dendroica (from dendron, tree, and oikein, to dwell)
Wednesday, October 3, 1979 — 4:00 pm
Barrington, Illinois — Crabtree Nature Center
I was walking to my car after a very productive day, but there was one more lifer waiting for me on the way. I noticed a flock of small birds high in the trees in the woods near Sulky Pond, near the start of the prairie trail. The warbler was in fall plumage. It moved swiftly through the trees and didn’t stay in view long.
sphyrapicus (from sphyra, a hammer, and picus, a woodpecker) varius (variegated)
Wednesday, October 3, 1979 — 3:30 pm
Barrington, Illinois — Crabtree Nature Center
I spotted two Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers in a large tree on the dam on Bulrush Pond. They were hitching backwards down the trunk, pecking as they went. Moments later, a White-breasted Nuthatch came over and joined them in the tree. Also in the same tree were a Red-bellied Woodpecker, a Common Grackle, and a Northern Flicker.
sitta (nuthatch) carolinensis (of Carolina)
Wednesday, October 3, 1979 — 3:30 pm
Barrington, Illinois — Crabtree Nature Center
I was back on the dam at the end of Bulrush Pond when I spotted this nuthatch. It was climbing headfirst down the trunk of a large tree along the path. A Brown Creeper was climbing up the same tree. When the two birds got close to each other, the Nuthatch chased the Creeper away.
grus (crane) canadensis (of Canada)
Saturday, August 18, 1979 — 10:00 am
Barrington, Illinois — Crabtree Nature Center
As I pulled into the parking lot, I noticed a Sandhill Crane grazing with a flock of Canada Geese. I approached within a couple of yards without disturbing it. I gleefully added it to my life list without a second thought.
A few days later, I discovered this particular bird had been shot not long before. It had been kept in captivity for awhile, then released when it was healthy. It was hoped that it would take off with a flock of migrating cranes, but it seemed to think it was a Canada Goose. It was usually seen in company with the geese and often joined them when they flew around the area. The staff at Crabtree had named it Ichabod. (After a couple of years, it finally linked up with a female crane and disappeared.)
So, to make it official, on Wednesday, October 3, 1979 — I saw a flock of 20 Sandhill Cranes flying over Crabtree.
hylocichla (from hyle, wood, and kickle, thrush) mustelina (weasel color)
Wednesday, October 3, 1979 — 3:00 pm
Barrington, Illinois — Crabtree Nature Center
This day was really getting interesting. I decided to go around the trail one more time. I spotted the Wood Thrush perched in a bush at the edge of the woods near Turkey Foot Prairie. It was back in a few feet, and I couldn’t get a very good look at it. When I bent down for a better view, it flew off.
