Field Notes

Common Nighthawk. Photo by Paul Bulai.

By aerin tedesco, CCAS Field Trip Chair

Breeding birds did not disappoint this month! Both Grasshopper Sparrows and Sedge Wrens were discovered at Sangamon River Forest Preserve. When a baby Common Nighthawk was discovered on the ground by a building in Champaign, birders sprang into action. They secured the young bird, got in touch with building crews, and returned the bird to the roof, where two adult nighthawks were waiting. Since Common Nighthawks are declining across the county, it is very exciting news to discover them breeding in our area!

Other summer visitors to our area included the Black-crowned Night-heron at Kaufman Lake and its rarer cousin the Yellow-crowned Night-heron at Helms Park. Forster’s and Caspian Terns also made appearances, and a Wilson’s Phalarope in Champaign is hopefully a sign that shorebird migration is starting to heat up.

CCAS led successful walks at Lake of the Woods/Buffalo Trace Prairie in late June and Kaufman Lake/Heritage Park on July 25.

We will also lead a walk at Perkins Road Marsh in Urbana on August 29. This site is not open to the public, so it is a great chance to bird in this excellent habitat with a local guide.

We hope more exciting species of shorebirds, songbirds and more stop over in our area in the coming months.