One man in lower left corner, four women in back of photo, on railroad trestle over a river lined by trees

words by Lauren Kostas

A small, enthusiastic group of beginning birders joined Larry Krutulis for a morning walk through LaBagh Woods on Oct. 21. Larry shared some great tips for beginners, helped us spot a mix of migrants and local birds, and led us through a vibrant forest preserve with a particular tie to COS.

After a few introductions and some quick guidance on “bins” (binoculars), we began our walk. Larry warned us that we would be on the lookout for all kinds of nature, and we started by admiring the planet Mars shining in the early sky.

Birding with our ears and eyes revealed 24 species, from a surprising number of American Robins to Accipiters on the hunt. Red-bellied and Downy Woodpeckers were spotted perched high on the side of dead trees. The Pileated Woodpecker was unseen, but we saw its handiwork (or beak work) in the chopped-up bark of a fallen limb. We saw Yellow-rumped Warblers and learned to identify their sharp chek. Nuthatches (Red-breasted and White-breasted) and Brown Creepers traveled up or down trees excavating bugs.

Small bird with reddish throat and belly, blue-gray back and wings, with a black stripe running from the side of its shoulders through its dark eye to the beak. — Red-breasted Nuthatch. *Photo by Alex Muench, Montrose Point, Sept. 17, 2022.*

The sparrows were surprisingly sparse, but bunches of kinglets charmed our group. The chubby, frenetic flyers zipped around shrubs and among fluffy goldenrod. The Golden-crowned Kinglets were especially vocal. We also observed a juvenile Red-winged Blackbird practicing an unseasonable, musical trill. As we walked, we swapped spark birds, which included Red-breasted Nuthatches, Indigo Buntings, Green Herons and Costa Rica’s Potoo.

Larry pointed out evidence of the extensive habitat restoration work done at LaBagh Woods. Since 2015, COS has raised funds and helped engage the community in support of avian-based habitat restoration. More than 4,500 native shrubs have been planted and countless non-native, invasive buckthorn plants removed. The goal is to build up an understory of plants that provides shelter and stopover habitat for migrating birds.

Returning to the parking area at the end of our field trip, we spotted a few Dark-eyed Juncos, a favorite harbinger of winter, foraging on the lawn. We even witnessed the drama of a Cooper’s Hawk making off with a Blue Jay.

Small bird with a cotton-puff white breast, gray head and throat, and a pink beak, perched on a twig. — Dark-eyed Junco. *Photo by Walter Marcisz, Wolf Lake, Jan. 4, 2018.*

During our walk, Larry advocated for a form of peaceful, contemplative birding. He recommended stopping, sitting or standing quietly in one place to fully examine and enjoy the variety of birds and their behavior. One of my fellow birders did a great job of capturing the spirit of his advice and our walk: “There is so much we can see when we take the time to notice.”

Check out the COS events calendar for more field trips for beginner and seasoned birders.

Field Trip: LaBagh Woods Beginning Birder Walk