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MONITOR NEWS, November 2010

November 12, 2010
MONITOR NEWS, November 2010

Jane and Sandra at Fort Sheridan FP

Teamwork at Fort Sheridan

 

Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve, on the site of the historic Army base, features a grassland on bluffs overlooking Lake Michigan, several forested ravines, an oak savanna, and access to a stretch of sandy beach. Final plans for the area are still under consideration, but birders have discovered the spot, and two BCN monitors have been keeping track of the bird populations. They are Sandra Kroll, who has been keeping records here since the preserve opened to the public in 2006, and Jane Mikulski, who joined Sandra to form a team of regular monitors in 2008.

 

 

 

Red-headed WoodpeckerAt present the grassland area, torn up and covered with fill a few years ago, contains only cover crops like clover and black-eyed susans. Nevertheless, eastern meadowlarks and bobolinks have been nesting here; there were dickcissels in 2006-07 and grasshopper sparrows in 2006. The savanna, somewhat overgrown like most in our area, has had nesting kestrels, scarlet tanagers and bluebirds. However, the main avian attraction is the red-headed woodpeckers that nest and winter there.

 

 

Grassland in winter 

Jane and Sandra are sold on team monitoring, and they are passionate about the value of this exceptional natural place. They have kept in touch with the ecologists in the Lake County Forest Preserve District, who are also concerned about preserving the beauty of the spot. And it seems more and more people discover that it’s a great place for walking dogs, riding bikes, jogging, walking, and cross country skiing. While we were there, a woman new to the preserve came by, wondering if there was a long hike to the beach. Sandra gave her directions and not long afterward the woman returned – with her family – obviously enthusiastic about her visit.

[Red-headed woodpecker and winter scene by Sandra Kroll]