Field Notes: Recent Bird Walks Spotlight Parks

Enjoying a recent bird walk. Photo by aerin tedesco.

By aerin tedesco, CCAS Field Trip Chair

On Thursday, September 26, CCAS board members Aerin Tedesco and Mariska Harshbarger helped lead a bird walk at Meadowbrook Park in conjunction with Mercy Davison, a city planner from Bloomington, who is on the board of the Grand Prairie Bird Alliance. The walk was a part of an urban planning conference in Champaign-Urbana (CU), and about 15 city planners and other related folks participated. We were able to show them some great migratory birds in a park with some of the best bird habitat in the CU area.

Then on Saturday, September 28, Aerin Tedesco led a bird walk for a group of 18 women at Crystal Lake Park. The event was coordinated with Rachel Thompson for the Girls Who Walk fitness group. All but a few had never been birding before so it was very exciting to show so many new folks some amazing migrating birds in another excellent local park.

And on Saturday, October 19, Aerin Tedesco led a small group of birders on a walk at Weaver Park. Our target species were Nelson’s and LeConte’s Sparrows, which pop-up at this time of year and Weaver has perfect habitat for it. We didn’t find them, but we did find plenty of other excellent sparrow species, including some very cooperative and beautiful Savannah Sparrows! We ended up with a total of 31 species, including 7 other sparrow species, woodpeckers, blackbirds and ducks, showing once again what an important and quality wetland habitat Weaver Park is for birds!

We have also planned a field trip on November 16 to Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area to see the Sandhill Cranes during their incredible migration event. Join us!