The year in birds

Conservation progress and remarkable sightings highlighted 2024

(published 1-1-25)

Lake County stunner: This Scissor-tailed Flycatcher entertained watchers for
two weeks at Prairie Wolf Forest Preserve. Photo by Matt Zuro.
A Yellow-billed Loon appeared on the Las Vegas Strip last March, swimming in the Fountains of Bellagio. Fortunately, what happened in Vegas didn’t stay there for long. The daily water show hit pause while biologists captured the Arctic vagrant and took it to a safe place serving fish.

One month later, a similar scenario played out in suburban Wilmette. This time, the wayward bird was a young Whooping Crane making her first northward migration. Officials from the International Crane Foundation mobilized quickly to rescue the endangered wader, later releasing it at Horicon Marsh, near ICF’s Wisconsin headquarters.

This well-tracked Whooping Crane caused a scene
in Wilmette last April after stopping short on its
northern migration. Photo by Scott Judd.
These were good outcomes for the individual birds, and memorable moments for a few lucky spectators. More avian success stories were still to come in 2024, along with potential for saving thousands of birds every year.

Birders breathed a sigh of relief when the owners of Chicago’s McCormick Place convention center took steps to reduce bird collisions with the building’s glass, installing “Feather Friendly” film in a $1.2 million project completed before fall migration.

The retrofit was largely in response to that awful night in October 2023 when more than 1,000 migrating birds perished from window strikes at McCormick Place.

Patterned glass in combination with a citywide Lights Out program during peak migration periods makes Chicago safer for passing birds. A needed next step is for Chicago City Council to adopt mandatory bird-friendly building design guidelines.

Evanston and Skokie already require builders to practice bird-safety measures. In 2024, Lake County enacted ordinances as well.

Nationwide, building collisions kill more than one billion birds annually, according to studies. A new documentary called “Broken Flight” screened at the Chicago International Film Festival in October. See it if you get a chance.

Another hot-button issue concerns the use of poison to control rat populations. Last spring, three Great Horned Owls in Lincoln Park died from rodenticide poisoning—news well covered by mainstream media. Since then, Chicago Bird Alliance (formerly Chicago Audubon) has amped up pressure on the city to pursue alternate rat control methods that are both less harmful to urban ecosystems and more effective than rodenticide.

Big wins for nature

Voters in four counties—DuPage, Kane, Lake and McHenry—supported their forest preserves in November by approving referendums to expand, restore and protect open lands. The ballot measures were about more than birds, of course, but the results were a win for the critical habitats that support them.

A Black-necked Stilt prepares for landing at Muirhead Springs
Forest Preserve in Kane County. Photo by Bob Andrini.
Galena, Homewood, Lake Bluff and St. Charles gained official Bird City Illinois status for their active and ongoing commitment to protect and conserve birds and their habitats. The state now boasts 10 Bird City communities. Audubon Council of Illinois started the program in 2022, modeling it after the successful Bird City Wisconsin program.

Waukegan, already a Bird City Illinois member, named the Piping Plover its official city bird in May, vowing to “continue to support the protection and conservation of our lakefront and the unique dune and swale habitat crucial to the recovery of the Great Lakes Piping Plover.”

Plovers raised families on Chicago and Waukegan beaches last summer, contributing to a solid year for the region’s fragile population. A record 81 pairs of Piping Plovers nested around the Great Lakes—one pair more than in 2023 and up from about a dozen pairs in the 1980s.

One of the two successful Illinois pairs in 2024 were Imani and Sea Rocket on Montrose Beach, Imani being the son of legendary pipers Monty and Rose. The latter couple made history in 2019 by hatching Chicago’s first Piping Plover chicks in 71 years.

Illinois’ only breeding colony of Common Terns also prospered in 2024. The state-endangered species produced 33 chicks (from 22 nests) in the harbor at Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Lake County.

Notable 2024 sightings

Birders in pursuit of locally rare species were busy (and successful) throughout the year. I’ll hit some of the highlights here, roughly in chronological order.

The Elgin Black-throated Gray Warbler.
Photo by Jackie Bowman.
The first eye-popper was a Black-throated Gray Warbler in Elgin, which relied upon a backyard feeder throughout a severe cold snap in January. Dozens of birders called it a lifer.

A California Gull flew in for the Gull Frolic, a popular February watch party at North Point Marina in Winthrop Harbor. Talk about a bird with good timing!

The “Cali” would not be the rarest gull to visit the Lake Michigan shoreline. A Black-tailed Gull turned up at Waukegan Beach in May, just the third Illinois record for the species.

Throughout the winter and well into April, Red Crossbills were regular at Morton Arboretum in Lisle—a classic “invasion year” for the species. Some years we don’t see any crossbills at all.

At least 200 birders saw this Sage Thrasher at Hidden Lake
Forest Preserve in Glen Ellyn. Photo by Randall Everts.
In April, a Cinnamon Teal triggered a rush to Will County, just before a Burrowing Owl made a shocking appearance at Montrose in Chicago. Another species from the west, Sage Thrasher, visited Blackwell Forest Preserve in DuPage. A second Sage Thrasher (or the same one?) would surface at Hidden Lake Forest Preserve in late September. The latter was observed for five weeks, sometimes in the company of a Northern Mockingbird.

Also in DuPage, a Ruff surprised birders at Greene Valley Forest Preserve, about a month after one was spotted in Chicago’s Richton Park. The distinctive shorebird is usually found in Africa and Eurasia.

Kane County hosted Say’s Phoebe in March and Black-necked Stilt in April. A highly watched stilt pair spent the summer at Muirhead Springs Forest Preserve, raising two young.

Muirhead lived up to its growing reputation as a birding hotspot. Coveted visitors included American Avocet, Glossy Ibis and Smith’s Longspur (April); Black Tern and Loggerhead Shrike (May); Franklin’s Gull (July); Red-necked Phalarope (August); Common Tern and Eared Grebe (September); White-faced Ibis and Kane County’s first Black-bellied Whistling Duck (October).

The Forest Preserve District of Kane County is in early planning to build an accessible, multi-level birdwatching tower at Muirhead Springs. Completion is tentatively set for 2027.  

Dedicated chasers scurried up to Wisconsin to witness the state’s first-record Varied Bunting and Bar-tailed Godwit, near Grafton and Hartford, respectively.

This vagrant Lark Bunting appeared in Chicago's
Park 566. Photo by Matt Zuro.
Feathered goodies at Montrose, our state’s most-birded venue, included a breeding plumage Red-throated Loon; American Barn Owl; Laughing Gull; Marbled Godwit; Whimbrel; Least Bittern; Eastern Whip-poor-will; Cerulean, Kirtland’s and Prairie Warblers; Spotted Towhee; and Say’s Phoebe.

In May, a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher feasted on cicadas in Arlington Heights. The epic hatch provided an easy food source, elevating nesting success for many bird species.

Prairie Warbler was a nice find at Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve in DuPage, with two birds present into July. Lake County’s first Chuck-will’s Widow landed at Illinois Beach State Park, and Western Tanager delighted watchers at Glacial Park in McHenry County.

A Yellow-crowned Night Heron camped on the Naperville Riverwalk for three weeks starting in mid-August.

At least two Blue Grosbeaks summered at Morton Arboretum in Lisle; a Kentucky Warbler refueled there in September.

Chicago’s Park No. 566 yielded two grassland species from the west, Lark Bunting and Chestnut-collared Longspur. On Veterans Day, a fly-by Common Raven at the lakeside venue was the first in Illinois since 2007.

A Western Cattle Egret made friends with the bison at 
Fermilab. Photo by Haley Gottardo.
Area birders responded in late August to a rare opportunity to witness a Swallow-tailed Kite. The graceful raptor spent days soaring over the Lockport area in Will County.

Back in Chicago, birders got twitchy over a hybrid Brewster’s Warbler at Montrose and a late-September Townsend’s Warbler in Jackson Park.

Hawkwatchers at Greene Valley (Naperville) observed three Golden Eagles and 10 Rough-legged Hawks during the fall count season. A Western Meadowlark visited the hill in October.

Just before Halloween, a Western Cattle Egret grazed with the bison at Fermilab in Batavia, and another visited Chicago Botanic Garden.

Also in October, a young Anna’s Hummingbird parked itself on a backyard feeder in Princeton (Bureau County). The rare hummer—only the second record for Illinois—remained a daily customer well into December and might try to overwinter. 

This off-course Anna's Hummingbird delighted birders
for many weeks in Bureau County. Photo by Steve Zehner.
The year’s penultimate month is known for uncommon sightings and 2024 played true. Notables included Harlequin Duck (Chicago and Winthrop Harbor); Rufous Hummingbird (Oswego, first Kendall County record); Townsend’s Solitaire (Libertyville); and Harris’s Sparrow (Elburn).

In December, the state's first Short-tailed Shearwater zipped by Montrose Point. Young birders call that a Mega.

A beautiful Snowy Owl appeared in McHenry County before Christmas, thrilling birders and photographers for 10 days. Then tragedy: the bird died upon impact with a vehicle on Bull Valley Road.

The name game

Several birds mentioned above are named after people, a reminder that some will receive new names starting in 2025. 

Currently, about 100 American bird species claim eponymous or honorific names. A few birds recall "individuals who engaged in what we think most people today would agree was reprehensible behavior,” declared the American Ornithology Society. Watch for AOS to soon announce a limited first wave of name changes. Eventually, all birds named after people will receive more descriptive titles. 

Two species are presently named after John J. Audubon. In 2024, more Audubon-branded organizations around the country adopted new identities to help distance their work from the famous artist's personal legacy of racism.

The ill-fated McHenry County Snowy Owl.
Photo by Paul Clifford.
Awards and milestones

Tamima Itani was named a Volunteer of the Year by Illinois Department of Natural Resources for her leadership in the protection of Piping Plovers and their habitat at Chicago’s Montrose Beach.

Donnie Dann of Highland Park received the city’s Environmental Award for his tireless work on behalf of birds, particularly his advocacy for bird-safe building design. Dann is also deeply involved with the aforementioned Common Tern conservation efforts in Lake County.

Glen Ellyn’s Willowbrook Wildlife Center rebranded as the DuPage Wildlife Conservation Center. A major expansion and upgrade project at the facility is set for completion this spring, with a public grand opening celebration on June 5.

The debut Urban Birding Festival in Chicago, held in September, was a massive success with some 460 registrations. It’ll return in 2025.

Retired American diplomat Peter Kaestner became the first and only birder to list 10,000 species, fulfilling his lifetime quest.

Anniversaries: Illinois Beach State Park Hawkwatch, 25 years; Wooded Isle bird walks in Chicago’s Jackson Park, 25; Audubon magazine, 100; American Bird Conservancy, 30.

Birders we miss

Jon J. Duerr, former head of the Kane County Forest Preserve, passed away in February. A preserve near South Elgin was named for him in 2004.

We also remember John Hebert, a DuPage Birding Club stalwart; beloved Montrose birders Owen McHugh and Craig Millard; and Aurora’s irrepressible Vernon LaVia. (Owen and Vern left us in 2023.)

In September, birders nationwide said goodbye to Sandy Komito, a central figure in Mark Obmascik’s book, “The Big Year.” Actor Owen Wilson played a character based on Komito in the movie version.

A retirement for the birds

I’ve had more time for birding and travel since retiring in July. My first “mission trip” was to Texas, where I attended the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival in early November. I’ll write about it soon.

A visit to Seattle in September wasn’t bird-focused but an afternoon wildlife cruise with Puget Sound Express proved to be a highlight. Tufted Puffin, the trip’s primary target, was well seen by all, including my wife and son. Rhinoceros Auklet, too.

Tufted Puffin by Eric Ellingson.
A welcome bonus bird on the cruise was Red-footed Booby, spotted on the Port Townsend waterfront. The out-of-range tropical seabird had been a local sensation for about six weeks at the time.

The household yard list didn’t grow in 2024 but my watch time was rewarded with Common Yellowthroat, Red-headed Woodpecker, and Winter Wren. Years go by without my seeing these species in the backyard.

My favorite new book was “The Birds That Audubon Missed,” by Kenn Kaufman. Pick it up for some fascinating insights about birding and ornithology in the early and mid-1800s. Learn about the Carbonated Warbler, too!

I read “Birding with Benefits,” the hobby’s first romance novel, for research purposes. I’m still a little flushed.

I also enjoyed “The Bald Eagle: The Improbable Journey of America’s Bird,” by Jack E. Davis. The 2022 book from the Pulitzer Prize winner is timely now that the eagle is finally, officially, our national bird. For once, Congress got something done without a fight.

Some eagle watching on the Mississippi River would be a fine way to begin 2025. Or maybe I'll just fill up the feeders and stay home. Birders have options, and they're all good.

Copyright 2025 by Jeff Reiter. All rights reserved.

Giving thanks for birds and birding

(published 11-20-24)

Some t-shirts demand to be seen.
Birds give us so much, enriching our lives almost every day when we take time to notice. The hobby of watching, counting, and finding birds is rewarding, too.  

In 2024, I began a list of the things I appreciate about birds, birding and birders, writing them down as they popped into my head. Some are silly and trivial, but all are personally significant. A few summon memories from my earliest days as a birder—even from before I became one. It’s been a fun exercise.

This is my Thankful List, and just like any other list involving birds, it’s sure to grow.

I am thankful for:

The welcoming ways of the birding community.

The Blackburnian Warbler sports one of
the best and most memorable colors in birding.
Photo by Christian Goers.
Spark birds, including my own, a Hooded Warbler seen 30 years ago.

All the sounds that Blue Jays make, and bugling flocks of migrating Sandhill Cranes.

Birdy t-shirts, socks and hats. License plates, too.

Monty and Rose, and all they inspired at Chicago’s Montrose Beach and beyond.

Canada geese in the V formation.

“Kingbird Highway” by Kenn Kaufman.

The excitement of rare bird stakeouts.

Homeowners who share rare birds with strangers bearing binoculars, spotting scopes and long-lens cameras.

Young birders and those who encourage them.

A hopeful plate.
Nature centers with busy, well-stocked bird feeders.

Stores like Wild Birds Unlimited in Lisle.

Nemesis birds, and the challenge of finding them.

Being home when a Worm-eating Warbler visited my yard.

Birding trips to new places.

Unplanned “chases” that end in success.

Birders with superpowers, like those who can identify gulls and shorebirds.

The staff and volunteers of DuPage Wildlife Conservation Center in Glen Ellyn (formerly Willowbrook).

Birding’s accessibility. What other “outdoor pursuit” can be done from a chair, looking out a window?

The right bird can make your day.
Being able to see and hear birds almost anywhere, at any time.

Great-horned Owls in the neighborhood, hooting in the dark.

“Owl Moon” by Jane Yolen, the perfect children’s book.

Local forest preserves—vital green space for resident and migrating birds.

The Wilderness Center in Wilmot, Ohio.

Postage stamps that celebrate birds and other wildlife.

Lifers and Yardies.

Heated bird baths.

Old field guides with obsolete bird names.

The Indiana Dunes Birding Festival and those who make it happen.

Common birds that show us something new.

Good binoculars for $200 or less.

Some wine bottles are irresistible.
The “dawn chorus” in April and May.

New books about birds and birding, and anything written by Scott Weidensaul.

The International Crane Foundation in Baraboo, Wis.

The special colors of birding, like the throat of a Blackburnian Warbler.

Bird-a-Day calendars.

Birds with fantastic names that I might never see.

Golf course managers who care about habitat and conservation.

Merlin, eBird, and the All About Birds website. Thanks, Cornell.

Living on a major North-South migratory flyway.

Beer and wine labels with birds on them.

New-to-science species that are still being discovered, and “extinct” species that are rediscovered.

CBC birders know how to dress the part.
Photo by Jim Frazier.
The chance that Ivory-billed Woodpeckers are still out there.

People who lead bird walks.

Ornithologists and naturalists who share their wisdom.

Christmas Bird Counts and Countdown Dinners.

Cardinals on Christmas cards.

Red-headed Woodpeckers that overwinter (and good mast years).

The comeback of Bald Eagles.

Buzzard Day in Hinckley, Ohio, and Turkey Day in the United States.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Copyright 2024 by Jeff Reiter. All rights reserved.

How to catch more birds

(published 10-16-24)

The eyes have it! 
Ten years ago, I wrote a column about birding and fishing, noting the many things they have in common. It’s true! Both pursuits are addictive, both contain an element of mystery and surprise, and of course both often generate tales of “the one that got away.”

I’m not an angler but I could see myself becoming one. Maybe that’s why I always read Steve Sarley’s outdoors column in the Sports section. His words hook me every time.

One of Steve’s recent writings, “A few tips for catching more fish,” made me realize that it’s been a while since I’ve offered up any basic advice about birding. The pandemic created scores of new birders, and reactivated interest among those who had let their binoculars get a little dusty. Birdwatching and other outdoor activities suddenly caught fire.

For those who felt the spark, and especially those who are brand new to the hobby, I’ll try to provide a useful nugget or two.

Baltimore Oriole on grape jelly feeder

Start with the backyard. Knowing the common neighborhood birds is essential, plus it’s fun to see what you can attract. A tube-style feeder filled with black oil sunflower seeds is best. Place it for easy viewing and, for bird safety, not too close to a window. You can build out a feeding station to bring in more species. Consider a suet cage, specialty seeds and nuts, and a birdbath. Oh yes, a hummingbird feeder from May through October. Keep the feeders clean and the water fresh!

Record your sightings. Most birders find it motivating to keep track of what they see. In the yard and elsewhere, you might be amazed by how quickly your various lists grow. Celebrate new feeder visitors and first-time encounters in the field. A “lifer” can make your day! Download a handy checklist at illinoisbirds.org—under the Records tab, click on IL Field Checklist. The roster features more than 300 species that live in our state or pass through it every year.   

Use good equipment. For the most part, birding is cheap. All you really need is a decent pair of binoculars, attainable for $200 or less. Many people spend much more on optics and don’t regret it. Seeing bright, sharp images makes a difference. When birding in a group, don’t hesitate to ask for peek through another person’s glass—it might help with your next purchase decision. Consider owning a second binocular and keeping it in your car.

Power in the pocket
Get the free apps. Printed field guides are still valuable. I prefer the David Sibley books. But electronic field guides (downloaded to a smart phone) are easier to carry and offer sound. I use the Audubon Bird Guide for photos and vocalizations. Whatever you do, get the Merlin app—it’ll ID the birds you are hearing with amazing accuracy. Merlin, along with eBird, are products of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. One of my favorite eBird tools (among many) is the daily email I receive with rare bird sightings—one for DuPage County and one for Illinois. You can sign up for any county or state, or even the whole country. Before a trip, use eBird to track what’s being seen at your destination. Knowing what to expect before a bird walk is super helpful.

Bird with others and by yourself. Birding (like fishing!) can be a group or solitary activity. Both approaches have advantages. New birders certainly benefit from being around “experts.” Try going on a field trip with the DuPage Birding Club, Kane County Audubon, or Forest Preserve District. These and other groups offer organized walks—a sure way to learn and see new birds. Be a sponge and ask questions. Solo outings to a local “patch” close to home are beneficial, too. Finding interesting birds on your own, at your own pace, and then working out the IDs is time well spent.

Additional resources. A Cornell Lab membership will grow your skillset while supporting the hobby and bird conservation. Ditto for the American Birding Association and American Bird Conservancy. All three of these nonprofits publish fine magazines, too. Be a joiner.

“Find More Birds: 111 Surprising Ways to Spot Birds Wherever You Are,” by Heather Wolf, is an excellent new book for all birders, loaded with practical advice. A few older publications geared to newer birders remain golden: “Sibley’s Birding Basics”; “Birding Essentials” from National Geographic; and “New Birder’s Guide” by the late Bill Thompson III.

Books about backyard bird feeding are plentiful as well. Perhaps better yet, stop by your local birding supply store. Places like Wild Birds Unlimited in Lisle offer guidance along with the seeds and merch.

Spotting this statue-like American Bittern took a sharp eye
and careful scanning last month at Lincoln Park's South Pond
in Chicago. Practical search methods are discussed in 
Heather Wolf's book, pictured above. Bittern photo by Russ Smith.

Famous birdman Pete Dunne once said that to be a good birder you must bird a lot. Makes sense to me. If you have bird feeders, watch them intently. Get outside as much as possible to see what’s around. In our region, the birdlife is always changing. With time, you will get a feel for the seasonal comings and goings.

Pretty soon, you might find yourself “always birding,” even when you’re not. It’s one of the best things about our hobby—you can see birds almost anywhere, and while doing other things. When I play golf, I’m birding. Sorry Steve, but if we go fishing, I’ll be birding then, too.

As watchers, we become more aware of our surroundings, and more observant. These traits, plus a strong curiosity about “what’s out there,” are the foundation for successful (and joyful) birding at any level.

Copyright 2024 by Jeff Reiter. All rights reserved.

Audubon’s Kentucky legacy

A birding (and baseball) road trip included a visit to the artist’s former home

(published 9-4-24)

Audubon Mill Park, Henderson, Ky.
I had just retired, with no immediate plans for travel. The calendar was open, primed for an adventure. But where?

The answer, I realized, was right in my lap. For a week I’d been reading a new book by Kenn Kaufman, savoring every page. “The Birds That Audubon Missed” was pointing me south, to Kentucky!

The exclamation point is sincere, as I’d been wanting to explore a few things in the Bluegrass State for some time. Birding and baseball things. Suddenly the opportunity was staring me down, generously framed by my wife as a retirement and 65th birthday celebration trip.

I had two destinations in mind: Henderson and Louisville, both along the Ohio River in western Kentucky. To get in position, we followed Indiana Route 41 all the way south to Evansville, another river town.

The best road trips, of course, include unplanned stops.

Turn at the turkey: the state park entrance in Henderson
Just before leaving Glen Ellyn, I grabbed my copy of “Roadside Baseball.” With Catherine at the wheel, I turned to the chapter on Indiana and learned about a historical marker, in Nyesville, for Chicago Cubs pitcher and Hall of Famer Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown. The memorial, on the site of the Brown family farm, was only slightly out of our way. We found it, signed the guestbook and took some snapshots. Legions of Cubbie fans had clearly preceded us.

In Evansville, fried catfish was the meal of choice at Robert’s on the River, where we watched several innings of the MLB All-Star game at the bar. I asked the proprietor if our dinner might be from the nearly mile-wide tributary flowing just outside the restaurant, but he didn’t think so.

The next day, just across the Ohio, would be all about birds and a certain naturalist with a mixed reputation.

John James Audubon spent a decade in Henderson, from 1810 to 1819. He was not a famous bird artist at the time, just a shopkeeper and later a failed mill owner on the American frontier. Some of his days in Henderson, however, were devoted to observing and painting the local birds. A few of the pieces would ultimately land in his oversized four-volume masterwork, “The Birds of America.” 

Yellow-throated Warbler by Matt Misewicz
I was eager to visit Audubon State Park, for the birding trails and for the museum housing the largest displayed collection of Audubon art and artifacts.

Arriving early, we headed up Warbler Road, where it was easy to imagine “JJA” walking the same path more than 200 years before. July birding can be a little slow in a leafy old-growth forest but not on this day. We saw and heard plenty, though I confess that the Merlin app for sound ID was a godsend.

Hike highlights included Pileated Woodpecker and Yellow-throated Warbler, two species that can be tricky to find in the Chicago region. Acadian Flycatcher, Carolina Wren, and Tufted Titmouse were abundant. The chickadees looked just like “ours” but sounded different—they were the Carolina variety, not black-capped.

Opened to the public in 1938, the Audubon Museum is inside a beautiful WPA-funded building of French Norman architecture, reflecting its namesake’s heritage. The artist’s full life (1785-1851) is well documented including his formative years in Kentucky, where he found his artistic calling. A short film in the theater provides a helpful overview.

Visitors can view Audubon’s original artwork, including the rare “Birds of America.” A first edition sold at auction in 2018 for nearly $10 million. Also on exhibit are two copper engraving plates—less than 100 of the original 435 still exist—and Audubon’s painting supplies.

I wasn’t surprised to see the new Kaufman book in the museum’s excellent gift shop. It is not an Audubon biography but rather a focused look at the artist’s contributions to ornithology in the early to mid-1800s, and how he pursued his audacious goal of painting and describing every American bird.

Kaufman describes what bird finding must have been like in the era before binoculars, when the discovery and naming of new species literally went with the territory. Bird science was inexact and at times even fraudulent. Identification errors were common, and a handful of species were overlooked.

It seems hard to believe, but as Kaufman points out, Audubon apparently failed to distinguish Caspian Tern from Royal Tern—he assumed they were the same. Caspian Tern is therefore absent from “Birds of America.” Gray-cheeked Thrush and Snail Kite are also missing.

John James Audubon Museum

Kaufman rightly calls out Audubon for being a slave owner and white supremacist. These unforgiveable flaws in Audubon’s character have risen to the forefront in recent years, leading numerous Audubon-branded birding and conservation organizations to change their names. I didn’t notice any content in the museum about Audubon’s racism.  

Likewise, the City of Henderson, a couple miles from the park, betrayed no evidence of “cancel culture” with respect to its renowned former citizen. Audubon’s legacy—his artistic legacy—is central to the city’s marketing efforts. Visitors are invited to “Discover your nature,” and a white SUV outside the Henderson Tourist Commission’s welcome center is wrapped in colorful graphics from “Birds of America.” An Audubon-branded car dealer sits across from the state park.

We enjoyed a picnic lunch along the Ohio River in Audubon Mill Park, home to an impressive bronze statue of Audubon and a remnant from his failed grist mill.  Around town, a self-guided “sculpture tour” features 15 cast-bronze birds by artist Raymond Graf, each inspired by an actual Audubon painting.
Audubon State Park Wetlands


Downtown Henderson merited more of our time, but the lure of real birds was impossible to resist. 

Next stop: Audubon Wetlands, a 650-acre annex to Audubon State Park with an outstanding boardwalk trail. The birding here was good even on a hot afternoon but would surely be world class on a spring migration morning. Come to think of it, next time, I will play the state park’s 9-hole golf course and stay in one of the lakeside cabins. There are 1,400 acres in all and six miles of trails.   

On our second morning in Evansville, before heading over to Louisville, a diamond gem beckoned. “Roadside Baseball” informed me that Bosse Field is the third-oldest ballpark in America still hosting professional baseball, surpassed only by Fenway and Wrigley. The hometown Evansville Otters were away but we stopped by the field anyway. A friendly staff member was happy to let us inside to look around and even offered to open the gift shop! We passed on buying souvenirs but promised to return one day to witness a game at this minor league landmark, built in 1915.

In Louisville, two hours east, the baseball hits kept coming. My self-indulgent agenda naturally included the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory (loved it), followed by a Triple A game at Slugger Field. In a happy coincidence, the Louisville Bats were playing the Columbus Clippers, the top farm team of my beloved Cleveland Guardians. Game highlights included a lead-off home run by José Tena, three Great Egret flyovers and lots of twittering Chimney Swifts.

Final score: Clippers 6, Bats 4, Road Trip 10.

Copyright 2024 by Jeff Reiter. All rights reserved.

Retirement is for the birds

Freed from the daily grind, it's time for travel and new sightings

(published 8-7-24)

Hardly a day goes by when I don’t think about “The Big Year,” a 2011 movie that I’ve mentioned here before. TBY is to birders what “Caddyshack” is to golfers.

Today I’m thinking of the scene at the end, where recently retired Stu, played by Steve Martin, is asked to return to the corporate suite and be CEO of 3M, which is acquiring his old company. His former colleagues beg him to come back, teasing him about staying retired and “facing the abyss.” Stu rejects the offer and says he wants to face it. 

I’m channeling Stu these days, having just retired myself. I wasn’t an executive, and nobody is begging me to come back and write more press releases. But the abyss thing feels real. I’m going in!

In the movie, Stu’s first retirement project is to fulfill a lifelong dream by “doing a Big Year.” He becomes a birding machine, traveling around North America for 365 days to find as many species as possible.  

Green Jay by Bonnie Graham
I have no Big Year ambitions, but I know that more birding is in my future, a good feeling indeed. I’m ready for more trips, and 

I plan to see new birds. Some of them are locally possible species that I’ve missed over the years; most will require long-distance travel. My birding bucket list is long and growing.

First up is Texas, where I’ve spent very little time. In November, I’m heading to the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival in Harlingen. It’s one of the big annual gatherings, going on 31 years, and in my case is guaranteed to produce lifers. Visions of Altamira Oriole, Green Jay, and Plain Chachalaca have been swirling around in my head ever since I registered and booked my flight. Only a late-season hurricane could stop me now.

Northern Hawk Owl by Bonnie Graham
I’ll need additional trips to Texas, of course. Big Bend National Park is high on my list, and so is the Hill Country around Austin, for Black-capped Vireo and Golden-cheeked Warbler. I’d like to witness those Mexican Free-tailed Bats in downtown Austin, too, and the building that looks like an owl.

I crave a winter return to Sax-Zim Bog in Minnesota, where Northern Hawk Owl, American Three-toed Woodpecker and Sharp-tailed Grouse eluded me the first time, in 2016. Another encounter with Great Gray Owl would be nice, and a first-time look at a snow-white Ermine.

More exotic destinations are also in my plans. Costa Rica, naturally, where Resplendent Quetzal is my all-time dream bird. Hopefully South America, and Hawaii for sure. My wife is not a birder but she’s game for travel, so that’s a good thing.

Purple Sandpiper by Steve Bailey
National parks? Absolutely. I’ve been to a third of the 63, but still long to visit Yellowstone, Yosemite, Zion, and a bunch of others—great scenery and hiking await, with interesting birds as a bonus.

Birding locally will be much different now. On most days I’ll have the flexibility to jump in the car and “chase” a reported rarity. Weekday birds are now in play. I hope to finally spot a King Rail and Purple Sandpiper. Both are challenging targets but seen annually in northern Illinois.

Churchill Woods and Lambert Lake may become my local patches—I could bike to them—and I’ll be watching the backyard more than ever. In May I can have second cups on the patio instead of rushing off to work when spring migration is peaking. Maybe I’ll beat my one-day yard record of 47 species.

Down in Florida, I have unfinished business with Mangrove Cuckoo, my long-time nemesis bird. How I’d love to check that one off. Maybe a week at Sanibel Island would do it.

Mangrove Cuckoo by Laura Erickson
Wild Wonderful West Virginia also is calling my name, for a chance at Swainson’s Warbler. I heard about a place.

My former work colleagues seem to think I’ll be birding every day. The “Gone Birding” sign taped to my computer screen probably left that impression. But no way. Only local legend Al Stokie, once profiled here, could do that. I have golf to play, miles to run, and columns to write. Volunteering and sharing the hobby are in the mix, too.  

It’ll take me a while to settle in, that’s what my retired friends say. I feel blessed to have good health and multiple interests, and now the time to pursue them. At last, I’m a free bird.

Copyright 2024 by Jeff Reiter. All rights reserved.

Birds and books fill a memorable May

(published 6-12-24)

Miller Woods, Indiana Dunes National Park
I’m a little late with this column and the best excuse I can give is spring migration. I’ve been birding, OK? Now, on a rainy day before Memorial Day, I’m finally collecting my thoughts about an eventful May, the month that watchers hate to see end.

Two books also kept me from my writing table. First came “The Bald Eagle: The Improbable Journey of America’s Bird,” a 400-pager by Jack E. Davis, a Pulitzer Prize winner.

The Bald Eagle is quite the recovery story, a great victory for conservation. Davis covers that, of course, and tons of other information. Benjamin Franklin, I learned, did not formally propose the Wild Turkey as our national bird, and even today the Bald Eagle does not officially hold that title.

My first eagle sighting in the wild came in South Carolina in 1996. I’ll never forget it. Now we see Bald Eagles regularly in the Chicago region. Amazing! I even have the species on my yard list (just once, a distant flyover).

Bald Eagle by Sid Padgaonkar
Every sighting is special. Bald Eagle, for most of us, is not an everyday bird.

On Mother’s Day, our family was dining at Village Links in Glen Ellyn when an adult eagle cruised low across the 18th fairway. The bird then put on a show, circling over the patio for all to see.

An immature Bald Eagle—just as large but without the white head and tail—visited Cantigny Golf in Wheaton during the Spring Bird Count on May 4, wowing our group as it sparred with a pesky Red-tailed Hawk.

Eagles came back from the brink of extinction. The Passenger Pigeon wasn’t so lucky.

Exactly 10 years ago we were commemorating the 100th anniversary of the last Passenger Pigeon on earth. Her name was Martha, and today she’s inside a glass display case at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. I visited her in April.

Seeing Martha is both a sad and inspiring experience. She is a star, an icon, the last of her kind. How could the most abundant bird species on earth be made extinct in only 50 years? It’s true: In1850, up to 5 billion pigeons rules the skies; by 1900, virtually none.

Martha
I knew a few things but needed more. “A Message from Martha,” by Mark Avery, provided the answers. The 2014 book had somehow eluded me until now—110 years after Martha’s lonely death at the Cincinnati Zoo. Avery, a Brit, takes readers along on a Passenger Pigeon road trip in telling a fascinating story that every birder should know.

Spring birding was ramping up when I returned from Washington, with Martha still on my mind. The migration started early, confirmed by a backyard hummingbird on April 30, a week sooner than usual. For once my nectar feeder was ready but she zipped right by.

A Baltimore Oriole discovered the sweet treat instead, prompting me to lay out the grape jelly. Wouldn’t you know, the jelly went untouched all month. Maybe it was the brand. I have a friend who swears that orioles only like Welch’s.

Early-morning backyard birding was productive. MTVs (most-treasured visitors) were Red-headed Woodpecker, Common Yellowthroat, and Wilson’s Warbler. None were first-time guests but all three were coffee spillers. Male Scarlet Tanagers dazzled me two days in a row.

Another fine moment came while jogging on the Illinois Prairie Path, between Glen Ellyn and Lombard. Not far off I heard a singing Wood Thrush, a declining species with a heavenly voice. I floated on air for the next mile.

Picking the region’s bird of the month is easy: Black-tailed Gull, spotted May 29 at Waukegan Beach by Matt Tobin. Hundreds of birders got a look, a lifer for most.

Black-tailed Gull by Matt Zuro
Other notables included Kirtland’s Warbler at Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary in Chicago; Prairie Warbler at Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve in Darien; and Black-necked Stilt at both Springbrook Prairie in Naperville and Muirhead Springs in Kane County. In April, a Sage Thrasher thrilled birders at McKee Marsh in Warrenville.

Wisconsin tempted Illinois birders with two remarkable first state records, Varied Bunting and Bar-tailed Godwit. The bunting was in Grafton, just north of Milwaukee; the godwit turned up near Hartford.

I attended my fourth Indiana Dunes Birding Festival May 17-19. Attendance hit 750 for the festival’s 10th anniversary, a new record. I go for a lot of reasons, and one is Cerulean Warbler. Indiana Dunes State Park is a great place for it—you almost can’t miss, and I didn’t. The festival’s surprise bird was Tricolored Heron, one of 189 species recorded.

On the last day of the fest, I birded Miller Woods in Gary, a wonderful preserve near Lake Michigan, inside the national park. I’d never been and will surely go back. Highlights included more Red-headed Woodpeckers than we could count, a wailing Pied-billed Grebe in courtship mode, and a handsome lizard that our excellent guide Michael Topp identified as a Six-lined Racerunner.

Chicago Birding Alliance (formerly Chicago Audubon) exhibited at the festival marketplace, rallying support for new regulations that will help make Chicago safer for migrating birds. It also dropped a news bomb: Chicago, finally, is getting a birding festival of its own. CBA is partnering with several other birding organizations to stage the inaugural Urban Birding Festival, Sept. 14-15. Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum will be home base.

For now, it’s all about the red-eyed bugs, and that’s OK. Turns out the cicadas are saving me money. They’re good eating! For the birds, I mean. I haven’t refilled my sunflower feeder in 10 days.

Copyright 2024 by Jeff Reiter. All rights reserved.

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