Find Spotted Sandpipers along a shore of a river, a stream, a lake, a pond, or even a small wetland. Weaver Park in Urbana as well as along the banks of the Sangamon River, McCullough Creek in Meadowbrook Park, Homer Lake, the Middle Fork River, and Point Pleasant wetland host these birds. Find enough water and you have a chance of seeing a Spotted Sandpiper, especially in late spring, and late summer to early fall, usually alone, sometimes with a partner. 

You will know that the bird you see is a wren when you see it cocking its barred tail at an angle. Listen for its bubbly, staccato, and very loud (for its size) song. Like most birds, wrens prefer to be invisible as far as non-wrens are concerned. You can use the Merlin app to help you learn this small bird’s song and, very possibly, find it moving about in dense tangles hunting for insects to eat.

If you see a Common Grackle on a cloudy day, you might dismiss it as just another black bird, but when the sun comes out, this member of the blackbird family becomes a work of art, its iridescent purple head, glossy body, and striking yellow eyes making you take a second look.

The month of May brings an influx of late migrants including the Indigo Bunting, a small sparrow-sized member of the cardinal family (which also includes grosbeaks, tanagers, and buntings).

Our long wait for thrushes, wrens, sparrows, vireos, warblers, and many more feathered friends is finally over! May events include Bird-a-thon fundraiser, Sunday morning bird walks, and 2 guided walks at local parks.