Field Trip Recap: Big Marsh/Park 564
words by Steve Whitman
Early on a clear morning April 12, 12 birders joined trip leader Jake Vinsel at Big Marsh/Park #564 for what he later called the “COS Snipe Hunt,” as Wilson’s Snipe turned out to be one of the star attractions of the morning.
Bald Eagle. Photo by Nick Paarlberg, Big Marsh, April 12, 2025.
During introductions, Vinsel reminded everyone to actively call out the birds they see, and they certainly did, for a Bald Eagle, American White Pelicans, Mute Swans, and Double-crested Cormorants were spotted before the walk even started.
Vinsel also explained the interesting history of Big Marsh—how it was an industrial slag and waste dump for over a hundred years until it was covered with clay and acquired by the Chicago Park District in 2011. Besides the old Acme smoke stacks to the east and the coyote-patrolled landfill mounds to the south, visitors might not realize the extent of Big Marsh’s very recent transformation from toxic wasteland to vital habitat for birds and other wildlife.
Once we started heading north on the paved trail towards the bridge, Song Sparrows, Northern Flickers, and Downy Woodpeckers were heard, and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker gave us all great looks.
Green-winged Teal. Photo by Nick Paarlberg, Big Marsh, April 12, 2025.
Above, an Osprey surveyed the waters on either side of the bridge, and below, Blue- and Green-winged Teal, Northern Shovelers, American Coots, and a Pied-billed Grebe waded in the water.
The group continued north on a newer section of the paved trail that parallels Stony Island Avenue, and that’s when the aforementioned snipes exploded all around us. We tallied a conservative number of 40 Wilson’s Snipes.
Wilson’s Snipe. Photo by Jake Vinsel, Big Marsh, Oct. 23, 2022.
Recent brush clearing along Stony Island Avenue afforded us clear views into Harborside Marsh Pond, where more pelicans, swans, and ducks waded. Closer by, a mixed sparrow flock included an early White-crowned Sparrow.
The group looped back towards the bridge and along the way saw Caspian Terns, a Brown Creeper, a Hermit Thrush, and an unidentifiable, backlit raptor perched in a tree. All good walks have a mystery bird.
In the brief moments between heavy bird activity, Vinsel informed the group of how “cool things are happening at Big Marsh.” A Motus tower was installed at the site and recently pinged a Northern Saw-whet Owl.
Black-crowned Night Herons are being coaxed into nesting at Three Fingers Pond within the park with the help of 3D printed bird models that were provided by The Chicago Black-crowned Night Heron Project and The Windy City Bird Lab.
We even bumped into Friends of Big Marsh Executive Director Paul Fitzgerald, and he encouraged us to get the word out about their community programs such as bike racing for teens.
Yellow-rumped Warbler. Photo by Nick Paarlberg, Big Marsh, April 12, 2025.
Back past the bridge, the group was visited by a Yellow-rumped Warbler high in the trees above the path, exciting everyone with anticipation of its brightly clad cousins and more distant relatives that will soon be migrating through the region. The walk continued around the dirt bike course and just before we wrapped up, 23 Sandhill Cranes were spotted flying north.
In total, 48 bird species were identified. The group observed these birds in a richly resourced habitat made possible through the vision and toil of many people.