West Ridge Nature Park Advisory Council (PAC)
West Ridge Nature Park Advisory Council (PAC)
Chicago Park District
Chicago Park District
Our Nature Preserve Provides Birds with an Essential Habitat
Our Nature Preserve Provides Birds with an Essential Habitat
West Ridge Nature Preserve, once part of the larger Rosehill Cemetery area, has long been a haven for birds and a sheer delight for avian enthusiasts. In fact, one of the reasons West Ridge is a preserve and not a park is to provide a bit of protected habitat for birds, especially migrating ones. The migration of birds, many of them endangered, exemplifies our inter-connectedness from one end of the globe to the other. Bird Sightings
Why Do Birds Matter? The responses come from the March-April 2013 Audubon magazine.
“Birds are important because they keep systems in balance: they pollinate plants, disperse seeds, scavenge carcasses and recycle nutrients back into the earth. But they also feed our spirits, marking for us the passage of the seasons, moving us to create art and poetry, inspiring us to flight and reminding us that we are not only on, but of, this earth.” –Melanie Driscoll, Director of bird conservation for the Gulf of Mexico and the Mississippi Flyway.
“Birds are everywhere and provide us with one of the most exciting ways to connect with nature. There are so many questions that emerge when we start looking.” –Chris Wood, ebird director.
“No other creature can transcend earth, evoke beauty, inspire dreams and ground us in nature as does the smallest bird.” –Julie Sacco, Director of North Park Village Nature Center.
“Birds are amazing creatures . . . Some accomplish incredible flights across thousands of miles. Some have adapted to their environments in intriguing ways. We have much science to learn from all of them. –Phillip Witmer, Board treasurer, Buck County Audubon Society.
“As one has said some time ago, all birds are the “canary in the coal mine” for our environment. We need to pay attention to the birds around us to recognize environmental changes and problems. –Laurence L. Falk, Nebraska.
“Birds matter because we can matter to them. By protecting or restoring habitat, keeping our cats indoors, curbing pesticide use and using BirdTape on our windows, we can help keep common birds common and bend the curve on population loss for threatened and endangered species.” –Carl Schwartz, Coordinator, Bird City, Wisconsin
Our Park Advisory Committee members also believe that birds matter. We hope you find joy in the birds' activities, songs, and colors as you walk the preserve paths. We also hope you help us maintain a supportive habitat, especially by staying on the paths and keeping your dogs at home.
You are invited to report any bird sightings on ebird as you enjoy the preserve.
People Like Watching and Identifying the Many Birds
People Like Watching and Identifying the Many Birds
The accompanying bird photos illustrate those you might see, depending on the season and the prevalence of certain species. The photos are arranged alphabetically. Here are a few birds to look for in and around the pond on a daily basis: Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Canada Goose, Wood Duck with ducklings, Mallard with ducklings, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, and Caspian Tern.
Enjoy!
Bluebird
Bluebird
Black-capped Chicadee
Black-capped Chicadee
Female Red-necked Duck
Female Red-necked Duck
Male House Finch
Male House Finch
Great Crested Flycatcher
Great Crested Flycatcher
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Green Heron
Green Heron
American Kestrel
American Kestrel
Female Belted Kingfisher
Female Belted Kingfisher
Female Orchard Oriole
Female Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
Male American Redstart
Male American Redstart
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Northern Shoveler
Northern Shoveler
Song Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Wood Thrush
Wood Thrush
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Male Yellow Warbler
Male Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Cedar Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing
American Woodcock
American Woodcock
Common Yellowthroat
Common Yellowthroat
Double-crested Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
House Finches
House Finches
Canada Geese
Canada Geese
Cooper's Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Dark-eyed Junco
Dark-eyed Junco
Black-crowned Night-heron
Black-crowned Night-heron
Kildeer
Kildeer
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Male Orchard Oriole
Male Orchard Oriole
Juvenile Eastern Phoebe
Juvenile Eastern Phoebe
Tree Swallows
Tree Swallows
Hermit Thrush
Hermit Thrush
White-crowned Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Summer Tanager
Summer Tanager
Tennessee Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Cedar Waxwings feeding each other
Cedar Waxwings feeding each other
Male Red-bellied Woodpecker
Male Red-bellied Woodpecker
Jerry Goldner - Photographer
Jerry Goldner - Photographer
Jerry is the founder of Profiles of Nature and has published over 100 photos and videos. His work has been featured at The Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in three exhibits (“Owls of Illinois"). His photos have also been featured: on WTTW’s Chicago Tonight over a dozen times, The Chicago Tribune, The Field Museum, U.S. Fish & Wildlife, Chicago Ornithological Society, FPDCC, Chicago Park District, newspapers, books and magazines.
Home page: http://profilesofnature.com/homepage.html Bio & Flickr link: https://www.flickr.com/people/profilesofnature/