Field Trip Report: Humboldt Park Bird and Stewardship Day

Photo by Chris Holden.

words by Robyn Detterline

On Saturday, August 17, 14 adventurers convened at Humboldt Park for a field trip on a muggy, dreary morning. The ambience did not affect our mood, however, and we concluded early on that, while finding a warbler or two would be neat for this day of early fall migration, really finding any bird would be a treat.

Luckily we were able to find a bird or two. On the Big Lagoon many Wood Ducks idled, and we took a close look to differentiate females, adult males, and young males in their wonky fall plumage. Also spotted on the lagoon was a domestic duck, who we christened “Johnny,” who wore a beautiful coat of chocolatey brown feathers with a mottled white breast. 

Barn Swallow. Humboldt Park, August 5, 2020. Photo by Alex Muench.

On the lawn Barn Swallows frolicked and beeped, and from the deep bushes Gray Catbirds whined. We did spot a warbler, or at least the movement of him, but from high in the tree on a gray day we never did positively identify our favorite park’s intrepid guest.

Highlights for the day were a feisty Baltimore Oriole chasing a Common Grackle around the park, and a Northern Flicker family in the dead tree of Spooky Island being usurped by a striking male American Kestrel. 

Northern Flicker. Humboldt Park, December 27, 2023. Photo by Dustin Weidner.

After our walk around the lagoon we joined the Humboldt Park steward, who required help tending to the natural area surrounding the Big Lagoon and in Snoopy Prairie. We pulled aggressive primrose and wingstem, collected golden alexander and echinacea seed, and scattered sedge seed.

All and all it was a successful mourning for Humboldt Park and its birders alike. We ended the count with 24 species officially, yet during the workday we spotted Killdeer, Double-crested Cormorant, and Black-crowned Night Heron for an extra special bonus.