Field Trip: Mindful Birding at Dunning Read Natural Area

words by Robyn Detterline, COS board member

On Saturday, Oct. 12, six birders rebuffed the call of Global Big Day and instead took the slow, quiet path for a mindful walk at the Dunning Read Natural Area (Park 601). The day started with a half hour parking lot sit, where the stick piles left by the natural area’s stewards attracted many sparrows, including White-throated, White-crowned, Song, and Dark-eyed Junco. The usual crew of lazy Mourning Doves perched on the wire along Oak Park Avenue, and we got great looks at an American Kestrel eyeing them from his perch upon a streetlight.

From the parking lot we took the trail through the prairie. It was a mostly quiet stroll, but Palm Warblers, juncos, and American Goldfinches dotted the landscape, and a small flock of Common Grackles flew by. We identified the grass dominating the prairie as Indian grass. While invasive, we admired the fluffy heads of phragmites and their vivid stalks that glowed electric yellow in the morning sun. The highlight of the prairie was two Red-tailed Hawks sharing a tree southwest of the hospital. One of the hawks took off and soared straight over our party.

Milkweed Bug on Common Milkweed silks. Photo by Susan Szeszol.

At the south council ring in the park we took 20 minutes to sit quietly and observe our natural surroundings. Birds were sparse, but we took the time to notice the colors, textures, and feels of the season. We wondered about Milkweed Bug life cycles, appreciated the silky fluff of milkweed seeds, and noticed a flock of Canada Geese flying in a diagonal line, a half-V formation. Like us, a Cabbage White butterfly parked herself on a leaf and enjoyed a quiet moment of sunbathing.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Photo by Susan Szeszol.

From the council ring we looped around the wooded trail of the park. Highlights were Ruby-Crowned Kinglets and Palm Warblers that mimicked hummingbirds with their impressive hovering to catch bugs from stalks and tree branches. We also were excited to see two juvenile Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers chasing each other through the trees. Of course, no bird walk is complete without friendly American Robins creating a pleasant soundtrack with their various squees, kuks, and seers.

In all we saw 28 species and felt refreshed from a beautiful, quiet morning joining the birds in their landscapes.

Photo by Susan Szeszol.