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Field
Notes
 Field
Notes Editor, Darin Eastburn, 344-2297
January and February 2010
As one might expect, the number of bird sightings posted to the bird-notes
listserve have been somewhat sparse over the past month, as the weather
has kept both birds and birders out of sight. However, some interesting
sightings and discussions have been posted. Three owl species (Screech,
Barred, Great Horned) were seen at the owl prowl hosted at the Anita Purves
Nature Center at the end of January, and this sighting initiated a discussion
of Great Horned and Barred Owls competing for habitat. The sighting of
Chickadees at several locations also led to a discussion of the overlapping
ranges of Black-capped and Caroline Chickadees and how to distinguish
these two species. With the leaves off the trees, woodpeckers are easier
to spot. Some that have been seen this past month include Downy, Hairy,
and Red-bellied Woodpeckers and Northern Flickers. Several Pileated Woodpeckers
have been seen at sites including Allerton Park and the Homer Lake Forest
Preserve. Mute Swans and an Orange-crowned Warbler were also seen at Homer
Lake.
Some interesting birds observed at Clinton Lake included Canada Geese,
Greater White-fronted Geese, Mallard, Black Duck, Common Goldeneye, Common
Merganser, Hooded Merganser, Ring-necked Pheasant, Pied-billed Grebe,
Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Ring-billed and Herring Gulls, American
Tree Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Eastern Meadowlark, Common Grackle, and Brown-headed
Cowbird. Birds reported from Meadowbrook and the surrounding area include
a Rough-legged Hawk, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, and American Kestrel;
large numbers of Canadian Geese continued to hang-out at the pond on south
First Street. Cooper's Hawks have been seen in several locations, and
the resident Peregrine Falcon has continued to frequent the Illini Tower.
Some backyard observations this past month have included House Sparrow,
Tree Sparrow, Field Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Chickadee, Cardinal,
Dark-eyed Junco, Carolina Wren, House Finch, American Goldfinch, White-breasted
Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Blue Jay, Mourning Dove, and American Crow.
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