Yellow-crowned Night-Heron | Illinois Birding by County

About

Purchased by the Cook County Forest Preserve District in 2003, Burnham Prairie Nature Preserve (BPNP) contains some of the highest quality wet prairie habitat in the state. Recently, the Army Corp of Engineers have completed restoration work on much of the east pond area. Plantings and herbicide application continues in the west pond area. A new parking lot and a modest trail were opened in 2014, significantly increase access to this site. As restoration work is ongoing, conditions change fairly frequently. Most notably, the water level is regularly manipulated to aid in the removal of invasive plants.

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Getting There

BPNP is a confusing place to find; just outside of city limits in Burnham, IL. While the Torrence Avenue bridge is under construction (to be completed summer 2017) all traffic must arrive turning north on Torrence from State Street. From there, turn right (east) onto 140^th Street then left (north) onto S Manistee Avenue. Finally, at the end of the street, turn right (east) 139st Street, which looks more like an alleyway. Proceed east about 30 yards and a metal swing gate marks the entrance.

How to Bird

Burnham Prairie has a few trails and no facilities. Late March – Early January are the most worthwhile times to visit. Late winter is mostly barren. As there is a great variety of habitat, it’s easiest to break-down each major trail/path:
(Note: The trail colors only correspond to the above map. There are no trail markings at this preserve.)

Orange(Entry Road) – As you enter the preserve, you drive down a road bisecting the West Ponds allowing outstanding views of the bird life. Caspian Tern, herons, Pied-billed Grebes, and swallows can be expected spring through fall. Depending on the water level, this area can also be extraordinary for shorebirds. Besides the expected shorebirds, Black-bellied Plover, American Golden-Plover, Marbled Godwit and Willet have all been found here. Ducks will also frequent this area in migration but, not in numbers as seen in other parts of the preserve. The Wet Prairie in this area is a great place to see numbers of Wilson’s Snipe in the spring.

Yellow – For a short visit, this gravel path can usually give you a good idea as to what birds are around. This path has the best views of the East Ponds (scope helpful). Shorebirds can often be found wading around the north edges of the ponds. The Slag Field, dotted with a few isolated trees can occasionally produce some interesting birds (in the current year Northern Mockingbird has been found here repeatedly) and is frequented by woodpeckers and migrating Baltimore Orioles. Sparrows tend to load up along the prairie plants along this path. As you walk to the northeast portion of the path, around the small hill, you’ll approach the last stretch of path before the train tracks. This area can be a highly effective viewing station. To the distant south, you’ll be able to see herons hanging around the south edge of the West Pools, often in large numbers (high counts of Great Egret exceed 70). In the foreground, the wet prairie is very popular in the spring with teal, Wood Ducks, and the occasional rail. In the early summer, this area becomes loaded with Marsh Wren. To the north, the drop off to an oft-flooded depression is very popular with breeding Swamp Sparrow as well as House Wren. Eastern Kingbirds, Eastern Phoebes, and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers are abundant in season and commonly perch on the chain-link fence. Lastly, watching the woods in spring and fall can produce modest numbers of warblers and kinglets.

Blue – This trail consists of walking alongside the railroad tracks. These tracks are rarely used but, they do occasionally hold staging freight cars. A there-and-back walk along the tracks begins at the north end, alongside the Wet Prairie that is popular with Marsh Wren & Swamp Sparrows. In migration, Lincoln’s Sparrow can be found here. Continuing to walk south gives great morning views of the West Ponds with the sun at your back. Loads of ducks gather here although, it’s likely you’ll flush any birds that are in the closest pond. Telephone poles and the isolated trees along the tracks are popular perching spots for Red-tailed Hawks and American Kestrel; both of which breed in the area. When raptors aren’t around, these trees are very popular with migrating warblers and sparrows. Walking further to the south edge of the ponds Sedge Wren, Yellow Warblers, and Common Yellowthroat become the dominant bird. As you get closer to the Oak Grove, the calls of Willow Flycatchers become conspicuous, as well. In the Oak Grove area, Henslow’s Sparrow can be heard calling in spring. In the later summer, Red-headed Woodpeckers frequent this area as well as the Tree Grove east of the tracks. The quality of prairie plants in this area is outstanding. However, the birding is difficult and usually not very rewarding; rubber boots are a must and extreme care should be given not to trample the fragile vegetation. Most often, the birds that are observed from the tracks represent all the birds that can be found in this area. A walk around the Oak Grove can give a closer view of some of the prairie areas and better views of any birds they contain. A patch of bushes along the tracks, just north of the ComEd substation, are a favorite spot for migrating, under-story warblers (Northern Waterthrush, Ovenbird,…)

Green – This gravel access road leads through trees that border the Grand Calumet River. During migration, this is the best place in the preserve to find warblers, thrushes, vireo, and flycatchers. The area around the T-intersection is usually the hot spot. Continuing further west will generally give you more woodpeckers and sometimes lead to better views of shorebirds that are hanging out around the north end of the West Ponds.

Purple – More a worn footpath than a trail, useful to visit if you’re trying to add additional migrating passerines to your site list but, can be skipped. Often requires rubber boots and walking around broken glass and other decaying metal waste.

Red – Parallel to the tracks for most of the time and often flooded. Mostly popular with Red-winged Blackbirds and Killdeer. This path takes you onto ComEd property. Access to this area is allowed but, generally, only useful if you’re trying to get to the trees boarding the Grand Calumet River to the east.

Why this place is special

This preserve demonstrates the benefits of preservation and restoration. The remnant prairie that makes up the south half of the preserve is extraordinary for its plant diversity whereas the completed work on the north and west has created highly-productive bird habitat. This diversity provides sanctuary for both birds and other animals such as mink and coyote. In the summer breeding season, when most Chicago-area sites’ counts drop to 20-30 species, Burnham Prairie Nature Preserve can regularly produce species counts around 40-50. This preserve represents a great effort to return Common Gallinule, King Rail, and other extirpated species to the Calumet region.

Harborside International Golf Course is located at 11001 S. Doty Avenue East in southeast Chicago. Doty Avenue is the frontage road which runs along the east side of I-94 (Bishop Ford Expressway), and it may be easily accessed by exiting I-94 at the 111th, 115th, or 130th Street east exits. The golf course is situated at the northwest corner of Lake Calumet, and clear views of the lake and its various habitats are easily obtained from the clubhouse balcony (a spotting scope is recommended). The facility is normally open from April 1st through October 31st. Species groups found at Harborside since 2002 have typically included waterfowl, wading birds, raptors, shorebirds, and grassland birds.

Harborside International Golf Course is a private facility, but the Harborside management has no objection to birders observing from this location if certain protocols and restrictions are observed. Cameras/photography are forbidden on the premises. Birders are allowed to view from the clubhouse balcony only, but only on days when the balcony is not already in use for a special event. Birders are discouraged from using the balcony from noon to 1 pm, when golf course patrons may be lunching there. To get to the clubhouse balcony, enter the golf course and follow the entrance road to the parking lot. Drive to the east end of the parking lot, park, and walk east to the clubhouse. The balcony is at the east end of the clubhouse.

Birds seen at Harborside Golf Course since 2002 include 27 waterfowl species (21 ducks). Less common waterfowl have included Greater White-fronted Goose, Ross’s Goose, Trumpeter Swan, Tundra Swan, and White-winged Scoter (usually three, but up to six Greater White-fronted Geese were regularly viewed from the clubhouse balcony during May of 2013). Ring-necked Pheasants were commonly heard calling from the clubhouse balcony through 2008, but it appears that this species no longer occurs on the property. Pied-billed & Horned Grebes are commonly seen during the proper season, and an Eared Grebe could be viewed from the clubhouse balcony during May of 2002 and April of 2009. American White Pelicans occur only uncommonly and sporadically during migration.

Nine wader species have occurred since 2002, with less common species including Least Bittern, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Cattle Egret, and Yellow-crowned Night-Heron. At least twelve raptor species have been seen at Harborside since 2002. Turkey Vultures & Red-tailed Hawks are commonly seen throughout the summer months, but Osprey, American Kestrel, & Peregrine Falcon are also occasionally seen. A pair of Bald Eagles recently built a nest at the tip of the northernmost slip at southeastern Lake Calumet, and the nest (w/incubating adult) could be viewed from the clubhouse balcony during the spring of 2013. Virginia Rail & Sora (and Marsh Wren) may be heard calling from the clubhouse balcony during the proper season, and Common Gallinule has also occasionally been seen from that vantage point.

At least 24 shorebird species have occurred since 2002, with less common species including American Avocet, Willet, Ruddy Turnstone, Red Knot, White-rumped Sandpiper, Baird’s Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper, Short-billed & Long-billed Dowitchers, and Wilson’s Phalarope. A few Bonaparte’s Gulls may be seen with the many Ring-billed & Herring Gulls during migration, and a Laughing Gull could be viewed from the clubhouse balcony during June of 2006. A 1st-cycle Great Black-backed Gull lingered throughout May & much of June in 2004. Caspian Terns are regular during summer, and Forster’s, Common, & Black Terns are occasionally seen during migration. A nesting colony of Bank Swallows (50-100+ nest holes) was located at the northeast corner of Lake Calumet (across the lake from the clubhouse balcony) from 2002 – 2009.

A Northern Mockingbird has appeared on the golf course grounds on more than one occasion. Savannah Sparrows, Dickcissels, & Eastern Meadowlarks are commonly heard singing along the Harborside entrance road during June, and Bobolinks have also occurred. As a plus, Franklin’s Ground Squirrels breed on the property and are also occasionally seen along the entrance road.

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