International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) presents the opportunity to join in a nationwide celebration of a unique aspect of American wildlife. Millions of birds travel throughout Illinois in a northern journey in the spring, a southern heading in the fall. These events are a joyous occurrence for any birder, a chance to view part of nature here for a brief span of time.
Migration is a challenge for both the bird and the birder. Each bird faces many difficulties on its trek north or south; finding food, a spot to rest, and battling the weather when it turns against them. Bird-watchers create their own challenges such as contests to see who can find the greatest variety of species. These quests become increasingly difficult as the number of migrating songbirds decline.
IMBD is not only a celebration of the diversity of wildlife, but also an opportunity to create a much needed awareness about the fragility of migratory birds. Education plays a vital role in expanding this awareness. Join the Academy in a bird seeking activity and help create an appreciation for the delicate balance of wildlife in Illinois.
Our work with TEEE focuses on the rare and endangered species of wildlife in Illinois. IMBD allows us to expand our awareness of ecological processes to encompass not only wildlife that is currently threatened, but those who are in danger of becoming so. Illinois plays host to numerous species of birds, called neotropical migrants, that only reside here for a brief span of time on their way to somewhere else. Neotropical migrants are birds that spend their summers in Canada and the United States and their winters in Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and South America (the region known as the New World Tropics or neo-tropics). Although they sound exotic, neotropical migrants include many common summer Illinois residents like warblers, thrushes and swallows. Many of these neotropical migrants are declining in numbers. With the participation of TEEE schools located throughout the state, we have an exceptional opportunity to examine the distribution of different birds in Illinois. With the migratory bird day project, we can become familiar with the concepts of resident verses migrant birds, population declines and bird surveys. Participants will conduct a survey to find and count numbers of cardinals and barn swallows. Cardinals represent a species that is a year long resident to the state of Illinois. Barn Swallows are neotropical migrants which winter outside North America and return to breed throughout Illinois.
Our target species were chosen because they represent resident and migratory bird species. They are also abundant and easily identified. Unlike the cardinal and barn swallow, many species of neotropical migratory birds are declining throughout the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean. The primary reason for this decline is the loss of habitat throughout the western hemisphere. If habitat can be protected on the local, national and international level, the further decline of these birds can be prevented. The ultimate goal is to ensure that neotropicals do not reach the point of becoming threatened or endangered.
Timeframe: May 10th, to be conducted for a half hour during daylight hours.
Procedure: Read the species profiles and decide upon a location for the survey that would provide the best chance of seeing one or both of the birds. Record the location (county, city, general locale, habitat description), weather and time of day. Spend a half an hour locating and counting the numbers of cardinals and barn swallows seen.
Surveys can be conducted more than once if the group moves to another area. For instance, the first survey may be conducted on the school grounds, spending time walking the perimeter of the school yard looking for cardinals in the neighboring yards/trees. A second study can be done along a neighboring creek which has a bridge where barn swallows are nesting. Don't forget to take the opportunity to notice other birds!
Return the form with the survey information to the Academy. The Academy will analyze the results and map out the distribution of our target species.
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
Cardinals are near robin-sized birds (9") with a conspicuous crest and a reddish cone-shaped bill.
The adult males are red overall with a black face. The female is buffy-brown with red on the
wings, crest and tail.
An abundant bird, cardinals can be found in woodland edges, swamps, streamside thickets, dense shrubs and suburban yards. Both the males and females will sing year round. Their song is a loud whistle with many variations including cue cue cue', cheer cheer cheer' and purty purty purty'.
Cardinals are not migratory and are found throughout Illinois year round. It appears to be expanding its range further north. The Northern Cardinal is Illinois' state bird.
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Barn swallows are small birds (6-7") with slim bodies and long pointed wings. Tails are
long and deeply forked. The backside is a deep blue-black in color. The throat is
reddish brown with the underparts buffy. Both sexes look alike, though the male's tail is
generally longer.
Swallows are proficient flyers, often darting to catch flying insects. They can often be seen perched in long rows on wires and near their nest sites. Nests can be found on farm buildings, under bridges, inside culverts and occasionally in caves. Barn swallows need to have mud available to build their nest and usually breed in small pairs or colonies.
Though found breeding extensively throughout North America, in the fall barn swallows migrate south. Their winter range includes the Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico, Panama and south to the southern tip of South America.