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Illinois Nature Pictures

A mink stops and looks back at photographer Collin McKahin in Springfield’s Washington Park.

Thu, May 16 at 06:56 AM

In the Wild

Birdwatchers could be seeing red these days.

That’s because spring migration has brought a pair of bright red birds back to central Illinois.

“Brilliant colored scarlet tanagers have begun to arrive here in Springfield from their wintering grounds in South America,” said Dennis Oehmke, who has been photographing central Illinois birdlife for many years.

“Today at Washington Park, I was lucky enough to see and photograph one at eye level,” he said. “Typically, they remain high in the tree tops where they are difficult to see, much less photograph.”

Male scarlet tanagers are bright reddish orange and have jet-black wings and tails. Females are yellow and olive green.



Male scarlet tanager. Photo by Dennis Oehmke.


A related bird, the summer tanager, is North America’s only all-red bird. Even male cardinals have a little bit of black on their faces.

“The summer tanager has also recently arrived from Central America,” Oehmke said. “I have seen several individuals at both Washington Park and Oak Ridge Cemetery.”

Female summer tanagers are yellowish in color.



Summer tanager male by Dennis Oehmke.


Oehmke said summer tanagers are particularly interesting because they feed regularly on bees and wasps, carefully working the insect around in their bill to remove the stinger.

For those wanting to see migrating birds, they can be found as close as a neighborhood park.

Islands of habitat, especially those places with mature oak trees like city parks and cemeteries, are good places to see migratory birds, especially early in the morning.

Many migrating birds, like warblers and vireos, are here for a short time as they make their way to the northern United States and Canada to breed. With such a short window of time, it is easy to miss the songbird migration.

Also, many of the birds are small and stay in the treetops where they feast on caterpillars that hatch just as trees begin to leaf out.
Oehmke said he hopes people take time out to see nature’s long-distance travelers.

“In my mind it is good opportunity to make the public more aware of their surroundings,” he said. “I learned from Dave Bohlen (assistant curator of zoology at the Illinois State Museum) years ago that you will not appreciate what you cannot see.”

The good news is both tanagers potentially can stay to nest, if the appropriate woodland habitat can be found.

The summer tanager’s breeding range includes the southern half of Illinois, while the scarlet tanager’s breeding range includes Illinois exception the extreme southern portion of the state.

For more information, visit the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Website: http://www.allaboutbirds.org.

For information about the scarlet tanager, including a recording of its voice: http://tinyurl.com/scartan.

You can find the summer tanager at: http://tinyurl.com/sumtanager.

Chris Young can be reached at (217) 788-1528. Follow him at twitter.com/ChrisYoungPSO.

Nature Calendar

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Birds of Illinois

Barred owls are common and very vocal. They also can be found living in town, especially in the vicinity of city parks. Photos by Chris Young

Birds of Illinois: barred owl

Common name: Barred owl

Scientific name: Strix varia

Habitat: Barred owls can be found in lowland areas and also in forested city parks.


Illinois hunting and fishing


Food: Barred owls are not as strong as great-horned owls. They only weigh about a pound or so, and they eat small mice, crayfish, frogs and other small prey.

Call: “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?”

Illinois hunting and fishing

Thu, February 07 at 05:14 PM

Nature Library

Illinois Nature News

Illinois college grad establishes nest boxes for kestrels

Fri, May 17 at 03:55 PM

Taylor Joray is making a big effort to protect North America’s smallest falcon. MORE :: (0) COMMENTS

Backyard birding video series

Thu, May 16 at 09:05 PM

UPDATED May 16: The latest installment features the rose-breasted grosbeak, a striking black, white and red bird that comes to feeders in wooded areas. MORE :: (0) COMMENTS

IDPH: Take precautions against tick bites

Thu, May 16 at 08:20 PM

Taking precautions this spring and summer against tick bites and the illnesses ticks can carry. MORE :: (0) COMMENTS

Wildlife Prairie Park now back in private hands

Sat, May 11 at 07:10 PM

Wildlife Prairie Park has lost a little weight. Five letters, to be specific. Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation Saturday on-scene at the park, removing “state” from the name and returning the nature preserve to a private, not-for-profit group that will operate it again. MORE :: (0) COMMENTS

Mushroom hunting season far from over in central Illinois

Sat, May 11 at 07:36 AM

Morel mushroom hunters are in the midst of an exceptional season for the second straight year, though the size of the haul isn’t necessarily the noteworthy part of the last two years. MORE :: (0) COMMENTS

Late nature photographer’s memory inspires new generation

Fri, May 10 at 07:25 AM

For two decades, Robert McKemie traveled the world, photographing the places and wildlife he loved. When he died in February 2012, his friends created a memorial award in his honor at North Mac High School to encourage a new generation to celebrate nature. MORE :: (0) COMMENTS

Morel hunters having success

Thu, May 09 at 10:37 PM

“When you see full parking lots, you know they are finding them,” said Michael Wickens, site superintendent at the Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area near Chandlerville. “Them” are morel mushrooms, part of the spring trifecta of outdoors pursuits including crappie fishing and turkey hunting. MORE :: (0) COMMENTS

MORE NATURE NEWS

Featured Birder

Debbie Ford

Home: Peoria, Ill.

Occupation: Journal Star news assistant

Most memorable outing in Illinois? On a farm in Galena, early spring and chilly (verging on cold), the sun hit some cardinals just right and wow were they red.

More from Debbie Ford

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