Kids’ Thatcher Woods Bird Walk

Thatcher Woods, IL

Tuesday 18 June 2019 78 °F

Today, I led a kids’ bird walk for Dominican University’s summer program through Thatcher Woods! I have been leading this for a number of years and it is always a delight to teach kids about birds.

This CHIMNEY SWIFT flew over:

Female RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER:

At one point we spotted a House Sparrow nest:

BLUE JAY with brilliant colors. Oddly enough, I have seldom obtained good photos of this bird in the past.

EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE:

CHIPPING SPARROW:

Female BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD:

At some points, we had some raptors fly over such as a COOPER’S and this RED-TAILED HAWK:

As well as a few TURKEY VULTURES:

The highlight of the walk was seeing some nesting BARN SWALLOWS at a very close range around the picnic pavilion at the Thatcher Woods play meadow. This will be my bird-of-the-day. The sheer diversity of birds in nature, even during a “slow” season for birders such as June, was inspiring to the kids.