina Wren and Blue Grosbeak.
The next morning found us at Eastern Shore of Virginia NWR, Sandpipers feast on the eggs of horse-
where a good mix of marsh birds and passerines was found. Do you shoe crabs near Cape May, NJ.
know how hard it can be to see a Clapper Rail, even if it’s not more
than 15 feet away? We stood along a roadside marsh for perhaps a half hour looking to see one of these elusive
birds. Several were vocalizing beautifully, but there was not a feather to be seen! However, that was made up for
with good sightings of a Scarlet Tanager and a Yellow-Billed Cuckoo.
If you’ve never been on a pelagic trip in the Atlantic Ocean in May, it’s quite a treat. Eight members embarked
on the trip and spent 12 hours riding in 3- to 6-foot seas in a 75-foot boat. It was a fairly rough day, especially for
those who got a little queasy. But the trip did have its rewards. Added to our trip list were Leach’s Storm-Petrel,
Wilson’s Storm Petrel, Band-Rumped Storm Petrel, Cory’s Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater, Black-Capped Petrel
and Audubon’s Shearwater. So the birds were good despite the weather. To quote one of those who went: “It’s like
childbirth. When you’re going through it you swear you’ll never do it again. But then later on, well…”
We then made our way to the last stop, the Croatan National Forest in southeastern North Carolina. There were
now four big targets left that everyone wanted to see: Red-Cockaded Woodpecker, Bachman’s Sparrow, Worm-
Eating Warbler and Swainson’s Warbler. The first two came quickly and within the first half-hour, both the
woodpecker and the sparrow had been found in the piney woods that dominated the landscape. A more remote spot
yielded the Worm-Eating Warbler, albeit by sound only. The Swainson’s was the one that got away. That one’s
being saved for next time.
Overall, the group saw 139 species, with 120 cumulative lifers, many of which were obtained on the pelagic
trip out of Hatteras.
A final word: We were in the heart of seafood country, and many took copious advantage of that fact. Oysters,
crabs and shrimp were enjoyed almost daily. Add to that great companionship, visiting new areas of the country,
and some fabulous birding. It doesn’t get much better than that.
—Paul Mayer
Fall Is for Chimney Swifts
F or many, autumn is a time to look forward to cooler
temperatures, beautiful color changes and apple cider.
Autumn is also when Chimney Swifts congregate in large
groups as they migrate more than 4,000 miles to Peru,
Ecuador, Chile and Brazil. For “swifters”—people who love
Chimney Swifts—autumn is when we keep our eyes to the
skies and participate in KCA’s annual Swift Night Out and
Chimney Swift Sit events.
Occurring Sept. 7-9, the Swift Night Out, is a continent-
wide effort to raise awareness about Chimney Swifts and
KCA is seeking volunteers to count Chimney
Vaux’s Swifts (in the Rocky Mountain area and west). This
Swifts at fall roosting sites throughout Kane
is done by locating and monitoring Chimney Swift roosting County.
sites. The project was originally inspired by John Connors,
formerly with the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh, NC. Paul and Georgean Kyle, who have
rehabbed Chimney Swifts for over 25 years, further developed the program for the Chimney Swift Conservation
Association. To learn more about them and see past results, visit their webpage at www.ChimneySwifts.com.
We need volunteers to help. It’s fun and easy. Help Swifts by locating, reporting and counting their roosting
spots. Start now by looking to the skies around sunset and watch for Swifts. Follow them in the direction they are
flying. Sometimes it takes more than one night to find the exact location they go to roost. That’s OK. It’s fun to
search and explore!
Once you have a roost located, let us know, pick a night (Sept. 7, 8 or 9) and watch from 20 minutes before
sunset until all birds have gone in, usually 20 to 30 minutes after sunset. You can help out one, two or three nights.
You can count the same structure each night, or find different ones each night. Every count is important. It’s OK if
more than one person counts the same roost on the same night. We take the average number. Anyone who has
watched Swifts go to roost knows they can fool you by flying close to the top of the chimney and without entering
it. Many eyes keep our counting numbers accurate.
If it’s raining, the Swift’s behavior is less predictable. They may go to roost well before sunset. Adjust your
observation time accordingly or reschedule for another night.
Last year, we had many roosts that were not counted due to low participation. We hope we can do better this
year and turn many new people into “Swifters.” We also hope to learn about new roosting spots.
Please help! It does take a community to conserve our Chimney Swifts. Do you want to help, but just can’t find
a roost? No problem! We have some for you to count. Just call Rich or Marion Miller at 630-291-2690 or email us
at MySwiftHelp@gmail.com.
Also remember to report your roosting numbers, date counted, and the address of the roosting spot to us. We
will enter them into the Kyle’s data base.
The Chimney Swift Sit is a sunset party at one designated roosting site. On Saturday, Sept. 15, we will gather
near a roosting chimney with our chairs and talk Swifts. We invite family, neighbors and friends to experience one
of nature’s spectacular shows. It’s exhilarating to watch hundreds or even thousands of these cigar-shaped birds fly
in changing patterns with stealth and speed around a chimney opening and ending with
an impressive finale of a bird-filled funnel pouring into the chimney.
The show begins slowly about 20 minutes before sunset as we hear and see a few
Chimney Swifts in the area. As the sun begins to slip beyond the horizon, the number of
Swifts flying around the chimney increases. Swifts begin entering to roost. The crowd
often starts counting out loud. The chittering, flying Swifts become louder as more
begin flying into the area. Excitement mounts as the number of birds arriving around the
chimney often doubles or triples.
This year’s Chimney
More Swifts begin entering the chimney in groups of 10 to 20 in what seems like Swift Sit is set for Sept.
increasing speed. The audible counting stops to be replaced with oohs and ahhs from the 15. Photo by Matthew
crowd as their eyes follow the Swifts. The birds rapidly circle around the chimney and Winks
then reverse direction, or they follow a figure 8 pattern, or quickly, en masse, leave the
airspace to only return moments later.
Serious counters will miss these aerial acrobatics as they intently focus on the small square brick opening of the
chimney. Usually 20 to 30 minutes after sunset, when the final funnel of Swifts has entered the chimney, the
counters, sometimes with some eye strain and a slight headache but still smiling, will call out that final number:
4,375. The crowd claps in unison and then often a few minutes later will yell, “There’s one more,” as they witness
one or two silent Chimney Swifts slip into the chimney. The official recorder is happy to erase the called-out
number to make an adjustment for these late arrivals.
Don’t miss the show this year. The sit will take place Sept. 15. (or Sept. 16, in the event of rain). Check the
KCA website or the “Chimney Swifts over the Fox Valley and Beyond” Facebook page for the location of this
year’s Chimney Swift Sit. If roosting numbers are high, we may have more than one sit on different dates at
different locations. It’s a grand way to spend a cool autumn evening.
—Marion Miller
KCA’s ‘Life List’ Nears 600
T his past spring and summer, KCA added a few birds to its life list. It now stands at an amazing 585 species.
Our trip this year to the East Coast, with its pelagic outing, netted about eight additions to the list, including
Wilson’s Storm-Petrel; Audubon’s and Cory’s Shearwater; and Seaside Sparrow). Our trip to Southern Illinois also
added a couple of new ones: Barn Owl and Chuck-Will’s Widow. Both trips had their “environmental”
problems—very rough water on the pelagic trip and very hot days in Southern Illinois—but participants
overlooked the problems and birded on.
Thanks to Paul Mayer, who organizes our trips to distant places, the KCA Life List has grown year after year.
For the year, KCA has 255 species—and we still have a few months left to add more birds.
—Bob Andrini
Want to Visit the Pribilof Islands With KCA?
I n the past, the KCA has gone to some amazing places for birding adventures, including Alaska. Recently, there
have been a few inquiries from members to see if it’s possible to go even farther. So this is an inquiry to see
how much interest exists. Would you be interested in birding St. Paul Island in the Pribilof Islands of Alaska?
Located in the middle of the Bering Sea, St. Paul Island is approximately 770 miles west-southwest of
Anchorage. It takes approximately 3.5 hours to get there in a twin-prop airplane.
The reason birders go to St. Paul is to view birds that can be seen in few other places in the ABA area,
including the casuals and accidentals that often fly in from Asia. Code 3, 4 and 5 Asian rarities have included such
species as Hawfinch, Dusky Thrush, Wood Sandpiper, Kamchatka Leaf Warbler, White-Tailed Eagle, Taiga
Flycatcher, Dark-sided Flycatcher and Common Chiffchaff. All those species have been seen in the fall seasons
over the past 10 years, so if you want to try to add ABA rarities to your life list, St. Paul is the place to go.
All birding on the island is done under the leadership of professional guides who also provide all transportation.
Although not overly strenuous, participants should be able to hike at least a mile over moderate terrain.
The trip would be planned for mid- to late September 2019. A visit to the island of six days and five nights
would cost approximately $4,500 per person. This would include:
Roundtrip airfare from Chicago to Anchorage.
Roundtrip airfare from Anchorage to St. Paul Island.
Housing on St. Paul (shared rooms), three meals per day, guide service, and all land transportation on the
island.
Overnight lodging and meals during transit through Anchorage.
This is only an inquiry to determine if sufficient interest exists to plan for such a trip. We would need a
minimum of 10 people and a maximum of 14. Final costs would be determined by the number of people going. If
this interests you, contact me at mayersbirds@comcast.net or call at 630-209-6019. If there is interest, a formal
registration process would take place at the end of this year.
—Paul Mayer
KCA Sponsors Trip to Duluth in January
U sually when one thinks about birding, the vision is warm. The leaves are
green, and the birds are singing. But there’s another time to get some
really good birds, and that’s in the middle of winter. This January, KCA will
venture to Duluth, MN, in search of far northern birds that we get little chance
to see in Illinois.
The five-day trip will begin on Monday, Jan. 21, 2019, from St. Charles.
We will spend almost the entire first day caravanning up to Duluth. The next
three days will be spent birding with a local guide, Kim Risen, who is very
knowledgeable about the area and knows where to find the birds we’re
seeking. The return trip will be Friday, Jan. 25.
Our list of target species includes Great Grey Owl, Northern Hawk Owl,
Bohemian Waxwing, Pine Grosbeak, Black-Backed Woodpecker, Three-Toed
Woodpecker, Boreal Chickadee, White-Winged Crossbill, Red Crossbill,
Northern Shrike, Sharp-Tailed Grouse, Ruffed Grouse and Spruce Grouse.
Boreal Owl and Gyrfalcon are also possible.
The Great Grey Owl is among
The trip will be limited to 11 people. The cost will be $770 per person,
the target species of KCA’s
which includes all transportation, the guide fee, and lodging along with January expedition to Duluth,
breakfast. As in the past, meals will be on an individual basis. Vans will depart MN. Photo by Kim Risen
St. Charles from the Enterprise Car Rental on the west side of town on Route
38 near Randall Road. Departure time will be 8 a.m., and the trip is expected to take about seven hours arriving in
Duluth around dinnertime.
If you’re interested in going, here’s how to get started:
If you are getting this newsletter via email, click on this link to “Winter Wonderland.” Read the general
information page, the detailed itinerary, and the registration and indemnity forms. Then, if all looks good,
call or email me at 630-209-6019 or mayersbirds@comcast.net and let him know of your desire to go.
Your name will be put on the list.
If you are getting this newsletter via USPS and want to go, call Paul Mayer at 630-209-6019 and let him
know. He will put your name on the list and send you copies of the general information, itinerary and
registration and indemnity forms.
With 11 participants, the trip will cost $770 per person. You will have 10 days after contacting Paul to submit
your registration form along with a deposit of $200. The remaining $570 is due Nov. 10. Details are found on the
information page.
We must have a minimum of eight and a maximum of 11 participants for the trip. If a minimum of eight people
are not signed up by Nov. 10, the trip will not go.
Space will be allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis. Once the limit of 11 participants has been reached, a
standby list will be established in case anyone drops out.
—Paul Mayer
KCA Potluck Dinner
O ur Sept. 12 meeting will start with our annual potluck dinner. As we have done in the past, KCA will provide
the main entrée (chicken or barbequed beef), and members will provide the sides. What you bring depends
on the first letter of your last name: A-I, bring a dessert; J-R, bring a salad; S-Z, bring a vegetable dish.
The dinner begins at 6 p.m. at Hickory Knolls Discovery Center. We will continue to go green at our dinner, so
bring your own plate, fork, knife, spoon, napkins and cup. We encourage you to bring items that are not
disposable, along with a nondisposable serving dish. Please be sure to bring a serving spoon for your dish. We will
provide the drinks.
Members are invited to share their favorite nature and bird photographs with the group after the meal. Please
limit your selections to a maximum of 15 images. If you have images to be shown by computer, please get those to
me before the meeting (on a thumb drive), so I can download them to my computer. This way, the program will
flow smoothly. Members can also bring prints of their favorite nature pictures.
At this meeting, there will be no raffle, but if you have an item to donate, bring it for future meetings.
If you have any questions, please call me at 630-624-8387.
—Bob Andrini
eBird Launches October “Global Big Day”
F ollowing the success of its past four “Global Big Days” in May, eBird is launching a fall Global Big Day to
capture data from a different time of year. To be held Saturday, Oct. 6, the goal of the project is to create a
snapshot of bird species, numbers and distribution on one day in October.
Participants are invited to bird all day or just for a few minutes and submit their sightings to eBird.
The data gathered from such worldwide counts give scientists a good idea about the status of bird populations
and some idea about the status of the environment. This is another way that we can be citizen scientists and can
involve others in our favorite hobby.
The Global Big Day in May has set records every year in terms of both participants and species counts. During
this year’s event, which took place May 5, 28,000 people in 170 countries participated. An amazing 6,899 species
of birds were sighted from 1.6 million checklists! The U.S. reported 717 species from 43,236 checklists.
For a recap of this year’s Global Big Day in May, click https://tinyurl.com/y8nwpclz.
—Regina McNulty
Warblers Dazzle Birders During KCA Trip to Southern Illinois
O n a hot, steamy weekend in June, 13 heat-
proof birders met up in Southern Illinois for a
wonderful weekend of birding with local guide
Keith McMullen.
The birding began early Saturday morning
when the group headed to the Pomona Natural
Bridge area of Shawnee National Forest, where we
got great looks at Worm-Eating, Kentucky,
Cerulean, Hooded and Pine Warbler among others.
The list grew steadily as did the temperatures as
we birded each new area. Fish crows, Mississippi
Kites, Louisiana Water Thrush, Little Blue Heron,
Black Vulture. Back at the hotel, we cooled off
before heading out for a delicious dinner at 17th
Street BBQ before heading back out to Fern Clyffe KCAers got great looks at Least Bittern during a June
State Park for some night birding. Chuck-Will’s trip to Southern Illinois. Photo by John Sprovieri
Widow called and put on a show in the gloom.Whip-Poor-Wills and Barred Owls called, but Eastern Screech Owl refused to join in.
Another early start the next morning had the group heading to Mermet Lake, where great views of a Least
Bittern were eclipsed by a river otter. Driving around the water lily strewn lake, new birds were added, including
Yellow-Breasted Chat and Pileated Woodpecker. The temperature began to climb, and we broiled in the sun on a
gravel road staring intently at a nest box containing a barn owl. Some saw a face, some saw a wing, some just saw
the results of some housecleaning flying out of the box.
As the thermometer hovered near 100 F, our last stop was the Cache River Boardwalk through an amazing
swamp of cypress and tupelo trees, where we went through the bird list, took a group photo and hurried back to
air conditioning and the long drive home.
—Regina McNulty
Meetings, Walks and Events
Saturday, Sept. 1, 7 a.m., Bird Walk
Nelson Lake/Dick Young Forest Preserve, Batavia.
Leader: Theresa LeCompte, 630-896-7087
Sept. 7-9, the Swift Night Out
Multiple locations. Volunteer to count migrating Chimney Swifts at their fall roost sites throughout Kane County.
Leaders: Rich and Marion Miller, 630-406-8090.
Saturday, Sept. 8, 7 a.m., Bird Walk
Shorebird trek. Meet at 7 a.m. in the parking lot of James O. Breen Community Park in St. Charles. We will
carpool to appropriate habitats.
Leader: TBA
Wednesday, Sept. 12, 6 p.m., KCA monthly meeting
Hickory Knolls Discovery Center, St. Charles.
Our annual potluck dinner and members’ photo share. We will provide fried chicken and barbecue beef. Members
provide salads, veggies and desserts.
Saturday, Sept. 15, 7:30 a.m., Bird Walk
Brunner Forest Preserve, Carpentersville. The Fox River and open fields make this a great location to see
migrating hawks and other birds.
Leader: Walter Lutz, 847-468-1709
Saturday, Sept. 15, 6:30 p.m., Chimney Swift Sit
Location: TBA. Check KCA’s website for location.
Leaders: Rich and Marion Miller, 630-406-8090.
Saturday, Sept. 22, 7 a.m., Bird Walk
Dixon Waterfowl Refuge at Hennepin & Hopper Lakes, Hennepin, IL. Meet at 7 a.m. in the parking lot of James
O. Breen Community Park in St. Charles. We will carpool to the refuge, which will take approximately 1 hour, 45
minutes. We’ll be looking for waterfowl and other migrants. For more information, on the refuge, visit
https://tinyurl.com/y95dy79v.
Leaders: John Sprovieri and Regina McNulty, 630-776-0924
Sunday, Sept. 30, 8 a.m., Bird Walk
Tekakwitha Forest Preserve, St. Charles. The season is changing. What birds are new and what birds are still here?
Leader: Jon J. Duerr, 630-584-5891Saturday, Oct. 6, 8 a.m., Bird Walk Nelson Lake/Dick Young Forest Preserve, Batavia. Leader: Theresa LeCompte, 630-896-7087 Wednesday, Oct. 10, 6 p.m., KCA monthly meeting Hickory Knolls Discovery Center, St. Charles. “Operation Migration,” Joe Duff, co-founder and CEO, Operation Migration. Learn how Operation Migration is helping to bring the Whooping Crane back from the brink of extinction. Saturday, Oct. 13, 8 a.m., Bird Walk Hickory Knolls Natural Area, St. Charles. Leader: TBA Sunday, Oct. 14, 8 a.m., Bird Walk Oakhurst Forest Preserve, Aurora. We’ll look for migrating ducks. Leader: Wes Sadler, 312-622-0023 Saturday, Oct. 20, 8 a.m., Bird Walk Great Western Trail at Hanson Road, Campton Township. Winter Finches possible? Leader: TBA Saturday, Oct. 20, 10 a.m.-noon, Forest Preserve Work Day Nelson Lake/Dick Young Forest Preserve (Main Street entrance), Batavia. Help restore prime bird habitat by helping forest preserve staff clear invasive species. Leader: Tim Balassie, 630-513-7345 Saturday, Oct. 27, 8 a.m., Bird Walk Bliss Woods Forest Preserve, Sugar Grove. This forest and forest-edge walk is on a paved, all-weather trail. Leader: Mary Ochsenschlager, 630-643-4922 Saturday, Nov. 3, 8 a.m., Bird Walk Nelson Lake/Dick Young Forest Preserve, Batavia. Leader: Theresa LeCompte, 630-896-7087 Saturday, Nov. 10, 8 a.m., Bird Walk Gray Willows Park, Campton Township. Birds of winter. Leader: Tim Balassie, 630-513-7345 Wednesday, Nov. 14, 7 p.m., KCA monthly meeting Hickory Knolls Discovery Center, St. Charles. “50,000 Birds in 50 Hours,” Bryan Cook and Tracy Finnegan. Accomplished photographers Bryan and Tracy travel throughout the United States for their business. Along the way, they’ve visited some of this country’s best birdwatching locations. This presentation recaps how they managed to see 50,000 birds in 50 hours. Saturday, Nov. 17, 8 a.m., Bird Walk Stewart Park, Plano. The stream at this park attracts winter birds. Leaders: Bob and Cathy Andrini, 630-624-8387
Saturday, Dec. 1, 8 a.m., Bird Walk
Nelson Lake/Dick Young Forest Preserve, Batavia.
Leader: Theresa LeCompte, 630-896-7087
Saturday, Dec. 8, 8 a.m., Bird Walk
Tyler Creek Forest Preserve, Elgin. Winter resident birds.
Leader: Walter Lutz, 847-468-1709
Wednesday, Dec. 12, 7 p.m., KCA monthly meeting
Hickory Knolls Discovery Center, St. Charles.
“Spring Migration in Europe: Morocco to Iberia and Beyond,”
John Sprovieri and Regina McNulty. Just as North America’s
birds spend the winter in South and Central America, Europe’s Do you know this bird? You will if you at-
birds overwinter in Africa. The Strait of Gibraltar is one of their tend “Spring Migration in Europe: Morocco
primary crossing points to and from the “Dark Continent.” In this to Iberia and Beyond,” a presentation by
photo-filled presentation, John and Regina track the spring John Sprovieri and Regina McNulty at
migration of raptors, shorebirds, warblers and other species from KCA’s December meeting.
Morocco to Spain and Portugal.
Saturday, Dec. 15, all day, Christmas Bird Count, Fermi Circle
Multiple locations.
Leader: Jon J. Duerr, 630-584-5891
Sunday, Dec. 16, all day, Christmas Bird Count, Big Rock Circle
Multiple locations.
Leader: Tim Balassie, 630-513-7345
Saturday, Dec 22, 8 a.m., Bird Walk
Fabyan Forest Preserve, Batavia.
Leader: TBA
Tuesday, Jan 1, 9 a.m., Bird Walk
Hickory Knolls Natural Area, St. Charles. What will be your first bird of the year?
Leader: TBA
Kane County Audubon, A Chapter of Illinois Audubon
Chapter President Bob Andrini, 630-584-8386
Vice President John Sprovieri
Secretary Nancy Schnaitman
Treasurer Jane McMillan
Program Chair Chuck Peterson
Field Trips Jon Duerr
Historian Jerry Hope
Hospitality Sue Peterson, Carol Ludemann
Website Chris Madsen
Publicity Sue Wagoner
Ink Cartridges Cheryl Hayes
IAS Representative Chuck Peterson
KCA website WWW.KANECOUNTYAUDUBON.ORGAnatomy of a Local Hot Spot
DuPage Tech Ponds and Pella Ponds
2.
3.
9. 1.
4.
8.
5.
7. 6.
I deally, we could bird anywhere we want, whenever we want, for as long as we want. Alas, other obligations
often keep us from the woods.
That’s why I love the DuPage Tech ponds and Pella Ponds in West Chicago. They’re a great place to check if
you’ve only got an hour or two, and you need to scratch that birding itch. Inclement weather? No worries! The
ponds are perfect car birding. On weekends, there’s no traffic, so you can pull over, roll down your window, and
get out your “bins.” Or, stop and set up your scope. I visit these surprisingly productive ponds several times each
year.
The ponds are located east of Kirk Road, between Roosevelt Road and Fabyan Parkway. Visit in spring and
fall, during waterfowl migration. Ring-Necked Duck, Redhead, Canvasback, Green-Winged Teal, Black Duck,
Coot, Scaup, Common Merganser, Hooded Merganser, and Bufflehead are among the species that can be spotted.
Here’s the skinny:
1. The main pond is the first spot to check for waterfowl.
2. The small side ponds hold waterfowl, too. This one is a reliable spot for Willow Flycatcher in summer. Hard to
see, but easy to hear.
3. This pond is less productive than others, but has held Common Loon, Pied-Bill Grebe and Gadwall.
4. Large “fluddles” are often productive for snipe and shorebirds.
5. A small parking area provides limited views of a wetland with waterfowl and shorebirds.
6. With a scope, you can see nesting Red-Tail Hawks.
7. Great place for ducks. Use a scope.
8. Check the ditch along the side of the road for close-up views of snipe.
9. Check hay bales, trees and lamp-posts for Red-Tailed Hawk, Northern Harrier, American Kestrel and Northern
Shrike (in winter).
—John SprovieriYou can also read
