The Grasshopper Sparrow Journals: August 24-October 19, 2024
We encounter more charming Sedge Wrens, witnessed an amazing morning of bat migration, and led one heck of a fall sparrow bird walk
The Grasshopper Sparrow Journals documents bird life at Chicago's Park 566. Previously home to one of the largest steel mills in the U.S., Park 566 has become one of northeastern Illinois's premier spots for avian biodiversity—and the only location within Chicago city limits where Grasshopper Sparrows breed. I hope you enjoy this tour of Park 566 through the pages of my nature journal, photos, and videos. 💛
These last 3 entries conclude the 2024 Grasshopper Sparrow Journals. It’s been a joy reliving these days spent in this lovely lakeside prairie, and I can’t wait to share new adventures with you when the Grasshopper Sparrows return.
August 24, 2024
What a wonderful day this was. We planned to tour Park 566 with
, who I’d become friends with on Instagram over a mutual love of birds, Lake Michigan, and all things nature. We were finally meeting in person AND birding Park 566! I was so excited, but also a little nervous that it would be a slow day of birding. At this point in the season you couldn’t quite know what to expect—resident birds were already heading south and fall migration is typically erratic.The morning started out on a very promising note, with gorgeous late summer weather and 3 Common Nighthawks soaring overhead. Fantastic! While Common Nighthawks are expected in Chicago in the summer, watching them soar through the pre-dawn sky on their long, slender wings is always a special treat.
Just as the sun was coming up, we spotted a Marsh Wren amongst the sunflowers. Yes! Marsh Wrens typically only visit Park 566 during migration so their presence boded well for us. We continued on, and soon heard a Sedge Wren singing not far off. They were still here, and were a lifer for María!!!
and I were now on a mission to find one perched above the grasses, hoping they’d be as reliable as they had been in past weeks.
Well, our Sedge Wren friends did not disappoint!
Not 10 minutes later, a Sedge Wren popped out of the Big Bluestem right along the road. This adorable youngster even posed in their classic “splits” pose, and didn’t seem at all bothered as we ooh’d and ahh’d about how adorable they were and basked in the glory of such great looks at María’s lifer Sedge Wren.
This wren continued to flit back and forth to each side of the road for the next 5 minutes, sometimes in the early morning sun in the Bluestem, sometimes in the shaded blooms of Boneset. What an absolute charmer!
The Sedge Wren was definitely the highlight of our morning, but I also remember how the sky was full of Chimney Swifts, Bobolinks were calling, and one of our beloved Grasshopper Sparrows was still transporting food to nestlings. A wonderful way to introduce María to the park.
September 21, 2024
My Grasshopper Sparrow Journal took a pause for a couple of weeks due to travel, life, and Chicago’s inaugural Urban Birding Festival. It picked back up on September 21, another warm, calm morning along the lake.
Tendonitis in my arm had flared up, so I opted out of carrying my 6.5 pound camera and lens. While I love photography, I also occasionally find it refreshing to go birding without my camera. I feel lighter—and somehow more than just 6.5 pounds lighter.
Dan and I usually warn each other if we won’t be bringing a camera to ensure the other person brings theirs, just in case we come across something rare we’d like to document. We also joke that if one of us leaves a camera behind, that means the other will get some killer photos. September 21, 2024 was no exception to that rule, but not just for birds—though there were some gorgeous views of golden yellow Bobolinks in golden yellow goldenrod that I still dream about.
Nope, this day was all about bats!
Within minutes of our start, reports came in from Discord about several bats flying in off the lake. Sure enough, as we scanned the tops of the grasses, an Eastern Red Bat whizzed by. Cool!
Soon after, Dan spotted a dark fuzzy shape along the berm. A Silver-haired Bat was draped over the long grasses, taking a nap in possibly the most awkward position ever (see bottom left drawing).
Ooh, this was so promising. Dan had spotted 100+ bats roosting during a morning walk a few weeks prior while I was out of town, and I was certain I’d missed my opportunity to witness a big bat migration at Park 566.
As you can see from my journal pages, I did not miss that big bat migration at all. By the end of the morning we had counted 43 roosting bats and 4 bats in flight. 40 of these tiny flying fuzzballs were Eastern Red Bats, while the remainder were Silver-haired Bats. I’m sure there were many more bats napping in the adjacent private property—they were EVERYWHERE. Most were pasted to the tree trunks (sometimes several to a trunk), some hung from bare branches, and some dangled from Cottonwood and Honey Locust leaves. Adorable little “squeak fruits” as friend Joe Feliciano called them. Here’s a video of one of those squeak fruits swaying in the breeze:
What an amazing spectacle to witness!
October 19, 2024
One of the most wonderful things about fall migration is that it’s long. That means mid-October is still excellent birding in Chicago, especially for the coveted LeConte’s and Nelson’s Sparrows (aka Orange Sparrows). These species are uncommon in Chicago and typically only seen during fall migration, and Park 566 is one of the best places to see them. In fact, Dan and I had donated a Park 566 Fall Sparrow walk for a Chicago Ornithological Society fundraiser, and I picked October 19 as our date based on eBird data for LeConte’s Sparrows. Now we had a half dozen enthusiastic birders to lead around (this time paying customers!), all hoping to see some Orange Sparrows. My bird walk anxiety was once again in full effect. Please, please, please be a good day…
As our fellow birders assembled at dawn and we chatted about what everyone hoped to see, we caught sight of two Peregrine Falcons hanging out over the water treatment plant. Phew, that’s a pretty great start for a walk. We continued on, and soon we heard an American Woodcock peent. What?!? Unexpected and absolutely delightful. Everyone was thrilled and my anxiety had eased. The morning, like most mornings spent in the company of birds, was already great.
We walked on, taking our time as we scanned the nearby shrubs, trees, and beach. Sure, we had target birds to find, but we wanted to see whichever birds were present.
Eventually we made it to the road that runs through the center of the park. Not ten yards on, Dan looked into the grass to our right and said to me “I’m going to just duck in there and see if I can find anything.”
“Okay, I’ll stay out here with the group.”
We walked on, quietly chatting about birds while scanning all around, while Dan disappeared into the grasses. What may have been only one minute later, I heard Dan whisper “Kelly, I have something!”
Dan has a talent for speaking quietly while still conveying a sense of urgency when he finds a rare bird. Me…not so much.
“LECONTE’S?” “NELSON’S?” I whisper-shouted back. A quietly excited “Yes!” was the reply.
The group and I carefully navigated the tall grasses towards Dan’s location, crossed-fingers clutched to binoculars. Please, please, please stay put until we can see you!
There, not 3 feet off the ground, perched a beautiful sparrow with a finely streaked nape and pumpkin face—a LeConte’s! The LeConte’s stayed low in the fading flowers for several minutes, somehow managing to skulk while also perching out in the open.
The rest of the morning proved just as magical. A huge flock of Monk Parakeets flew overhead, announcing their arrival with their loud discordant calls well before coming into view. A Marsh Wren perched high in the sunflowers, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet fed amongst the goldenrods, and a Wilson’s Snipe flushed from our path. And there were so many sparrows. From Field and Fox to Swamp and Savannah, just about every species of sparrow you can find in Chicago was there that day. There was even a late Grasshoppper Sparrow, who I assumed were long gone. We eventually found our second target, a Nelson’s Sparrow, though no one managed to capture their beauty photographically. This is the best I have to show for myself:
We also found a Harris’s Sparrow, another uncommon and very welcome Chicago visitor. I did that bird more justice:
You can find the full list of sparrows from that day in my pages below, along with my other notes.
October 19 was a banner day for Park 566, and a fitting end for the 2024 Grasshopper Sparrow Journals.
I almost concluded this letter with “not all days at this park are as magical as these,” but that’s not really true. While these were particularly magical days amongst many other magical days not yet written about, every day I go out birding I find something new, witness something I’ve never witnessed before, and learn more about courage strength, resilience, and beauty. This is time spent with nature, and nature is magic.
With love and gratitude,
Kelly 💛
Photos and illustrations by me, Kelly C. Ballantyne, unless otherwise noted
Your Sedge Wren photos are always so beautiful, Kelly.
SIXTEEN sparrows on one birdwalk!!??! What did you do right in your past life?
Loved reading this. What thrilling days in my favorite park I’ve never been to.