North Central Illinois Ornithological Society

waterfowl at Rock Cut SP

Dan Williams — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:13:20 +0000

Checked Pierce Lake today to see if there was any open water at the east end of the lake where the creek enters. There is a small area of open water that does not yet extend as far west as the Lion’s Club fishing pier.

There were some ducks in the open water: 21 Hooded Mergansers were the highlight, plus a pair of Ring-necked Ducks, 6 Lesser Scaup, and 2 Black Ducks plus a few Mallards.

A flock of 96 White-fronted Geese came in from the southwest, circled out to the northeast over Olson Lake, and then headed off to the northwest. Must not have been enough open water for them.

Did someone mention Cranes?

Barbara Williams — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:53:29 +0000

At 12:45 today I saw about 50 Sandhill Cranes flying north over Anna Page Park

Midwest Crane Count

Barbara Williams — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:11:48 +0000

The date for the Midwest Crane Count this year is April 17th. If you can participate please call Lynda Johnson at 815-629-2781

arriving puddle ducks & Brewer’s Blackbirds

Dan Williams — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:53:05 +0000

This afternoon, I drove down to the Rockford airport quarry on Belt Line Road. The most southeastern corner of the south quarry pond was open water. It had a bunch of Mallards, plus a hen Wood Duck, 2 drake N. Shovelers, 4 Am. Wigeon and 14 Gadwall. 3 Bald Eagles were in the dead snag behind the quarry to the SE. 19 Wild Turkeys were in the corn fields to the east, and at least 3 Brewer’s Blackbirds were in a mixed flock of mostly Red-wings with some cowbirds along Belt Line Rd. near the new bridge being constructed over the Kishwaukee River.

4 Common Goldeneye were in the Rock River at Blackhawk Park in south Rockford.

More waterfowl

Larry Balch — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:32:00 +0000

Dan and Barbara Williams have just (10 am) reported to me that Howard’s farm (see previous post) now has a Ross’s Goose and three Trumpeter Swans.

northwest Winnebago Co. on Saturday morning

Dan Williams — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 20:35:49 +0000

Donna and Larry Balch, and I, spent a few hours in northwest Winnebago County this morning. Started at Howard’s farm, which is on IL 70 about half of the way between Rockford and Durand. Once you cross the Pecatonica River at Trask Bridge, going toward the northwest, the farm is about 1 more mile ahead.

At Howard’s, we estimated that there were 8000+ geese, mostly Canadas. However, 800+, or about 10%, were White-fronted Geese, only 2 Snow Geese, and maybe 8 Cackling Geese mixed in. 22 Sandhill Cranes flew over, several Bald Eagles were soaring around; Killdeer, Red-winged Blackbirds, cowbirds, Horned Larks and Lapland Longspurs were flying around and calling. Actually started to feel like spring!

A Rough-legged Hawk (light morph) flushed a flock of approximately 100 Snow Buntings and Lapland Longspurs from a field on the east side of Leech Road between IL 75 and Fritz Road, east of Durand. Barred Owls were calling at Pecatonica Forest Preserve and at the bridge where Winslow Road crosses the Sugar River (this bridge was formerly known as “Red Bridge” when the old red bridge was there).

Before picking me up, Larry and Donna found a Carolina Wren at the intersection of Liberty and Willard in northwest Rockford. This is N of Auburn Street and west of the Northwest Community Center, near Kent Creek.

Hazard to Songbirds

Barbara Williams — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:27:27 +0000

In the Rockford Register Star on Monday or Tuesday there was an article suggesting that city and county support is being sought for the establishment and maintenance of “managed cat colonies” in Rockford. The theory is that wild cats can’t be tamed so if they are “trapped, neutered and released” eventually the wild cat population will die out. The fact is that these colonies become a magnet for anyone who wishes to abandon a cat and the colonies grow rather than shrink. “Caretakers” feed the cats enough to keep them in the area and in some cases they are vaccinated against some feline diseases. Because they are still living as wild cats they hunt constantly and take a terrible toll on wildlife. The cats put intense predator pressure on many songbirds that are already under stress from loss of habitat, pesticides, window collisions, cell tower collisions, etc.
If free-roaming cats are trapped they should not be re-released. They can be tamed. It is bad for the cats to be released. They are exposed to many dangers (cars, poisons, parasites, coyotes), they are a nuisance to neighbors and they are a disaster for wildlife.
I have written a letter to the editor of the paper and am composing a letter to the director of Winnebago County Animal Control opposing “managed cat colonies”. Please write letters, send e-mails, and raise your voices. Saving habitat doesn’t help if we allow the habitat to be filled with cats.

Goshawk at Lockwood Park, Rockford

Dan Williams — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:46:03 +0000

Yesterday, 2/23, Barbara spotted a Northern Goshawk flyacross Safford Road and into Lockwood Park. If anyone is out birding in this area, please post if you relocate it.

Golden Eagle attacks Deer Photos

Augie Orlandi — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 12:03:51 +0000

Here is a link to a site showning a Golden Eagle attacking a Deer.
It was seen around Nachusa Grasslands in Lee County.
If anyone planning on looking for this eagle please let
me know. I would like to follow you there. 1-815-874-2597

http://www.ilbirds.com/index.php?topic=32809.0

Augie

Bald Eagles

Augie Orlandi — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 22:25:32 +0000

We saw 4 Bald Eagles at the intersect of Beltline Rd. and Kishwaukee Rd. today 2-18-10 around 11:00a.

Augie