Goose Lake Prairie Natural Area near Morris, IL: Tuesday, 5-30-17

The natural area covers 2,537 acres and is the largest remnant of prairie left in Illinois (at one time parries covered 60% of the state).  The prairie provides important nesting habitat for endangered and threatened species of birds, such as the Upland Sandpiper and Henslow's Sparrows.

BirdMobile near Goose Lake

Male Eastern Bluebird

Unfortunately their numbers have declined due to competition from starlings, house sparrows and Tree Swallows for nest sites.  On this trip almost every "Bluebird Nest Box" we saw was inhabited by Tree Swallows.

Female Eastern Bluebird

Baby Eastern Bluebird

Tent Moth Caterpillar

(Prettier than the moth in our opinion)



Eastern Kingbird

Despite its name, its range extends from the Atlantic to the Pacific coasts.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly

Eastern Cottontail Rabbit

One female cottontail rabbit may have 20-25 young per year.

Fascinating Killdeers at Horicon Marsh NWR, WI: 5-26-17

Killdeer, one of our favorite birds

We came upon this adult as we were hiking one of the trails near the Visitor's Center at the refuge.  It started to act stressed so we stopped immediately.

It ran a few feet away and began a Broken-wing Display.

Their nests are merely a scrape on open ground, sometimes surrounded by bits of debris as camouflage: the birds as well as their eggs have evolved to be virtually invisible in their habitat.

Broken-wing Displays are performed as the bird distracts potential predators (us in this case) by acting injured and appearing to be easy prey, thus drawing attention away from a nearby nest or young.

This bird even took it to the next step and ran ahead (even though we were not advancing!) and appeared to be adjusting to settling down on its nest.  A minute later it got up, ran a few yards and settled down on another fake nest, again trying to draw a potential predator away from its actual nest or

young in this case.  We backed away slowly to leave the Killdeer family alone!

Sandhill Cranes at Horicon Marsh NWR, WI: Memorial Day, 2017

Sandhill Cranes

This pair has one colt (chick)

Yesterday the pair had two so one was lost to a predator over night.

The Sandhill's call is a loud, rolling trumpeting sound whose unique tone is a product of anatomy: these cranes have a long trachea that coils into the sternum and helps the sound develop a lower pitch and harmonics that adds richness.

Juveniles stick close by their parents for 9-10 months after hatching.

These cranes are known for their dancing skills.  Courting cranes stretch their wings, pump their heads, bow, and leap into the air in a graceful and energetic dance

When the roving trio got closer to the marsh the territorial male Red-winged Blackbirds started dive-bombing the adults, even landing on their backs and pecking them.

Sandhill Crane chicks can leave the nest within 8 hours of hatching and are even capable of swimming.

The adults were catching small fish to feed to Junior

Although some start breeding at the age of 2, Sandhills may reach the age of 7 before breeding.  They do mate for life - which can mean two decades or more - and stay with their mates year-round.  

Porcupine at Horicon Marsh NWR, WI: 5-28-17

North American Porcupine

The New World Porcupines are a South American family with only one species entering the U.S. and Canada.

These large rodents have long sharp spines over most of the body, especially on the rump and tail.

Porcupines do NOT throw their quills, but they can spin around and hit a predator with the quilled tail.

They are active year-round and are mainly nocturnal.  They have a well-known craving for salt and will chew plywood and frequent roadsides in spring in search of salt.

They only have a single young after a seven month gestation.

"We'll take warmth wherever we can find it!"