[BCNnet] Whooping Crane and more at Bartel

[bobolnk at ix.netcom.com]

This Sunday Amar Ayyash had a Whooping Crane among a flock of Sandhills on the ground at the new expansion of Bartel Grasslands.  Less than a month ago, the work of removing tree plantations to expand the grassland-wetland complex and closing the valves in the drainage tiles finished, but the birds are already showing their appreciation, and the arrival of the Whooper felt like a major benediction.  

This spot is just north of the existing Bartel Grassland, and was formerly the model airplane field.  (Last weekend, I saw shovelers swimming on the model airplane field, which has been relocated.) It is north of Flossmoor Road, and east of Ridgeland near south suburban Matteson.  Now, from the corner of Central and Flossmoor, you can see grassland in every direction.  

There are already a number of sweet little wetlands developing on the site where pintails, ring-necked ducks, and shovelers were seen last weekend.  Harriers and meadowlarks were also observed.  

I expect it will be excellent shorebird habitat this spring.  Planting has not begun yet so there is a lot of bare ground (now mud) on the site, interspersed with grass.  It is on an ancient lakebed so it has very small topography changes which create little wetlands.  As the restoration progresses and these areas are planted, all manner of nesting wetland birds are possible, along with all the grassland birds that currently nest on other parts of the site.  

It will be an exciting few years there.  Hope you get a chance to check it out.

Judy Pollock
bobolnk a ix.netcom.com
Evanston (Cook)