Heron Park, Vermillion County

Scott had a meeting in Danville on Tuesday morning. After his meeting we drove to Heron Park to check out the heron rookery. The parking area was closed, and huge chunks of cement were stacked behind one of the gates. There was room to pull off the road in front of the gate. We parked and walked the boardwalk before checking out the rookery.


We saw four Turkey Vultures soaring in the air over the park and later over Danville. Although there were no Herons sitting on the nests, four Herons flew over while we were there.

Two Red-tailed Hawks were cruising the area.


Four Bald Eagles flew over while we walked the trail near the Heron rookery.



Thousands of Canada Geese were on the water, with more coming in the entire time we were at the park. The sound of their honking filled the air.

These two geese were in the little pond by the rookery.

Several Red-winged Blackbirds were trilling around the edges of the water.

January Raptor Survey: Eagle Migration Day

We did the Raptor Survey on the last day of January. Scott and I had done a survey earlier in the month, but my notebook with the data disappeared. We took the opportunity of beautiful sunny day on the last day of the month to repeat the survey. We must have hit the road on Eagle Migration Day, because we spotted 24 Bald Eagles, some juveniles, some adults, flying along the bluffs of the river just north of Banner Marsh. They were in groups of 3, 4, 4, and 8. All were too far for decent photographs, but we enjoyed watching them soar over the bluffs, some interacting with each other in the air before flying on their way.






Between Bartonville and where IL 78 splits from IL 24 and turns south towards Emiquon we only spotted 4 Red-tailed hawks. They apparently were all hiding down at Emiquon, where we found 10 Red-tailed hawks along with a couple of Northern Harriers, and three Rough-legged Hawks. Six of the Red-tailed and the three Rough-legged hawks were all along Clark road. Some were hunting out in the fields, some cruising along the bluff that runs along the west side of Clark Road. Two of the Rough-legged hawks were hovering in the strong breeze out over the prairie.

Baker Hollow Revisited

On our way back from Emiquon on Friday, we stopped at Baker Hollow Creek, which runs down the bluff into the proposed Banner Mine site. This stream is a perennial stream, which means it runs year round. It ends at the wet prairie where I found the threated Decurrent False Asters. It just seeps into the porous ground and disappears into the ground water system.

I found a spot in the sunlight where the ice was melted and the birds were gathering. Goldfinches, Cardinals, and Bluebirds were flying to and fro. What a lovely spot! I watched through my 400 mm lens from the bridge, not being allowed onto the property for a proper look.










Scott is looking at the foot prints of the many animals that cross the snowy path every day. Rabbits, mice, voles, coyotes, raccoons, and more . . . this place is alive!

Emiquon in January

As I drive down IL 78/93 and come around the bend at the top of the bluff, I get my first glimpse of Thompson Lake at Emiquon.


I go a little farther and I see it in its glory: Thompson Lake! A lake which had completely vanished under farm land has been reborn. You can see Prairie Road leading to The Nature Conservancy on the right.


Pumphouse Road runs through the lake now. You need a canoe to cross to the other side when it isn't frozen. Today I supposed I could walk across, but I didn't try that.


I look to the south, and I see Havana's powerplant, steam billowing into the air.


To the north I see frozen lake covered in snow with the bluffs in the distance.


As we drove north on 78, an American Kestrel flew from the wire to the other side of the highway.



We drove along Emiquon Prairie Road past The Nature Conservancy.




We saw a hawk on the side of the road. When he took off we could see that it was a female Northern Harrier. I wasn't prepared for that! Photos are fuzzy, but here they are:




We found six hawks along Clark Road. Of course I was driving, and by the time I would get out of the car to take a photo, they were gone. They seemed to be in pairs, hunting the fields on the east and the bluffs on the west side of the road.


This guy posed briefly before flying to the other side of the bluff.


This guy, most likely a Red-tailed Hawk, landed way out in the prairie, with the sun providing a back light that made him or her a mere silhouette.


This guy, a Rough-legged Hawk, flew directly over my head while I was out of the car.


Emiquon is a delight, no matter the time of year or time of day. Conditions continually change and the landscape changes with it. I eagerly await the open waters of spring!

Eagle Pair Roosting at Baker Hollow, Banner Mine Site

On Fri Jan 9 2009, Scott and I were bird watching at Baker Hollow, the creek that runs down the bluff into the proposed Banner Mine Site, and the adjoining fields. We parked at the top of the hill on the west side of Route 24 and crossed the highway to get a look at the site from that vantage. We stayed on the shoulder of Route 24, making sure we did not trespass onto the proposed mining site.


A pair of eagles were roosting in one of the trees along the portion of Baker Hollow creek that runs into the proposed mining site. The eagles flew together from that tree to a large tree in the dense brush along the smaller creek north of Baker Hollow, close to the highway. As I walked along the highway toward them, one of the eagles flew across the road to the bluff on the other side. 

The other stayed in the tree. I was able to get a photo of the eagle flying across the highway and a photo of the eagle in the tree before the second eagle flew to the bluff. 

This roosting pair of American Bald Eagles are using the proposed mining site.

I continued walking down the road, hoping the eagles would fly over and looking for other birds, especially Norther Harriers. I didn't find any harriers, but I flushed two Red-tailed hawks as I walked towards Baker Hollow from the top of the hill.

They flew from a large tree close to the highway along the creek. One landed in a tree farther from the highway along the creek, the other disappeared.


As I was photographing the hawk in the tree, I realized that a pick up truck had pulled over on the wrong side of the highway, and a man with an open cell phone (taking photos? texting?) was walking my way. I watched him as he came towards me, waiting for him to speak. He asked who I was with. I told him I wasn't "with" anyone; I was taking photos of hawks. I pointed to the hawk in the tree along Baker Hollow. He told me I couldn't go on that land. I told him I wasn't going to, that I was just taking photos of birds. He said that they had trouble with some people taking pictures of flowers. I again told him I was just taking pictures of hawks. He warned me again not to go on the land, and I again told him I was not going to do that. He turned to go, still using his phone, and I asked him who he was. He said he leased the land for hunting. He said something else about not going on the land, I again told him I wouldn't, and he left. 

Meanwhile, Scott, who had been waiting at the top of the hill in the car, had driven the car down the hill, parked parked it, and crossed the highway. He was present for most of the conversation, although I didn't realize it at the time. We both watched as this man drove past us and pulled into Prairie Lane in front of the new gate across the road. He stayed there for a minute or so, then backed into the driveway across the highway, pulled back out and drove up the hill towards us.


Scott and I continued walking past Baker Hollow before returning to the car. He drove past us several more times in the meantime. We drove down to Duck Island and on the way there and back he passed us two more times.

I'm sure he is leasing the land for hunting, as he said, and didn't want trespassers. However, that won't keep me from going back to look for birds from the highway.

Check out the white line behind the trees. That is snow on top of the flooded field. Only the fields on the bluff side are dry. The rest of the proposed Banner mine site is under ice and snow from the flooded Illinois River.

Public Hearing Jan 23 Changes to Illinois List of Threatened and Endangered Species

As outrageous as it is, the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board is proposing to delist the American Bald Eagle from the list of Threatened Species in Illinois! Will they never stop developing the little land that is left for birds in this state? I'm outraged.

In addition to delisting Bald Eagles, they plan to delist Henslow's Sparrow, and Sandhill Cranes.

And, get this, they are going to change Mississippi Kites from Endangered to Threatened, because:

"This species appears to be increasing and expanding its range slightly within the state. The population appears to be too secure to be considered Endangered."

Are you kidding me? This is totally insane.

It is our IDNR being run by people who only consider developing our resources, not protecting them. Illinois has very few natural areas left, which these species need. These proposed changes will make it easier for developers to come in with their huge Caterpillar machines and destroy the trees, like they are doing at Copperas Landing to put in a pumping station for the Canton pipeline going in along Banner Dike Road.

What can we do as citizens, you ask?

Well we can do a lot, I have found. We just need to get involved as citizens and make our voices heard. The time frame for this is very short. They count on us not knowing about it in time to make a difference.

This time we do know about it in time. Let's make a difference.

Please come to this hearing prepared to give comments, up to 5 minutes, regarding why the status of these birds should not be changed.

Then follow up with detailed written comments. If you cannot attend the hearing, please send comments to the board regarding why these birds need to be protected.

We missed the boat on this part of the process for issuing the mining permit in Banner. Let's not miss this opportunity to be heard by the Endangered Species Protection Board.

http://www.dnr.state.il.us/espb/index.htm

ANNOUNCEMENT of PUBLIC HEARING
The Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board will hold a public hearing at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, January 23, 2009 at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources headquarters building (Lakeview Conference Room C), One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, Illinois to take public comments on proposed changes to the Illinois List of Threatened and Endangered Species.

This hearing will be accessible to handicapped individuals in compliance with all pertinent state and federal laws, upon notification of anticipated attendance. Handicapped persons planning to attend and needing special accommodations should contact the Endangered Species Protection Board at 217/785-8687 (TTY 217/782-9175) prior to the hearing to inform of their anticipated attendance.

BIRDS

Ammodramus henslowii (Henslow’s Sparrow) – Proposed Action: remove from threatened. The number of locations in the Natural Heritage Database for Henslow’s sparrows continues to increase. The recently completed recovery outline for this species recommends consideration for removal from the state list when, within the last five years, there are records in the Natural Heritage Database from 40 or more Illinois counties, and 10 or more populations numbering 20 or more breeding pairs within protected habitats. The county threshold has been met (46 counties between 2002-2006) and the protected populations criteria has also been met.

Grus Canadensis (Sandhill Crane) – Proposed Action: remove from threatened. The population within the state continues to increase and is also establishing occurrences outside of northeastern Illinois. Recent analyses of data from the Northeastern Illinois Wetland Bird Survey indicate a significantly increasing population in the northeastern portion of the state.

Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Bald Eagle) – Proposed Action: remove from threatened. This species appears to be doing very well in the state, the number of records in the Natural Heritage Database continues to go up as does the number of counties from which the species is known to occur in Illinois. Winter surveys are showing good numbers of immatures, indicating a healthy age structure.

Ictinia mississippiensis (Mississippi Kite) – Proposed Action: change status from endangered to threatened. This species appears to be increasing and expanding its range slightly within the state. The population appears to be too secure to be considered Endangered.


PUBLIC HEARING January 23, 2009

Changes to Illinois List of Threatened and Endangered Species

1. Call to Order (Hearing Officer, Secretary, Chris Phillips)
2. Introduction of Board members and staff
3. Opening Statement (Director, Anne Mankowski)
4. Public Comments (chaired by Hearing Officer, Secretary, Chris Phillips)

Instructions:

A) Registration Form

1) Everyone should fill-out and return form to the front of the room (before hearing starts).
2) Indicate if you wish to comment.

B) Oral Comments:

1) We will call on you, using your registration form (in the order turned in).
2) Come to the front of the room to speak.
3) Give your name and affiliation, if any.
4) Limit comments to 5 minutes each.
5) We will only accept comments on the topic of the changes that the Board has proposed to the Illinois List of Threatened and Endangered Species; if you wish to discus any other matters, we will be happy to talk to you at another time.
6) We are here to listen to comments from the public, not to engage in debate regarding any of those comments.

C) Written Comments:

1) The hearing record will remain open for 14 days
2) Submit written comments to:

Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board
One Natural Resources Way
Springfield, IL 62702-1271

Or e-mail comments to: dnr.espb@illinois.gov

3) ALL comments must be received by the Board on or before February 6, 2004.