words by Kris Hansen

February 24, 2024

On Saturday, February 24, 16 birders and I braved the seasonally appropriate weather, to join the transit hike along Division Street in the Humboldt Park neighborhood. Impressively, birders came from Naperville, Wilmette, and Willow Springs. Led by Stephanie Beilke and Robyn Detterline, the trip began in the shadow of St. Mary’s hospital to look for resident Peregrine Falcons Neal and Owena.

Peregrines are the bird of the year for the Chicago Ornithological Society, so Robyn shared a variety of fun facts about the species. Rock Pigeons and peregrines both evolved to inhabit cliff faces, which is why both species have adapted so well to the tall buildings in Chicago. Peregrines often perch on balconies and window ledges as well as on top of buildings, so birders should scan all of a building’s face when seeking them.

Neal, age 16, has been at the site since 2011, according to Mary Hennan, director of the Chicago Peregrine Program with the Field Museum. He fledged in Evanston in 2008. His previous mate, who was not named at banding, fledged from a site in the Quad Cities in 2007. She nested with Neal at the site from 2011 through 2016.

Owena, age 11, fledged from a nest in Racine in 2013 and joined Neal in 2017. Peregrines are often named after building managers who cooperate with Peregrine Program volunteers to protect and monitor nesting pairs on the roof. Other birds are named by children through contests at local libraries, Hennan says.

While Neal and Owena declined to make an appearance on February 24, we did spy House Sparrows, American Robins, an American Crow, and about 80 Rock Pigeons (future meals for chicks).

Northern Cardinal. Photo by Dan Crosser.

We decided to bypass the Division Street bus and walk the mile to Humboldt Park. The Red-winged Blackbirds showed up, with 17 males on site, already staking their territory for the upcoming season. A magical tree around a bend in the lagoon featured 2 White-throated Sparrows posing next to a White-crowned Sparrow, making it easy to compare field markings. A pair of Northern Cardinals cuddled together charmingly.

On the lagoon the Wood Ducks were back for the spring, and a female Hooded Merganser tried to trick us by hiding among them. Later, on the Prairie River, the merganser made another showing, this time impressing us with her diving skills and her big, fat, fishy catch.

A gorgeous Red-tailed Hawk gave us great looks east of Humboldt Dr. and followed us to the boathouse, just in case we needed more. Or perhaps she was scoping the beach, and, like us, being delighted by the sight of a lonely Killdeer.

Other notable species included a bold Winter Wren, a Swamp Sparrow, 2 Northern Flickers, and Hairy, Downy, and Red-bellied Woodpeckers. All in all the cold, sunny day warmed up nicely, an we observed a tidy 24 species.

Field Trip Report: Humboldt Park