Field Trip Report: Rutherford Sayre Nature Garden

Photo by Robyn Detterline.

words by Robyn Detterline

On the evening of October 7, six birders sat quietly in the Rutherford Sayre Nature Garden, a sanctuary within the 4-acre Rutherford Sayre Park Natural Area in the Galewood neighborhood of Chicago. The weather had turned chilly in recent days, but of course this meant many migratory birds had arrived, and we worked to keep our hands warm while waiting for the birds to find us.

The birds were feeling shy, so after a few quiet moments in the garden, relishing the rustle of wind through the aspen, we took a stroll along the prairie path. We discovered a trio of Hermit Thrushes foraging in the wooded area along the fence of the Metra tracks, and remarked on their proud stance compared with sparrows who are rounder and sink lower to the ground. We also noted that we could see their resemblance to robins in their shape as well as their run-stop-run motion.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Photo by Alicia Obando.

In the neighborhood trees across Newland Avenue, we were treated to a few Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, taking care to observe their “relationship to the tree,” as one astute birder mentioned, and how we can use that information to determine what family of bird these friends belonged to. Their climbing action along the side of the branches was a good clue that sapsuckers are indeed woodpeckers! This stand of trees also brought a real thrill for our small group: a perching Cooper’s Hawk. We noted the difference in size and shape between this accipiter and the heftier buteo we often see: the Red-tailed Hawk.

As the sun began to set some of the group parted ways, but a few birders ventured on into the twilit prairie, where we were delighted by the sprightly Yellow-rumped Warblers and a brief glimpse of a Magnolia Warbler. Two sparrows decided to make a last-minute appearance: White-throated Sparrow and Swamp Sparrow, and we concluded our evening watching a merry bat fluttering over the prairie.