Conservation Guardians of Northwest Illinois
Birding Programs
The Conservation Guardians offer numerous opportunities for birders of all levels of experience, novice to expert. Everyone is welcome to join us.
See our Calendar for information about other birding events that we may sponsor.
What do Harris' sparrow, Townsend's solitaire and snowy owl have to do with each other? Hotlines!
Thanks to ever observant birders, hotlines reward with some
great finds, and these three were spotted by two of our bird
nuts in mid-February after they called the Madison, WI Hotline.
Winter, storms, and migration can bring birds not normally
seen in our area.
Try one of these hotlines:
• Madison: (608) 255-2476
• All of Wisconsin: (414) 352-3857
• Chicago: (847) 265-2118
• Rockford: (815) 965-3095
• Iowa: (319) 338-9881
When
Equipment
Movement
Respect
Do not endanger the welfare of birds and other wildlife.
Act in ways that do not harm the natural environment.
Respect the rights of others.
Birding accounts appear regulary in the Guardians' newsletter, linked each quarter in pdf format from our home page. The following account appeared in the newsletter for spring of 2009.
The Brilliant Indigo Bunting
Every spring I hear it more and more
often: “I saw the most beautiful, bright blue bird at my feeder
what is it?
Seasoned birders know it’s the indigo bunting, a bird that can appear
black in the shade but in bright sunlight will reveal its incomparable,
brilliant indigo blue color.
The indigo bunting is a member of the finch family. It is about 5
˝ inches long with a wingspan of 8-9 inches. The male is blue overall
with some black in its wings and tail. It is the only small North
American bird to appear blue all over. Against the sky or in the shade,
however, it may appear black. The female is a soft brown overall,
with brown streaks on its breasts, a whitish throat, and some blue
in its tail. Immatures closely resemble the adult female except are
more streaked below.
Indigo buntings arrive in this area in April and will stay through
mid- to late October. During spring migration, one of the most common
call notes heard at night over Illinois comes from the indigo bunting.
The male usually appears on nesting range in May, strongly defending
his territory against other males by singing from trees, utility wires,
and other open perches, a short series of high-pitched notes—sweet-sweet,
where-where, here-here, see-it, see-it. It also delivers a flight
song while on wing and sings throughout the day into late summer.
Its habitat consists of deciduous upland and bottom-land forest and
woodland edges, regenerating forest clearings, shrubby fields, abandoned
pastures and hedgerows, open woodlands and clear-cuts. It is one of
the most abundant southern Illinois nesting species, but does nest
throughout the state. The indigo bunting usually nests low in the
fork of a small tree or shrub, in a vine tangle or dense, tall forb.
The female builds a cup nest made of grass, leaves and bark strips
and lines it with rootlets, hair and feathers. The female incubates
3-4 white to pale bluish eggs for 12-13 days. It usually has two broods
each year. Indigo nests are frequently parasitized by brown-headed
cowbirds.
Indigo Buntings feed in low vegetation and on the ground for insects,
especially grasshoppers, beetles, weevils, flies and larvae. They
also eat raspberries, elderberries, and the seeds of thistles and
goldenrods. They will feed on dandelions during spring migration.
In an interesting feeding strategy, the indigo bunting lands midway
on a stem and then shuffles slowly toward the seed head, which eventually
bends under the bird’s weight, giving it easier access to the seed.
Be on the lookout for indigo buntings this spring at your birdfeeders
and throughout the spring, summer and fall in trees and bushes.
Buntings will come to a birdbath, especially if it has a dripper or
mister. They may or may not stay around long, but they are beautiful
birds to watch. Enjoy them!
—Julie Bruser
Our Bird Gallery
Gets You Going
Over a hundred bird species can be seen regularly in northwest Illinois. Conservation Guardians have photographed many of them. Their Bird Gallery offers a good initial list for beginning birders.
Saving Birds from Injury by Residential Windows
Originally published in the Winter 2009 Guardian Messenger