Bird Blitz 2011: Spring Creek

For the blitz, we divided Spring Creek Forest Preserve into 40 units, sub-divided into 270 single habitat sub-units. The total acreage of the preserve is slightly over 3900 acres. Approximately 1250 acres of this are forest (i.e., reforestation and unassociated woody growth); 475 acres are oak woodland (mostly overgrown); 775 acres are shrubland (almost exclusively buckthorn, honeysuckle and gray dogwood); 850 acres is grassland (including large restored and managed areas); and 550 acres are wetlands (lakes, marshes, sedge meadows). The first teams went out on surveys on June 5, the last on June 24.

Some general observations

The returns on nesting birds of concern (BOC) seem to indicate that shrublands were the most productive and wetlands the least productive. The only BOC not found in the shrublands was Bell's vireo, a species quite rare in our area. Vesper sparrow, found by only one team, doesn't have good nesting habitat at Spring Creek. A single yellow-breasted chat was a disappointment because this species does nest in our area in small numbers. The numbers of black-billed cuckoos (with confirmed nesting behavior), willow flycatchers and blue-winged warblers met or exceeded expectations.

Similarly, the numbers of forest BOCs were encouraging, especially yellow-billed cuckoos. Those not encountered – whip-poor-will, cerulean warbler and prothonotary warbler – were probably not to be expected. The habitat for red-headed woodpecker, once fairly common in Spring Creek, has since disappeared except in one small area on the edge of the preserve; during the blitz period one red-headed woodpecker was seen at a feeder on private property near this area.

Grassland returns of BOCs, especially in managed areas, were very good, though this is not a surprise to those who bird Spring Creek regularly. Those that weren't reported weren't to be expected. The preserve lacks habitat for western meadowlark; nesting harriers, Swainson's hawks and short-eared owls are found only in isolated spots in our area. Sedge wrens are probably more abundant in the preserve than our numbers show because this species increases here in late June and July – mostly after the blitz was completed.

The greatest disappointment, of course, was wetland birds. Spring Creek has abundant wetlands, and although these are overrun with cattails, common reed and reed canary grass, we had hoped to find more than we did. Serious attempts to find rails produced nothing. Numbers of black-crowned night-herons were surprisingly low. Marsh wrens, which like cattails, were present in decent numbers. And, of course, most satisfying was the evidence of nesting sandhill cranes (not strictly a wetland species).

Also satisfying was the dozen or so unexpected birds reported: red-shouldered hawk, broad-winged hawk, Acadian flycatcher, mourning warbler, Kentucky warbler, hooded warbler, northern parula, clay-colored sparrow, lark sparrow, summer tanager, blue grosbeak and others.

(You may wish to download this report suitable for printing.)

 

 

 

 

 

Chicago Wilderness Habitat Project
1718 Sherman Ave #210, Evanston, IL 60201
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