North Central Illinois Ornithological Society

Barbara and I saw 17 Sandhill Cranes flying over our house at 10:15 a.m. today. With the strong northwest wind, we figured that a big push of migrating Sandhill Cranes was underway, and, we hoped, the Whooping Cranes would be on the move as well.

We drove up to Nygren around noon and found all 5 Whooping Cranes standing in the marsh in the usual place, so apparently they didn’t think that the weather was so great for migration. However, only 3 Sandhill Cranes were with them.

Reports on IBET this afternoon referred to migrating flocks of 1800-3600 Sandhills migrating. I suspect that a lot of them stopped at the Jasper-Pulaski State Wildlife Management Area in NW Indiana. None of the reports made any mention of Whoopers. Barbara reported to ICF that the Whoopers were still at Nygren and was told that some Whoopers left Necedah this morning to migrate, but some never got out of Wisconsin.

The cranes were still present as of late afternoon today.

Dan and I recorded the bands on the 5 Whooping Cranes and reported them to the International Crane Foundation. Here is the info they sent back:

Thank you so much for contacting us about the 5 whooping cranes you observed and for recording all of the color bands on their legs.  Crane #1 is 29-08, Crane #2 is 12-07, Crane #3 is 8-05, Crane #4 is 1-04, and Crane #5 is 14-05.  This is an unusual grouping because these birds were not associating with each other prior to starting migration on Sunday. 

#’s 1-04 & 8-05 are a breeding pair, 1-04 is a 5 year old male, and 8-05 is a 4 year old female.  They spend the winter in TN and nested unsuccessfully for the second time this spring.  They started migration from the Necedah NWR on Sunday AM but not with the other birds. 

#’s 12-07 & 14-05 are a 2 and 4 year old male who only recently joined up when they both moved south from where they’d spent the spring and summer.  We didn’t know they were migrating on Sunday – just that they were no longer at their last known location but I’m guessing they actually did fly Sunday AM, otherwise I’m not sure how all these birds met up and ended up at the same place – even so it still seems pretty unlikely and yet pretty cool that these 5 all ended up together.  I think 12-07 & 14-05 both spent last winter at separate locations in FL – they’ll probably go back to FL but they’re not as locked in on a winter location as the pair mentioned above.

#29-08 is a 1 year old male – he learned how to migrate south last fall behind ultralight aircraft so this is his first fall migration on his own.  I would normally expect him to return to FL and to the area he spent last winter in the release pen but he may be influenced by these other birds that he’s traveling with so we’ll have to wait and see.  He started migration from near Necedah Sunday AM but wasn’t with the pair so somewhere along the way all 5 of these birds – probably originally in 3 separate groups met up in the air and all ended up at the same place.

It’s unclear to me from other reports we’ve gotten whether these birds are still there or if they’ve moved on.  If you visit this area again or hear of any reports of these or any whooping cranes please let me know.  Also please let me know if you have any questions about these birds, I’m happy to answer them or at least try.

Thanks again,
Sara
 
Sara Zimorski
Aviculturist/WCEP Tracking and Winter Management Team Co-chair

International Crane Foundation
E11376 Shady Lane Road/P.O. Box 447
Baraboo, WI 53913-0447 USA
608-356-9462 x154 / Fax: 608-356-9465
Visit our website!  www.savingcranes.org

Sunday, Nov 15 was a big day for Whooping Cranes in Winnebago County. In the morning, the flock of youngsters being led south by ultralight aircraft on their first migration got underway again after a delay of nine or ten days. Strong south winds and equipment problems had kept them stuck in Winnebago.

In the afternoon five adult Whooping Cranes migrating south from Wisconsin, on their own, stopped in the Nygren Wetlands. Many observers watched them as they rested and fed with many Canada Geese, Mallards and five Sandhill Cranes. It was quite a sight. The human observers were all extremely well-behaved and quiet while we were there. It is important for all of us to remember that it is critical for the birds’ well-being that we continue to be well-behaved when Whoopers are present. There is precious little habitat for them in this area and we don’t really know whether or not they will return to a place where they have been bothered or frightened away in the past. Nygren is a wonderful place for them. It would be great, for them and us, if they felt secure there and made a habit of using that marsh in migration.

I got wind of the Black-headed Grosbeak on Saturday when my sister Jennie arrived at my apartment. We headed out to the location and met Jack & Joyce Armstrong there. After 10-15 minutes we had excellent views of the bird in the black walnut (?) tree to the right of the garage of a residence east of Rockford (directions below).

Unfortunately, I failed to get a photo as the bird flew when I attempted to get the camera out.

Directions:

Take Riverside east past the tollway, past Sportscore 2, past Olsen Road. The road curves and descends and then take a left at Aberdeen Rd (looks almost like a private drive). Take an immediate left on Prestwick Rd. I think the address is 11507 and is on the right (driveway leads to a garage that is located at a left, 90-degree angle.)

I believe this was reported on the phone tree but I thought I’d post it here as well.

I found a female Red-necked Phalarope in a fluddle on the north side of Oliver Road, about 0.3 of a mile west of Harrison Road, northwest of Rockford, late this afternoon. It was still there at 5:45 p.m. Also present were 4 Dunlin in breeding plumage, a couple of Spotted Sandpipers, Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers, and a couple of SemiPlovers. On the south side of the road were 11 SB Dowitchers and a hen Hooded Merganser and her brood.

Th eGolden-crowned Sparrow in Scioto Mills has been seen daily since Saturday, April 17, in Scioto Mills, Stephenson County. Photos are posted at www.ilbirds.com. The bird has been seen in several locations, most frequently 150 or so yards south along the Jane Addams Trail, in the yard with a bird feeder and a green children’s slide. It is also being seen in the yard and at the feeder of a house at the SE corner of Scioto Mills and Iris Hill Roads, and also across the street to the north of the last house mentioned.

Anne Straight has posted on IBET that she and others found a Golden-crowned Sparrow in Stephenson County this morning. I copied her post here for your interest and benefit of the directions.

A male GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW was spotted this morning at 10:30am. in
Stephenson County. It was viewed by 5 of us on the Jane Addams Trail south
of Scioto Mills Rd about 200 or so yards down the trail. This area is north
of Freeport and a little west. There is a fenced in garden on the left (up
on a banked area) and the bird was in some brushy area on the right. When
the rest of the group went there about an hour later we did not relocate.
One person did take a photo if it needs doumentation. This is west of Rt. 26
and north of Rt. 20. Delorme page 16. North of Duck’s Misery.

Anne Straight
Forreston, IL (Ogle County)
astraight AT worldnet.att.net

Ken Frey called the Rockford calling tree this morning and reported a Snowy Owl near I-43 in southern Wisconsin.

Take I-43 toward Milwaukee to the Clinton exit at Hwy 140. Exit north on 140 to Highway 14. Turn right and proceed about 3-4 miles to a pipeline construction site. with dirt piles. The bird was sitting on a dirt pile at the construction site.

Darrell Friday called us this afternoon to report that the Spotted Towhee was back. It had not been seen since Friday, Feb. 6. It could not be found after the onset of mild weather, but we speculated that it still might be in the area. So it is.

Darrell and Janet are still willing to allow birders to come look for the bird, but, as before, they ask that you call first to be sure that they will be home and to get permission. They especially ask that no one try to visit on Sunday morning. Their number is 815-234-5684.

bird on upper right perch

A bird that is very likely a Hoary Redpoll was seen at the feeder of Darrell and Janet Friday, the same folks who had the Spotted Towhee. See Eddie Callaway’s post about the towhee for their telephone number.

I saw the bird on Sunday, 2/8 and managed to get one photo before the birds flushed. The subject is among a flock of 10 or so birds. It is very pale, with completely unstreaked undertail coverts and belly, and little or no flank streaking along the upper breast. The bird is a male, with a pale rosy wash on the upper breast, much paler than male Common Redpolls. The bill is slightly smaller than the Commons, but the subject does not appear to have a flat, or “pushed in” face as mentioned in some books. I believe that this feature is generally related to the feathering on the lores and face. This bird lacks an all black bib and lores. It only has some black highlights and tips on the feathers where the bib should be, so I suspect that it may be a young male that hasn’t completed a molt.

Please remember to call the Fridays first and obtain their permission before going to look for the bird.