A group of 11 people with binoculars and cameras pose for a selfie on a bridge. Below them is a large lagoon and grassy hills. In the distance the Chicago skyline is visible. — Photo by Edward Warden.

words by Edward Warden

May 18, 2023

Come for the birds, stay for the sunsets. The unofficial slogan for Northerly Island probably. This beautiful natural area in the heart of downtown has had its share of drama over the years, but since before it was even a park, it’s never lacked for birds and killer views. So when it came time to plan COS’s next after-work bird walk, the choice was obvious.

A Song Sparrow, a chunky sparrow with a brown-streaked body and white breast with brown streaks, perches in a wire fence in front of brown grasses. — Song Sparrow. Photo by Emiliano DeBlas.

Our eager afternoon birding crew met by the visitor center where views of the nearby harbor kept us busy as we waiting for everyone to arrive. Between that and the nearby nature play area, gulls, robins, Killdeer, and blackbirds all made themselves known early on. Once ready, we made our way to the trailhead and began the ascent up the first hill. It was at this point that it became apparent the stars of today’s show would be the sparrows. Several Song, Savannah, and White-crowned Sparrows presented themselves and sang on the fencing lining either side of the path. Our count was no doubt helped by the frustrating amount of people wandering off trail and flushing the birds, but silver lining was some very good looks and lessons on sparrow ID.

A Greater Scaup, as duck with a white side, gray back, black head, neck, and breast, gray bill, and yellow eye, floats in water. — Greater Scaup. Photo by Emiliano DeBlas.

Descending the first (and largest) hill, we came down toward the lagoon and found ourselves in the thick of swallow flocks comprised primarily of Barn but also containing Tree and Rough-winged. It was at this point we also began to observer small posses of Black-crowned Night-Herons flying south along the lakefront. These birds were no doubt coming from their roost at Lincoln Park Zoo and headed toward hunting grounds along the lakefront parks and harbors. It was here that we also found a very odd duck among the handful of Mallards mulling about. A very late and very crisp looking Greater Scaup!

Winding our way southward down the concrete path, we snagged our two warbles for the day skulking among the grass; Palm Warbler and Common Yellowthroat. As we neared the iron bridge at the far south end, we saw that at one night heron decided to touch down and hunt among the rubble and pylons in the center of the lagoon. As we admired this urban penguin, we noticed another large and lanky bird nearby. Surprisingly invisible until it began walking, a Willet stood at the water’s edge. This proved to be a lifer for many in the group and just a generally exciting find as it foraged near the heron and among the much smaller Spotted Sandpipers zipping about.

Clusters of pale yellow flowers dot a prairie with brown and green grasses. In the background are a lagoon and the Chicago skyline. — Long-bracted Indigo. Photo by Edward Warden.

As we wrapping things up and headed back, we took some time to admire the high density of the Long-bracted Indigo, a rather rare and sensitive plant species, growing throughout the site. The pause gave us just enough time to scoop up our last species of the day, a Swamp Sparrow sneaking through the grass in the warm glow of the setting sun. In terms of species count, our total was nothing to write home about. But the joy of being in such a serene space with singing birds, smack in the heart of downtown, just can’t be beat.

Field Trip Report: Northerly Island