Birdwatching at Midewin

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Midewin, only 40 miles southwest of Chicago, represents the largest contiguous holding of public lands in the greater Chicago region. Bird watching Watchingor birding is a $25 billion industry that As most of the property consists of large grassland fields, Midewin was, according to a survey conducted by the United supports what is arguably the largest and most diverse community States Fish and Wildlife Service, enjoyed by over of grassland birds in northeastern Illinois. Analyses of long-term 50 million Americans in the year 2001. Birding is an records of bird populations indicate that many grassland bird enjoyable activity that can be pursued anywhere, species have decreased alarmingly in population size over the last but birding “hotspots” make the activity especially 30 years. Species of conservation concern include the bobolink, exciting and rewarding. In northeastern Illinois, the grasshopper and Henslow’s sparrows, and the upland sandpiper. the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie is one such These species and many others have thriving populations at hotspot. Some of the species that make it so are Midewin. For this reason, Midewin is both critically important for featured in this brochure. their continued survival and a superlative location for bird watching.

What is birding? It is observing and identifying The birds that live at Midewin include some species, like the wild birds in the field. Successful birding can be red-tailed hawk, common crow, blue jay, and northern mockingbird, accomplished simply with binoculars, a field guide, that occur year-round. Other species, like the bobolink, grasshopper and some determination. Of course, birding can also sparrow, and upland sandpiper, occur only during the breeding entail fancy and expensive gadgets, spotting scopes, season (April/May to July/August), when they migrate from more photographic equipment, etc. Many sources of southern locales, including the southern United States and Central information about birding are now available, including and South America. Yet others, like the Tennessee warbler, are books, magazines, and web sites. There are also found only during either spring or fall migration. Finally, some many birding associations and bird clubs. species, such as the rough-legged hawk, northern shrike, and tree sparrow, are found only in the winter, when they have migrated Many birders endorse the American Birding south from Canada for our relatively warmer winter weather. Association’s “Code of Birding Ethics.” At the core of this code is promotion of the welfare of birds and Like all birds, grassland birds respond to vegetation and not all their environment, respect for the birds you observe, grassland habitat is equally suitable. Some species, such as the and respect for fellow birders. We encourage birders grasshopper sparrow and the upland sandpiper, prefer short-stature at Midewin to follow these simple precepts, especially: grassland habitat. Other species, such as the bobolink and the • Stay on roads, trails, and paths, and minimize any Henslow’s sparrow, prefer taller-stature grasslands. To ensure habitat disturbance. habitation by the greatest diversity of grassland bird species, • Exercise restraint and caution during observation. therefore, a variety of grassland habitats is necessary. • Never tamper with bird nests, or their eggs or young.

At Midewin, management and restoration activities have been The code can be found at: designed to provide that variety of grassland habitats. In addition, www.americanbirding.org/abaethics.htm Midewin also provides many other types of habitat, including wetlands, old fence rows with trees and shrubs, savanna-like habitat, and remnant oak woodlands. This mix of habitats ensures that a great variety of bird species call Midewin home throughout the year, including the breeding season, spring and fall migration, and during the winter.

1 – BirdGRASSLANDS Watching Habitats BRUSHY FIELDS & WOODY EDGES Grasslands are just that—fields or areas dominated by grasses. At Grassland habitat is often invaded by woody plant species Midewin, most grass species were introduced from Europe for livestock leading to brushy or scrubby fields. At Midewin, woody plant pasture. In some of the grassland fields at Midewin, native plant species invaders include shrubs like prairie and multiflora rose, and can be found, including big bluestem, prairie cord grass, black-eyed trees like hawthorn and osage orange. In addition, many large susan, and wild bergamot. In the future, many grassland fields at fields were divided in sections by fencerows and tree lines, Midewin will be restored to native prairie habitat. But for now, some creating woody edge habitat. fields will remain in pasture grasses because this habitat is known to be suitable for some grassland bird species of conservation concern.

Grasslands Brushy Fields & Woody Edges

Woodlands & Savannas Wetlands

WOODLANDS & SAVANNAS WETLANDS Woodlands are dominated by trees. If the trees are scattered, the Wetlands are areas that are inundated by water often enough, woodland is generally referred to as savanna. If the trees are dense, but not necessarily year round, to support wetland plants or the woodland is referred to as forest. Midewin possesses remnant animals. At Midewin, wetland habitat includes ponds or open oak-dominated woodlands, some savanna and some forest. Savannas water wetlands; large marshes with cattails, reeds, and other plant have a grassland or prairie plant community beneath and surrounding species; and wet prairie/sedge meadow. the scattered trees. Forest may have a more complicated structure, with a layer of canopy trees, a layer of sub-canopy trees and shrubs, and a layer of forest plant species on the ground.

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UPLAND SANDPIPER DICKCISSEL r

Bartramia longicauda (breeding) Spiza americana (breeding) a

Classified as endangered in Illinois, found in Suggestive of diminutive s

open grassland of short stature. Larger meadowlark. Sexually s

than killdeer, often perches on fenceposts. dimorphic with male having l a Note the long tail, short bill, and thin neck. black V “bib” on yellow n Song a strange, windy whistle, first rising breast. Female lacks the d and then falling, wheeee-looooooooo. Sexes black bib. Found in grassy

similar in appearance. Most common in fields with scattered small s

large grassy fields. trees or small shrubs. Song loud, conspicuous recitation :

of name: dick dick dickCISSEL. Call note chek. S

GRASSHOPPER SPARROW h o

Ammodramus savannarum (breeding) EASTERN r t Small, somewhat secretive bird with short MEADOWLARK S

tail and flat head. From distance, appears Sturnella magna (breeding) t a

rather dull, but plumage quite intricate Chunky, brown bird with t u

close-up. Look for yellow shoulder, chestnut conspicuous black V “bib” r e and black stripes on back, and pale median on yellow breast, long bill. stripe on head. Flight appears weak. In flight, look for conspicuous Often quite abundant at Midewin, found in white outer tail feathers. short-stature grasslands, where male can Often flicks tail open when often be seen perched on taller forb or walking. Found in large numbers small shrub, singing. Apparently feed heavily throughout Midewin, often from February through late on grasshoppers in breeding season. Voice fall. Song of lovely but simple, clear, slurred whistles, an insect-like buzz preceded by tik notes: seee-ohaaa seeeahyair. Call a distinctive, sharp, raspy tik tuk zreeeeeeee (somewhat slurred at dziit and mechanical rattle, ztttttttt. times). Call a high, thin tip or titip. KILLDEER LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE Charadrius vociferus (breeding) Lanius ludovicianus (year-round, but A conspicuous bird of farm breeding population separate from winter country; abundant throughout population) Look for the distinctive grey, Midewin, arriving in very early black, and white plumage of this species in spring. This medium-sized, large fields with short grass and scattered long-winged shorebird has a trees, particularly osage orange. The white brownish cap and back, white throat contrasts with black mask, grey back, breast, with two easily- and black wings with prominent white observed black breast bands. Killdeer nest on ground, patch. Although a songbird, preys on large creating a small scrape in which their four very-well insects and small vertebrates, including birds, camouflaged eggs are laid. Young are downy and capable mammals, and amphibians. This species can shortly after hatching. Sexes are similar in appearance, be confused with northern mockingbird. and young resemble parents except for size and a single breast band. When the nest or young is approached, the adults exhibit a “distraction (broken wing) display” in which they attempt to lure the threat away from the nest or young. Voice a loud, high, repeated kill-DEER.

WHERE AND HOW TO LOOK FOR BIRDS AT MIDEWIN – 4 5 – Grasslands : Tall Stature Classified as endangered Classified red prey) and birds. er (non-breeding). (year-round). dimorphic, Sexually with oles are pref EARED OWL - – in Illinois, this uncommon, is typically owl medium-sized in large or marshesfound fields tall with medium to vegetation. similar. Sexes and dark eyes bill. Note yellow Upperparts and white, mottled brown breast with tawny with darker streaks fading to a white belly. Short ear apparent.tufts not always In flight, the pale look for wristunderwings with prominent black marks. Flight “floppy”described as and moth-like. Seldom vocalizes, describedbut as high, nasal, wheezy barks. SHORT Asio flammeus NORTHERN HARRIER Circus cyaneus male bluish grey and female streaked brown; streaked grey and female male bluish both have prominent white rump facial disc. and owl-like Glides and marshes, fields over buoyantly small hunting for mammals (v 7 6 – . Midewin tsik . , very faint and Hard to see, look but (breeding). Small, chuk tsliik (breeding). Sexually ved bill,ved and upright, (breeding). small, very A ubs. wn bird of medium to recur y S SPARROW ’ pale bro slightl e icult to hear. Call a sharp or thin, ields at Midewin and at Goose Lake Prairie.ields at Midewin and at Goose Lake secretive bird of tall-stature grassysecretive fields with scattered shr f tail.cocked Song of sharp, staccato chips trill. unmusical by followed dimorphic, largely with with male black straw-colored or strikingnape and yellow white rumpand scapulars; a pale female dark with buff stripesyellow and on crown back. A strong flier, often seen in males chase-pursuit of females. in found Typically of medium to tall-stature grassesfields and fields.hay A species of conservation concern due to declining populations, provides importantprovides large habitat for breeding population. Song is enthusiastic, bubbling warble, describe to distinctive difficult but and unique. Call a low diff HENSLOW henslowii Ammodramus Cistothorus platensis SEDGE WREN BOBOLINK oryzivorusDolichonyx secretiv tall-stature grasslands with scattered shrubs. Note white throat-patch under bill rimmed lateralby dark strip, and narrow breast band streaks.of fine as endangered in Classified Illinois, fairly but grassy in taller abundant f Song a dry, insect-like WHERE AND HOW TO LOOK FOR BIRDS AT MIDEWIN B

NORTHERN BOBWHITE WILLOW FLYCATCHER r

Colinus virginianus (year-round). Secretive Empidonax traillii (breeding). u

and heard more often than seen in brushy A rather dull, grayish bird s

fields and woods borders. Male song a found commonly in brushy h

clear whistle bob WHITE. Male has striking fields. Note upright posture, y head pattern with rufous cap, white line paired wing bars and narrow above eye, and white throat. eye ring. Voice a distinctive F i

fitzpew, with the accent e

usually on the second syllable. l d s

FIELD SPARROW & Spizella pusilla (year-round). Typically one of

the most abundant birds found in brushy BELL’S VIREO W grasslands. Sexes similar. Note the clear Vireo bellii (breeding). A o breast, pink bill, rusty crown, and white eye small, but conspicuous bird ring. Juveniles have lightly streaked breast. of scrubby habitat with o

Song an accelerating series of whistles, dense, but scattered shrubs. d

reminiscent of a ping-pong ball bouncing on Sexes have similar plumage. y table. Call is a distinctive chip. While most Look for broken eye-ring, E often found nesting in shrubs or small trees, two light wing bars, and

some nests are placed on ground. yellowish plumage on the d

sides and under tail. Active like wood warbler, but bill g

and legs noticeably stout in comparison. Voice distinctive, e

reminiscent of scolding, with rapid chewy-chewy chee, s chewy-chewy jeeew, with the chee sometimes rising in SONG SPARROW pitch slightly. Call a repeated chee chee chee. Melospiza melodia (year-round). Common in brushy fields, often near low, wet ground or open water. Sexes similar. Note heavily-streaked breast with prominent central breast spot, and brown and gray stripes on crown. Song rather complex and attractive, generally beginning with about three short notes followed by a variable series of trills.

WHERE AND HOW TO LOOK FOR BIRDS AT MIDEWIN – 8 9 – B

NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD ORCHARD ORIOLE r

Mimus polyglottos (year-round). Icterus spurius (breeding). u

Slender-bodied, long-tailed bird overtly One of the smaller orioles, s

similar to loggerhead shrike. Pale brown sexually dimorphic after first h

plumage above, whitish on breast and belly, year—females and males y with large white wing patch best seen similar through first year, dull in flight or when foraging, when the greenish back and yellowish F i

wing-patches are often flashed in apparent belly, except male has black e

attempt to flush insect prey. Called bib under bill. Second-year l d mockingbird for a reason, as it imitates and older males are dark, songs and calls of other species as well as with rump and under parts s

man-made objects like cell phone ringers. deep red or chestnut, black & Large repertoire, but species song contains elsewhere. Note the two

varied phrases in series, each phrase white wing bars. Song a W repeated one to several times. Common fast, enthusiastic warble, o and found throughout Midewin. interspersed with piping whistles and slurred notes. o

COMMON YELLOWTHROAT Quite common at Midewin. d

Geothlypis trichas (breeding). Small but As name suggests, found in grassy areas with scattered y stocky warbler more frequently heard than trees, and wood edges or corridors. Listen for the E seen. Somewhat drab yet dimorphic, male slurred wheer or zheeer at end. Call a low chut.

is plain olive back with yellow throat and d

black mask from cheek to cheek. Female g

generally similar but lacks the black mask. e

Found commonly in brushy fields and s hedgerows, and brushy edges of woodlands. Song rendered as witchity wtchity witchity. Call note a low cheep.

BLUE GROSBEAK Guiraca caerulea (breeding). Looks like large indigo bunting (Passerina cyanea). Large bill, but otherwise sexually dimorphic, with male dark blue except for rufous wing-bars, and female pale gray-brown with buffy-brown wing-bars. Found in brushy areas with scattered trees. Appears to be increasing slowly at Midewin. Voice is a rich, husky warble, of short rising and falling phrases. Call note a sharp chink.

WHERE AND HOW TO LOOK FOR BIRDS AT MIDEWIN – 10 11 – W

s RED-HEADED e

a WOODPECKER t n Melanerpes erythrocephalus l a

n (year-round). A striking bird n

a with bold plumage of bright red d v head, black upper back, white s a lower back, and black and white

S wings. Though not abundant, can be found in woody areas,

& particularly those with oaks. Contact call a wheezy queerp. SORA RAIL s Porzana carolina (breeding). More often seen than heard; d dwells in marshes, particularly those with dense vegetation. n Voice a decending whinny ker-WEEeee-ee-ee-ee-ee,or a

l shorter, whistled kerwee, given by both sexes; alarm call a

d loud, sharp keek. Breeding adult has yellow, chicken-like bill and black facial pattern. o o RED-WINGED

W BLACKBIRD Agelaius phoeniceus (breeding). One of the most numerous bird species in North America, and monitoring shows it to

RED-TAILED HAWK be the most abundant bird Buteo jamaicensis (year-round). A large and commonly at Midewin. A very early seen hawk, typically soaring and circling on ascending migrant in spring, flocking in wind currents. Can be observed soaring over all habitats large numbers upon arrival. at Midewin. Often perches in trees within grasslands Sexually dimorphic, with adult or along woodland-grassland edges. Adult has red tail. males shiny-black with red Often hunt and feed on snakes, which they can and yellow wing shoulder frequently be seen carrying. patches (may be concealed). Female streaky brown, faint red shoulder patch, and light stripe through eye. Song a loud, raspy kon-ka-RHEEE; call a loud chek or high tseert.

WHERE AND HOW TO LOOK FOR BIRDS AT MIDEWIN – 12 13 – s ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK r Buteo lagopus (non-breeding). o Larger than red-tail. In some t

i Tips on using binoculars winters, can be quite abundant, Binoculars are an essential tool for bird watching. Although the s

i in others less so. Two color general quality of binoculars has steadily increased over the last

V morphs, light and dark. Look several decades, as with most optical equipment, you tend to for dark patches on undersides get what you pay for. A very good set of binoculars can be r of wings. purchased for $200, but high end models can cost over $1,000. e

t Binoculars come in two basic designs: porro prism and roof prism.

n Either is fine and which a person prefers is a matter of taste. i

W TREE SPARROW Binoculars are described by magnification and the size of the Spizella arborea (non-breeding). objective lens (the lens opening farthest from the user’s eyes). Common winter resident in For example, binoculars may be described as 7 x 35, in which brushy fields in flocks. Note case the magnification of the image is 7 and the objective lens clear breast with central spot, is 35 mm in diameter. Note that the ratio of these two rufous crown, bright white wing numbers is 5 (35 = 7 x 5). The higher this ratio, the brighter bars, and bi-colored bill. Sexes the image will tend to be. Popular binoculars are 7 x 35, similar. Listen for a musical 8 x 30, and 10 x 40. two-note twitter, the common vocalization in winter. Two very important characteristics of binoculars are how closely they focus and the field of view. All else equal, a binocular that focuses more closely is preferable. Especially in dense vegetation, WHITE-CROWNED birds or butterflies may be close to the observer, and if the SPARROW binocular can not focus at that distance, it is useless. Zonotrichia leucophrys (non-breeding). Pale gray bird Field of view is how wide an area will be within the view at with distinctive and attractive a particular distance. Binoculars with greater field of view black and white head stripes increase the ease with which a bird (or other object) may found at Midewin only in the be found when looking through the eye pieces. A useful winter, often in large flocks in technique is to find the bird with the naked eye; then, bring brushy and weedy fields. Birds the binoculars to your eyes while maintaining focus on the bird. in first winter have orange-pink This takes some practice bill, older birds have pink bill. to do smoothly. It pays Song, which can be heard in to practice before going late spring, one or more into the field. plaintive whistles, suggesting an abbreviated white-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) song, followed by husky, trilled whistles or buzzes. Call a sharp pink. Known in ornithology for its many dialects, song in this species is exceptionally well studied.

WHERE AND HOW TO LOOK FOR BIRDS AT MIDEWIN – 14 15 – Photo Credits References Used Jack Bartholmai Birds of Illinois by Sheryl Devore, Steven D. Bailey, and Gregory Red-headed Woodpecker (12) Kennedy, Lone Pine Publishing

Mike Danzenbaker, www.avesphoto.com The Sibley Guide to Birds by David Allen Sibley, Knopf Northern Bobwhite (8) Rough-legged Hawk (14) Peterson Field Guide to Birds of Eastern and Central North Short-eared Owl (7) America by Roger Tory Peterson, Houghton-Mifflin

Bill Glass www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/ Liatris (Cover) Upland Sandpiper (4) www.americanbirding.org/index.html

Rich Hickson Bell’s Vireo (9) Bobolink - male/female (6) Dickcissel (5) Eastern Meadowlark (5) Field Sparrow (8) Acknowledgements Grasshopper Sparrow (4) Funding for this brochure was contributed by the Women Henslow’s Sparrow (6) of the Moose,Wilmington Chapter; ExxonMobil Foundation; Killdeer (5) CenterPoint Properties; National Forest Foundation; and Loggerhead Shrike (4) Midewin Tallgrass Prairie Alliance. Orchard Oriole - male/female (11) Red-winged Blackbird - male/female (13) Sedge Wren (6) Song Sparrow (8) Tree Sparrow (14) White-crowned Sparrow (14) Willow Flycatcher (9) Yellow Throat (10)

Peter LaTourrette, www.birdphotography.com Blue Grosbeak (10) Northern Harrier (7) Northern Mockingbird (10) Red-tailed Hawk (12) Sora Rail (13)

Dan Stefanich, www.gammongroup.com Habitat (4, 5)

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