Fifteen people with binoculars and warm clothing standing in front of dry grasses and small ponds.

words by Jon Evans

Fifteen birders gathered early on April 27 at Marian Byrnes Park, a burgeoning South Side gem that's quickly becoming a notable hotspot. Even from the alley, the sounds of White-throated Sparrows and American Goldfinches filled the air.

We began our walk, which would cover 1.5 miles over two hours, by heading up the new elevated walkway over the marsh. Right away, we heard the calls of Sora and Virginia Rail coming from deep in the reeds. Marsh Wrens were active too, shaking the reeds in front of us.

As we continued north, the overlook gave us sweeping views of the wetlands under a clear blue sky. After a little patience, we spotted two birds of prey soaring to the south. Their slow circling hinted at buteos, but when they got closer, we could confirm they were Ospreys.

Hawk with dark body and two white horizontal bands on its tail soaring against a blue sky. — Broad-winged Hawk. *Photo by Jon Evans, April 27, 2025, Marian Byrnes Park.*

Our guide, COS President Edward Warden, noted that the pair was showing behaviors he hadn't seen before. Also, we spotted a Broad-winged Hawk and American Kestrel from this great vantage point.

Heading south, we found a Hooded Merganser and a Pied-billed Grebe in the middle pond. Along the path lined with tall cottonwoods, Nashville and Yellow Warblers flitted about. Two Red-headed Woodpeckers worked the canopy nearby, not far from a brilliant Baltimore Oriole. We also caught songs from a Warbling Vireo and watched Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.

At about three-quarters of the way through the park, we ventured out onto another elevated walkway over the water that ends at a viewing platform in the wetlands. Here, we flushed both a Sora and a Virginia Rail. The rail vanished quickly into the reeds, but the Sora stayed out in the open, giving us great views and a chance for photos.

Medium-sized duck-shaped brown bird with bright yellow beak and short, stubby tail held upright, wading through reeds in a marsh. — Sora. *Photo by Jon Evans, April 27, 2025, Marian Byrnes Park.*

On our return, we spotted a Rusty Blackbird perched just off the trail, offering excellent looks. Not long after, I was stopped in my tracks by an ascending, buzzy trill. A Prairie Warbler! After another burst of its sweet upward spiral, we found it high above the path. Some got good looks before it flew off east into the neighborhood.

Small bird with bright yellow body and smudgy brown cap, half-circle under a dark eye, and two streaks on each side of its breast, perched on a twig. — Prairie Warbler. *Photo by Kelly Ballantyne, April 22, 2023, Park 566.*

The Prairie Warbler, along with Hooded Merganser and Northern Shoveler, were all new species for Marian Byrnes Park. It’s another exciting milestone for a site once known only as a dumping ground for industrial runoff and trash. Thanks to ongoing stewardship, it’s coming back to life in a big way.

We saw 58 species on our walk. With spring migration heating up, Marian Byrnes is proving itself as a place to watch.

Field Trip Recap: Marian Byrnes Walk