On the Boardwalk

On the boardwalk (off limits to all but park staff) that goes to the middle of Cowles Bog a Killdeer sits panting and exhibiting nesting behavior, although there's no sign of a nest.

And a few feet further into the bog another killdeer actively builds a monument:

The Joyful Sounds of Spring

There is  no more joyful a sound than the woods in March as the birds return! A couple of weeks ago it was the bluebirds getting to know each other.

This morning the woods were full of chatter as if all the birds were giving reports of the winter experienced down south.

This bird has a bit of nesting material in his beak and was courting a number of likely prospects for a nest mate.    

Baby it's Cold Outside

The birds are up early trying to find enough to eat in the wintry weather. This White Breasted Nuthatch was taking a break, fluffing feathers against the cold.

Nuthatches eat a wide variety of things; seeds and insects. They love to eat at feeders where they enjoy peanut butter if left out.

Top of the Morning Bluebird

A female bluebird hunts a field for seeds and other delicacies this morning.

Thundering Thanks to the Mayflower!

Thunder our thanks to her guns, hearts, and lips!

Cheer from the ranks to her,

Shout from the banks to her—

Mayflower! Foremost and best of our ships.

Mayflower! Twice in the national story

Thy dear name in letters of gold—

Woven in texture that never grows old—

Winning a home and winning glory!

Sailing the years to us, welcomed for aye;

Cherished for centuries, dearest to-day.

Every heart throbs for her, every flag dips—

Mayflower! First and last, best of our ships.

White as a seagull, she swept the long passage.

True as the homing-bird flies with its message.

Love her? O, richer than silk every sail of her.

Trust her? More precious than gold every nail of her.

Write we down faithfully every man’s part in her;

Greet we all gratefully every true heart in her.

More than a name to us, sailing the fleetest,

Symbol of that which is purest and sweetest:

More than a keel to us, steering the straightest,

Emblem of that which is freest and greatest:

More than a dove-bosomed sail to the windward,

Flame passing on while the night-clouds fly hindward.

Kiss every plank of her! None shall take rank of her;

Frontward or weatherward, none can eclipse.

Thunder our thanks to her! Cheer from the banks to her!

Mayflower! Foremost and best of our ships!

Mayflower by John Boyle O'Reilly

Ducks in a Row

A row of Hooded Mergansers float silently along in a misty pond.

Frogs for Breakfast

Frogs were the breakfast menu this morning at the pond in Sunset Hill Farm County Park.

Heron with a Hat

This young heron tried its usual behavior of freezing with bill pointed up to the sky, acting like a shoreline weed as I walked up. When that didn't work, it flew into a nearby tree and tried to blend in as a branch. When that didn't work, he raised all the feathers on his head and showed me his hat. And I left it at that.    

The Lonely Heron

THINK, the ragged turf-boy urges

O’er the dusty road his asses;

Think, on the seashore for the lonely

Heron wings along the sand.

Think, in woodland under oak-boughs

Now the streaming sunbeam passes:

And bethink thee thou art servant

To the same all-moving hand.

Think by Charles Weeks 

Life is good

I love swallows. They always seem so happy and gregarious. This guy is raising a family in the marsh. There's an abundance of insects this year. So there's plenty of time to perch on top of the house.

A tiny recompense for that was taken...

WE saw the swallows gathering in the sky,

And in the osier-isle we heard their noise.

We had not to look back on summer joys,

Or forward to a summer of bright dye;

But in the largeness of the evening earth

Our spirits grew as we went side by side.

The hour became her husband, and my bride.

Love that had robb’d us so, thus bless’d our dearth!

The pilgrims of the year wax’d very loud

In multitudinous chatterings, as the flood

Full brown came from the west, and like pale blood

Expanded to the upper crimson cloud.

Love, that had robb’d us of immortal things,

This little moment mercifully gave,

And still I see across the twilight wave

The swan sail with her young beneath her wings.

George Meredith---Modern Love---

One Twilight Hour

Several Sunning Swallows

Every year the road into the parking area at the Grand Kankakee Marsh is covered in Swallows. This year is the same as any with Swallows spreading wings, primping, stretching, and basking in the rays.

And they are ever so reluctant to give up their spot in the sun for the vehicular traffic using the road. They wait until the very last possible moment to move.

Blue Jay

Blue Jays are enjoying the warm days this spring at the Indiana Dunes. This one was hanging around in one spot, not too concerned about me down on the ground. It may have had a nest near by that kept it close to home.

Courting

A mallard couple still in courting stages but soon to be nesting were enjoying a Sunday morning together.

That Red Robin Bobbin' along

It's a popular misconception that Robins are a harbinger of spring. The American Robin, in fact, does not generally migrate, but will stick around all winter long. The robin is said to even eat seeds from feeders to supplement its winter diet, although I've never witnessed this.

I have, however, taken pictures all winter long of robins around puddles, on newly defrosted ground, rummaging through snow for bugs and grubs.

But when the little birds start bob, bob, bobbin' along...well that has got to be a sure sign of spring.    

Blue Bird

Bluebird looking for a mate.

The Quaking of the Marsh

The marsh's quiet wintry wait was over on Sunday as hundreds of Sandhill Cranes moved in for a rest on their migration north.

Instead of the sound of  the wind through the sedges, grass, and cattails, the sounds of the crane's croaking calls and the beat of hundreds of wings brought the marsh to life.

Looking for a Home

Another hint that spring is near---a goose couple shopping for a place to raise a family. My guess is that these early birds will need little encouragement to set up housekeeping in one of the nesting boxes that the DNR has set up in the marsh.

Next time I get a chance to hike through, I hope to see her up in the box sitting on some eggs---maybe even sharing with another egg sitting female, while the ever attendant and loyal males swim below.

Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder...

Hoosier author Gene Stratton Porter loved this bird, the Turkey Vulture. She devoted whole chapters of her books about these magnificently ugly birds; how they raise their young, how the birds are born in white fluff---so ugly they're cute.

This turkey vulture was soaring in the wind over the Kankakee River this weekend; really enjoying the day and making the whole world look like a playground. Such joy was beautiful!

Real estate

A nest hanging at the edge of the Kankakee River, a reminder of the previous summer still hanging in February.

I watched the Red Winged Blackbirds feed the young they raised in this feat of engineering that will last a few more seasons yet, but will probably never be used again.