News

Rare Birds More Than Migrants

Birders at Middlefork Savanna (CW, Fall ’04) in Lake Forest, Illinois recently stumbled upon a remarkable Chicago Wilderness phenomenon: a pair of Wilson’s phalaropes possibly breeding in the wetlands. This unexpected discovery indicates significant habitat recovery and fosters hope of the species’ return to our area as more than a migratory visitor. Sightings have been sparse and nesting has not been confirmed, but several birders reported spotting an adult male pharalope feeding in the Middlefork marsh in mid-July.

“The Birds of North America account for Wilson’s phalarope states that phalaropes migrate in flocks, with the adult females leaving first, followed by adult males, and then juveniles,” says local birder Jeff Sundberg. “Based on that information,” he said, “the presence of one adult male, apparently attending at least two juveniles, would seem to be more likely associated with breeding than with migration.” While no definite conclusions have been made, local birders hope to obtain better evidence next year.

Another annual traveler to our region is showing signs of settling down for more than a brief stay. The clay-colored sparrow, an inhabitant of grasslands and shrublands that usually passes through on its way north to breed, has been spotted locally during its summer breeding season. Birders have seen this small sparrow in numerous stewardship areas, such as Lake in the Hills Fen and Poplar Creek. The first known nesting record for the species in DuPage County occurred in the June/July season of 2003, when birders observed a copulating pair and later an adult feeding fledglings.

In other bird news, Pratt’s Wayne Woods, the largest forest preserve in DuPage County, will be dedicated as an Important Bird Area (IBA) in a ceremony at the Tri-County Grassland Complex in DuPage County on September 24. Click here for details.

— Sarah Forte