22 people with binoculars posing on a bridge with the Northerly Island lagoon and Chicago skyline in the background — Photo by Edward Warden

Words by Kris Hansen

April 27, 2024

It’s always a great day for birding when you see a Peregrine Falcon, the bird of the year for the Chicago Ornithological Society (COS). As 23 birders gathered for a walk at Northerly Island, a distant falcon was spotted perched on the giant M on the Marriott building across Burnham Harbor. Caspian Terns, Double-crested Cormorants, and Ring-Billed Gulls also soared over the docks.

A streaky brown and white sparrow with a yellow eyebrow perched in a budding tree — Savannah Sparrow. Photo by Dan Crosser

The group had barely left the parking lot before a mixed group of White-crowned and White-throated Sparrows began feeding in the grassy area at the beginning of the path. They were joined shortly by four Savannah Sparrows who had been flushed down the hill by pedestrians. More Savannah Sparrows as well as Song Sparrows serenaded the group along the paved trail to the lagoon. Two Swamp Sparrows rounded out the sparrow-filled day. Overhead, Barn, Tree, and Northern Rough-winged Swallows feasted on gnats. Oddly, only two American Goldfinches were spotted, unlike the flocks normally seen on the island at this time of year.

Female Red-Winged Blackbirds have been tricking new birders for ages. Photo by Dan Crosser

Several female Red-winged Blackbirds showed off for the new birders in the group, demonstrating just how different females look from males. Experienced birders chuckled over how long they had spent trying to identify those females when they were first learning species.

Trip leader Edward Warden, president of COS, explained how the island once was Meigs Field, a small airport, and pointed out the control tower and terminal buildings. The once-flat space was sculpted into hills, with a sandy-edged long lagoon that opens to Lake Michigan. A low strip of land with wooden pilings was once the original outer edge of the island. Birders spotted a motionless Killdeer hunkered down in the center, likely incubating eggs in that well-protected spot. Nearby, a pair of Canada Geese herded their goslings into the water.

A bird with a brown back and spots on a white breast, with a long orange bill and long orange legs. — One of a pair of Spotted Sandpipers. Photo by Dan Crosser

Just before the end of the lagoon, a cooperative and photogenic pair of Spotted Sandpipers appeared, giving great views. As the group turned to make their way back, a pair of Great Blue Herons banked overhead. Then we saw a possibly not-so-Solitary Sandpiper, bobbing in a mating dance before thick undergrowth that may have concealed a female.

Large long-billed brown bird with white speckles on its breast and yellow legs standing in the water. — Solitary Sandpiper. Photo by Dan Crosser.

All together the group saw 28 species, including three iridescent Common Grackles.

A large black bird with iridescent blue head and neck feathers and a yellow eye. — Common Grackle. Photo by Dan Crosser

Field Trip Report: Northerly Island