Field Trip Report: Horner Park

 
12 people with binoculars stand in front of a large wooden robot sculpture in a wooded area.

Photo by Stephanie Beilke.

words by Stephanie Beilke

May 5, 2023

On Friday May 5, thirteen birders joined COS bird walk leaders Stephanie Beilke and Larry Krutulis for a trip around Horner Park, a city park on Chicago’s north side. Parts of the parking lot and trails were under construction at Horner Park, but that wouldn’t deter the group from witnessing spring migration on this beautiful, sunny morning.

The trip started with a singing Baltimore Oriole and several Nashville Warblers being spotted in the treetops. Then the group made their way to the natural area on the east side of the park and watched Cliff, Northern Rough-winged, and Barn Swallows foraging over the Chicago River. Larry spotted a stunning Cape May Warbler and then later the group all got eyes on a singing immature male Purple Finch. The Warbling Vireos had just returned to the park and were giving excellent looks while singing low in the canopy.

A Warbling Vireo, a small gray bird, perches on a branch, his bill open as if singing.

Warbling Vireo. Photo by David Rupp.

Additional crowd pleasers were Yellow Warbler and a Red-breasted Nuthatch. But as the group rounded the last turn of the loop trail, a pair of male Eastern Bluebirds stole the show with their radiant sky-blue plumage, capping off the walk nicely. In total, the group found 49 species of birds.

 
Field TripRobyn Detterline