Entries Tagged 'Callaway Nature Preserve' ↓

Sometimes, you don’t have to do much to get kids excited about birdwatching (or adults for that matter). The “common” birds are a great way to show off how awesome birds are to anyone. Caring for these commoners helps build a lasting desire to protect the creatures you care about, creating future and lasting conservationists.

As luck would have it, the Callaway Nature Preserve was blessed with a pair of Downy Woodpeckers attempting to nest in our birch tree. Over the last two weeks we have observed at least two young woodpeckers (a male and female) peering out of their hole in eager anticipation for their parents to arrive with food. The variety of insects brought to them has been astounding - from green caterpillars to spiders to things with more legs than we’d like to count.

Sammie and Dakota, two of the young Birdfreaks, have come home from school all last week, eager to run out to the “Downy Chairs” we set up for them to watch the action. They have noted that the Downies will “clean up their house” and that the young Downies get loud and excited when food arrives.

Cleaning the nest hole

Downy Woodpeckers might be common, but they are one of the most common species of backyard birds that may be encountered. They are easily observed and relatively fearless (our Doberman would sprint by on his invisible race track while a feeding would be taking place). Even if you aren’t a birder yet, it doesn’t take long to be impressed with the actions of these wonderful woodpeckers.

Female Downy Woodpecker

Male Downy Woodpecker

With many eyes watching the past few days, it was Dakota who alone witnessed the young male Downy fledge. The woodpecker made his way high up in one of our maples before sallying to the giant elm where he could be heard but not seen well. The family has since quieted down and become nearly impossible to see, but from our viewpoint, they were successful and provided us a great learning tool for the kids (and us too!).

The Callaway Nature Preserve recorded a number of new species this spring, including our 100th bird!

The Philadelphia Vireo is officially our 100th species for the CNP Life List, a bird that is difficult to photograph. We have since past the 100 mark and also had an amazing influx of new birds on Memorial Day after a storm passed through.

Black-billed Cuckoo - A new CNP Lifer!

The storm arrived some time Sunday night and we received almost 1.5 inches of rain. Apparently, it also rained birds! We were alerted early in the morning by a Scarlet Tanager singing his heart out and within a few minutes of sitting outside, we heard the distinct call of a Yellow-billed Cuckoo.

We could hardly believe our eyes when we saw the cuckoo perched near a power pole. If that shock wasn’t enough, later in the afternoon a Black-billed Cuckoo arrived. We had dreamed of cuckoos in the backyard but never really thought it would happen (unless you count neighbors )

New Monday Arrivals

1. Eastern Wood-Pewee
2. Veery
3. Great-crested Flycatcher
4. Gray-cheeked Thrush
5. Ruby-throated Hummingbird
6. Tufted Titmouse (we don’t get these guys often!)

Also New Monday and New for the CNP Life List

1. Blue-headed Vireo (101)
2. Yellow-billed Cuckoo (102)
3. Canada Warbler (103)
4. Black-billed Cuckoo (104)
5. Tree Swallow (105)
6. Bald Eagle (106)

Yellow-billed Cuckoo - A new CNP Lifer!

This has been an amazing year at the Callaway Nature Preserve so far! We just never know what might show up during migration.

Migration seems to be delayed by 5-10 days in our area but has been steady and extremely enjoyable. This past week we have had more new year birds for the Callaway Nature Preserve.

One of the highlights was a group of Wilson’s Warblers, a little yellow warbler with a neat black cap that looks like slicked back hair.

Wilson’s Warbler - taken at a forest preserve, not our backyard

Note: Updated photo because originally posted the same one as the other day

The other major highlight was a Black-throated Blue Warbler that hung around all day Wednesday.

Other notable birds included: Chestnut-sided and Magnolia Warblers, Ovenbird, Swainson’s and Gray-cheeked Thrushes, and a lot of activity with the local nesters: Downy Woodpecker, Gray Catbird, House Wren, and Northern Cardinal.

Water-logged Ovenbird

Another week at the Callaway Nature Preserve and we are still finding warblers and other migrants. Two new species have arrived, a Yellow Warbler and a Philadelphia Vireo which is new for the Callaway Nature Preserve Life List! (number 98!) There are more nesting hopefuls…one very energetic pair of Gray Catbirds and a busy Common Grackle that was spotted gathering shavings from the fallen Willow Tree.

A pair of Scarlet Tanagers gave a surprise courtship display right on the cable wire and while they probably won’t nest here, maybe they will find a suitable nearby forest preserve.

Male Scarlet Tanager

On the plant side of things, the Wild Columbine and Wild Geranium are blooming alongside the Bluebells. The Cupplants (aka bird magnets) are growing fast. It is going to be a wild year at the CNP!

Swainson’s Thrush, hanging out at the CNP

This past week has ranged in temperature from 37 to 80. It has rained, stormed, and gone from high to low humidity and then back to high. Through it all, the birds are still traveling. Warbler fever is definately going around here in Northern Illinois….does anyone else feel a bit crazy yet?

Friday started off a big sweep of new species for the year at the Callaway Nature Preserve. Scarlet Tanager, Indigo Bunting, Nashville and Chestnut-sided Warbler were a few of the first to be spotted.

Indigo Bunting Bathtime

Magnolia, Blue-winged and Golden-winged Warblers arrived just yesterday morning, singing and eating. A Common Yellowthroat and Nashville Warbler continuously sang for about six hours Wednesday, along with White-throated Sparrows, American Robins, and American Goldfinches chiming in. Occasionally adding to the mix were Red-eyed Vireo and Gray Catbird. A very nice melody!

Lincoln’s Sparrow

The most exciting this week? A brand new bird altogether for the CNP; Lincoln’s Sparrow! He has been hanging around with the White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows. Swainson’s Thrush and Veery are back, maybe they will be singing in the morning, one of the best song combos to hear in the spring.

Magnolia Warbler

New Arrivals

1. Baltimore Oriole
2. Black-and-white Warbler
3. Blue-winged Warbler
4. Chestnut-sided Warbler
5. Chipping Sparrow
6. Common Yellowthroat
7. Golden-winged Warbler
8. Gray Catbird
9. Indigo Bunting
10. Lincoln’s Sparrow
11. Magnolia Warbler
12. Nashville Warbler
13. Red-eyed Vireo
14. Rose-breasted Grosbeak
15. Scarlet Tanager
16. Tennessee Warbler
17. White-crowned Sparrow
18. Yellow-throated Vireo

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Female Rose-breasted Grosbeak

We’ve hit the proverbial wall at the Callaway Nature Preserve. This past week we’ve had no new migrating birds besides the hoards of ravenous White-throated Sparrows. After the excitement of the willow tree collapse, the birding has been the opposite - boring!

But we suspect some Northern Cardinals are on eggs and the White-breasted Nuthatches are salvaging what’s left of their seed stores in the now horizontal willow tree. We feel the waves of thrushes are eminent!

With the lack of birds we took some photos of some of our native plants.

White Trillium

Trillium (not sure which, maybe Prairie)

Common Oak Sedge

Another Thursday, another week of new migrants. An Eastern Towhee made an appearance (finally!) along with a Brown Thrasher and the ever aggressive House Wren is back. Monday brought in almost a dozen Ruby-crowned Kinglets and a few more Hermit Thrushes as well.

The Downy Woodpecker couple is still working on their hole.

The highlights this week are the returning and budding plants, such as the Wild Columbine and Bluebells. The dripper has been put out and we eagerly await the next wave of migrants.

White-throated Sparrow

New Spring Arrivals

1. House Wren
2. Northern Flicker
3. Eastern Towhee
4. Brown Thrasher