Sparrow-sized bird with reddish pink cap and breast, yellow at the edge of the cream-colored thick bill, and dark eye, perched on a stick. — Purple Finch. *Photo by Ian Sarmiento, Little Red Schoolhouse, Jan. 29, 2023.*

Words by Steve Whitman

On a chilly morning on March 2, Sammy Cabindol led a group of 11 birders at Crabtree Nature Center, in a far northwest corner of Cook County, where he works as an Ambassador Animal Specialist. In accordance with the Year of Green Birding initiative, many of the birders carpooled to get there. Birders with decades of experience and others with just a few weeks helped each other spot a total of 27 species on the walk.

On the path from the parking lot to the Nature Center, American Tree Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos, and a few male Red-wing Blackbirds greeted the group. The blackbirds’ conk-la-ree calls heralded the anticipated spring season. Cabindol later informed the group that the year’s first Red-wing Blackbirds in Cook County were sighted at the preserve on February 5.

Medium sized black bird with red shoulder edged in gold, perched on a bare branch. — Red-winged Blackbird. *Photo by Lin Johnston, Crabtree Nature Center, March 2, 2025.*

Feeders near the Nature Center provided close views of House Finches, American Goldfinches, more sparrows and juncos, and even Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers.

The group took the Phantom Trail past the ponds and paused to check out a murder of American Crows at the distant tree line who were mobbing what turned out to be a Cooper’s Hawk. Closer by, a Northern Flicker was heard, and then briefly seen diving towards the ground, just out of sight beyond the reeds. Blue Jays, Mallards, and Mourning Doves were also spotted overhead.

Wide-breasted dove with buff-colored breast, reddish head, and blue ring around a dark eye, perched on a branch. — Mourning Dove. *Photo by Lin Johnston, Crabtree Nature Center, March 2, 2025.*

Cabindol identified a Swamp Sparrow perched in a bush near the pond and helped the group distinguish it from the other sparrows we had seen.

A Northern Harrier glided low, in typical fashion, over the prairie east of the path, briefly mesmerizing the group. Then, a Cooper’s Hawk was spotted soaring atypically high—more like a buteo species than an accipiter.

Near the north end of the trail, a small group of Purple Finches were observed in the trees.

Tall white bird with long neck and bill and red cap in field of dry grass. — Sandhill Crane. *Photo by Lin Johnston, Crabtree Nature Center, March 2, 2025.*

At the intersection of the Phantom and Bur Edge trails, a lone Sandhill Crane was spotted on the ground. Soon thereafter, bugling calls were heard from different locations. Three cranes were seen meeting in flight and then coming back down together to graze the grasses near the path. They were unfazed by nearby hikers and the group wondered if this was a small family unit.

Back near the ponds, a Bald Eagle soared above the group.

Cabindol introduced the group to three of the Nature Center’s outdoor Avian Ambassadors: Junior, a Great-horned Owl; Bard, a Barred Owl; and Junior, a Red-tailed Hawk.

Duck-like bird with white body and neck, black head and red curved beak, swimming in water. — Common Merganser. *Photo by Walter Marcisz, Burnham Prairie Nature Preserve, March 16, 2022*

Much of Crabtree Lake was frozen over, but from the blind, Mallards, Canada Geese, and Common Mergansers were spotted near the only open water at the far end of the lake.

Cabindol informed us that a Nature Center employee spotted a Great-horned Owl in the pines near the intersection of Giant’s Hollow and Bur Edge trails earlier that morning. The group couldn’t spot it, but all were encouraged to visit again now that they know where to look.

Field Trip Recap: Crabtree Nature Center