Summer 2001

My Birds of the Windy City
Review by Beverly McClellan

Birds of the Windy City dispels any remaining notion that Chicago, though bustling with people and towering with buildings, cannot be a haven for an exciting variety of birds. I know because I actually see these birds in my tiny backyard — a 14-by 22-foot patch of plants, trees, and flowers just south of the Loop. I have not seen the tanagers from the Amazon and snowy owls from the Arctic that the book describes, but they do visit other nearby areas, like Montrose Point and Lincoln Park.

Birds of the Windy City, a new booklet published by the Chicago Department of Environment and Chicago Park District, in collaboration with the US Fish & Wildlife Service and the National Audubon Society, illustrates the many resources Chicago has to offer migratory birds and year-round residents, from its long Lake Michigan shoreline to its little corner parks downtown.

Imagine sitting in your downtown office at dusk and hearing the "kiiirr" of a bird you know is not the typical downtown pigeon. This happened to me about a year ago when I looked out and saw a stately peregrine falcon perched on the southeast corner of the Dirksen federal building. I was never so glad to be working late.

"Pondering birds’ behavior connects us with the mystery and power of the natural world, right here in the city," writes author Judy Pollock, projects coordinator for Audubon of the Chicago Region. I agree and find that it also can connect us with each other. In my neighborhood, I have made several friends out of our shared interest in birds. During migration seasons, our phones ring with quick quips of "towhee" or "Nashville warbler," igniting a frenzy of getting to the window with binoculars and bird book. One of my most memorable sightings is a male American kestrel, with its bold blue-gray and rust markings and black sideburns. On a winter day last year, I heard him first and knew he was not a typical backyard bird. I spotted him perched on the chimney pipe on my neighbor’s roof, warning off any annoying birds with his high-pitched call. He made so much noise, he clearly had no intention of hunting, all stealth thrown to the wind. He wanted his peace while he warmed up on the steamy heat coming up out of the fireplace.

I tried to share this experience several months later with a "nonbirding" friend after visiting the "Birds of Prey" exhibit at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. I did not think she believed a falcon would actually show up in my city yard. However, just as she was leaving, I heard that unmistakable call and there he was, swooping over the townhouse right before her eyes. "Cool," she said. I was vindicated. Of course, other neighbors walking by wanted to know what we were craning to look at, and they too were delighted to see him flying over their city sidewalks and streets.

Birds of the Windy City encourages us not only to enjoy the birds of Chicago, but also to play a role in keeping them around. For example, we can plant a variety of native flowers and grasses that attract birds. My columbine was the main attraction for a ruby-throated hummingbird passing through one cold fall day. I could hardly believe I had a hummingbird in my Chicago backyard. The book also suggests allowing dead stalks with seeds to stand through winter. I remember just last fall watching the goldfinches doing acrobatics on my black-eyed Susans to get at the tasty black seeds.

Chicago’s birds are so engaging that even the city and federal governments are getting in on the action. For example, last year, Chicago residents elected the peregrine falcon as the first-ever official city bird (CW, Winter ‘00, p.31). In addition, Mayor Richard M. Daley and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Director Jamie Rappaport Clark signed the Urban Treaty for Migratory Birds in March 2000. According to Birds of the Windy City, the treaty provides for new policies, programs, and habitats for

Chicago’s migratory birds, thanks to the cooperation of many local conservation groups and organizations. Indeed, the treaty made Birds of the Windy City possible and will make it available to the public for free.

One of my favorite aspects about Birds of the Windy City is its challenge to "venture out into the wilds of Chicago." The booklet provides three challenges and bird checklists. One challenge asks how many year-round resident birds the reader can find on a walk through neighborhood streets and parks. Another asks how many local nesting birds (such as a great blue heron or indigo bunting) the reader can find in one summer. The third challenge requires the reader to visit spots on the map provided (a nice, compact resource) to find spring and fall migrants. I have taken on this challenge and, after visiting the Paul Douglas Nature Sanctuary at Wooded Island just south of the Museum of

Science and Industry along the lakefront, I checked off five birds, including a mustard-colored yellow warbler — a first time sighting for me. Only five more to go and at least 25 more birding spots left to discover!

If these challenges do not get your bird juices flowing, the section on Chicago’s Year in Birds will. This nifty calendar provides nuggets of information on what birds and bird behavior to look for — and where — during each month of the year. For example, in June begin to watch for nesting and young to be born. In August, look for the masses of swallows that swarm Montrose Point.

Birds of the Windy City also provides a list of local bird clubs, conservation organizations, print resources, Web sites, and listservs. Listservs have provided me with delightful accounts of others’ bird experiences and let me know what birds to look for as listserv members south of me report sightings during spring migration (or north of me during the fall).

To obtain a free copy of Birds of the Windy City, call the Nature Chicago hotline at (312) 744-1821 or write to Nature Chicago, Chicago Department of Environment, 30 North LaSalle, 25th floor, Chicago, IL 60602.

Or, click here to download the PDF version (1,498K).