2008 Fermilab Bird Report

Winter

Rough-legged Hawk (Photo by Dave Spleha)

The 2007 Christmas Bird Count produced a lower than average species count (45) and an individual count (3424) that was well below the 10 year average of 6650. This was due mainly to a low Canada Goose count; 1596 compared to a 10 year average of 5006. New for the Fermilab part of the count were Hermit Thrush, a regular migrant on site that has been recorded wintering in the area in small but increasing numbers, and Common Redpoll, a rare winter visitor to the Chicago area. Record high counts were recorded Common Golodeneye (154), Common Merganser (24), Ruddy Duck (2), Hairy Woodpecker (7), and Northern Shrike (5).

The remainder of the winter was fairly typical with few but regular sightings of Rough-legged Hawks, Northern Shrikes, and Wilson's Snipes as well as a smattering of uncommon but now regular wintering waterfowl and a single sighting of Snow Buntings. There were no Long-eared Owls or Short-eared Owls recorded on site this winter.

Spring

Female Surf Scoter (Photo by Steve Baranoff)

The Spring migration was also fairly typical of recent years. The only real rarity during the waterfowl migration was a female Surf Scoter that was present at A.E.Sea on April 24. The rarest find during the land bird migration was a Connecticut Warbler that was found along the Sparrow Hedge on May 25. A nest box was mounted on the roof of the High Rise in the hope that the Peregrine Falcons would return, but unfortunately they were not seen on site at all this year.

Summer

Female Orchard Oriole (Photo by Gene Oleynik)

It was a fairly typical summer this year. The high quality breeding birds were all back again in their usual locations. Bell's Vireos and Yellow-breasted Chats were both present in the scrubby habitat of ELM-14. Both Henslow's Sparrows and Grasshoppeer Sparrows were present in better than average numbers at various locations, though the Eola rd. grasslands had the greatest concentrations. Other grassland species, however, were doing less well; Sedge Wrens and Savannah Sparrows were noiceably more difficult to find this year. This was a particularly good year for Orchard Orioles which were present at least five different locations: the Big Woods (ELM-24), The main ring savanna (ELM-2), the bison field savanna (ELM-29), the sparrow hedge area (ELM-14), and Nepese Pond (ELM-9). Pied-billed Grebes nested on Lake Logo again this year and a Least Bittern was heard in the cattails by the main ring lake.

Unusual sightings over the summer included a Mute Swan that spent several days on A.E.Sea, a couple of Ruddy Ducks on Lake Law, and a Northern Pintail on Nepese pond.

Fall

Least bittern (Photo by Tom Bentley)

Fall migration produced few surprises this year. One notable find however was a recently fledged Least Bittern that was seen flying from the Lake Law area to Eola rd. where it landed briefly in some pines before heading off into the main ring. Despite lack of good shore bird habitat, a Black-bellied Plover in the Bison pasture when it was flooded in September. There were also several Osprey sightings this September and later in the season a Clay-colored Sparrow was found in the Garden Club and a Le Conte's Sparrow was found near Lake Law.