Outdoor Report

District Naturalist Ron Skleney reports that wind patterns and warm temperatures should support a big influx of migrating birds this weekend. He recommends that warbler watchers head to Fullersburg Woods, Waterfall Glen, Salt Creek Park, Willowbrook or West DuPage Woods.

During a bird walk this week at Willowbrook, 63 species including 18 species of warblers were spotted. A few highlights include Cape May warbler, northern parula, golden-winged warbler, Tennessee warbler and great-crested flycatcher. A few highlights from Fullersburg Woods include ruby-throated hummingbird, ovenbird, mourning warbler and scarlet tanager.

Wood ducks have been observed at Meacham Grove and Maple Grove recently. These colorful but timid ducks will often make a whistling sound as they fly off their perches in trees along waterways. Green herons have been observed stalking their prey along the shorelines of Salt Creek at Cricket Creek and Fullersburg Woods.

Wildflowers continue to carpet the woodlands with beautiful blooms. Meacham Grove is sporting numerous species along the Savanna Trail. Virginia bluebells, large-flowered trillium, toothwort and bellwort will be fading soon, so take a walk this weekend for these species. Read more about this year’s woodland wildflower season here. Also, look for flowering trees and shrubs such as redbud, wild plum and serviceberry. Golden Alexander, shooting star and columbine are developing on the prairies.

Anglers have had good success in the warmer weather. Crappie have moved out a bit deeper at many lakes. Northern pike and largemouth bass have been the catch on spinner baits and crank baits at Songbird Slough. Channel catfish have been biting on a variety of baits, including stink bait, chicken livers and hot dogs. Head to Maple Lake at Meacham Grove, Green Lake at Cricket Creek or Grove Lake at Woods Dale Grove for channel cats.

Some largemouth bass and bluegill have been observed in the shallows on their spawning beds. Take care to return these fish so they can go back and protect the eggs that will eventually hatch into the big fish of tomorrow.

Adults who would like to get reacquainted with the basics of fishing, or learn for the first time, are invited to join Fishing 101 on Tuesday, May 21 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Mayslake. The event is free and includes hands-on indoor instruction and outdoor experience. Register by calling 630-933-7248.

A District ecologist captured this photo of woodland phlox blooming at Lyman Woods.

Woodland wildflowers are in bloom, so get out and enjoy the fleeting show of spring color. Bellwort, hepatica, spring beauties, bloodroot, trout lily, Dutchmen’s breeches, toothwort, rue anemone and false rue anemone are a few of the spring ephemeral flowers being observed in woodlands right now. Flowering trees and shrubs such as redbud, wild plum and serviceberry are also sporting colorful blooms. On the prairies, look for golden Alexander and shooting star to develop flowers soon.

Migrating birds continue to arrive. Just a few sightings from around the District this week include warbling vireo, blue-headed vireo, northern parula, rose-breasted grosbeak, indigo bunting, ruby-crowned kinglet, white-crowned sparrow, eastern towhee, Caspian tern and belted kingfishers. At Fullersburg Woods, warblers seen during a recent birding walk included golden-winged, Nashville, yellow, magnolia, black-throated green, yellow-rumped, Blackburnian, palm, blackpoll, black-and-white, ovenbird, northern waterthrush and common yellowthroat.

For more on this amazing annual animal feat, join the International Migratory Bird Day Celebration at Willowbrook Wildlife Center on Saturday, May 11 from 8 a.m. to noon. Read the full lineup of free bird walks and activities here.  

In fishing notes, water levels have receded along the rivers and fish have moved into their typical holding areas. Carp, crappie, bluegill and largemouth bass have made up the bulk of the catch out of Salt Creek at Fullersburg Woods.

In the lakes, crappie are in shallow waters getting ready to spawn.  Fish have been caught on a number of artificial baits with small jigs. Anglers at Grove Lake at Wood Dale Grove have reeled in largemouth bass using spinner baits and soft plastic worms rigged wacky style. Channel catfish are also being caught at Grove Lake on a variety of baits fished on the bottom of the windblown shoreline.

A District ranger snapped this photo of a trillium at Meacham Grove. This forest preserve’s extensive groves of stately oaks and maples are home to a host of spring wildflowers, including gorgeous displays of red and white trillium and rue anemone. Take the Savanna Trail on the eastern side of the preserve for a wildflower walk.

This crappie measured a mammoth 17.25 inches.

Image © IDNR Division of Fisheries

In late April, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources completed surveys of the fish population at Mallard Lake at Mallard Lake Forest Preserve in Hanover Park.

At 85 acres, Mallard Lake is the largest lake in the District and contains several game species. The survey revealed a few whoppers: a 28-inch northern pike, a 23-inch walleye that weighed nearly 5 pounds and a massive crappie that measured 17.25 inches.

The focus of the survey, though, was a checkup on the lake’s muskie population. The District and the IDNR often partner together to monitor and improve fisheries. In September 2006 the state agency and the Illini Muskies Alliance worked with the District to stock muskellunge fingerlings at Mallard Lake, the first location among DuPage forest preserves to receive muskie.

The fish appear to be growing nicely. IDNR staff members described the 26 muskie they caught, measured and released as “healthy, nice and fat.” The largest was 40 inches long and weighed 18 pounds. Muskie hunters are invited to fish for their favorite species at Mallard Lake but should remember that the fish have a while yet to grow before they’ll be larger than the 48-inch creel limit.

Anglers at any body of water are always encouraged to practice CPR — catch, photograph and release. For more on fishing in the forest preserves, including rules and regulations, creel limits and depth maps, visit the Fishing page.

Image © IDNR Division of Fisheries

This muskie measured in at 35 inches long. In addition to being a sought-after species for anglers, muskie are top predators that help improve a lake's overall health by eating foods untouched by other aquatic animals.

Young owlets returned to their newly reinforced nest.

The first weekend of May marks the opening of many recreational facilities around the District. Boat rentals will open on Saturdays and Sundays at both Herrick Lake at Herrick Lake and Silver Lake at Blackwell and will be open daily after Memorial Day. The Blackwell Family Campground operates Friday and Saturday nights through May through September. And, the scenic overlook at the Greene Valley Hill is open Saturdays and Sundays May through September.

District staff helped a group of great horned owlets into a new and improved nest recently. Great horned owl parents are not impressive builders, and they often make use of an old nest of without adding much to it. When windy weather comes along, the young owlets are susceptible to falling out of the rickety constructions. District staff will often construct a simple wooden platform to place in the tree underneath the damaged nest to provide stability, and the babies are returned to the tree for their parents to care for them once again.

Bird migration is coming along, and natural areas are filled with avian visitors. At Fullersburg Woods, a few of the species seen this week include wood duck, solitary and spotted sandpipers, eastern phoebe, white-breasted nuthatch, Carolina wren, brown thrasher, blue-gray gnatcatcher, American goldfinch, rose-breasted grosbeak, indigo bunting and Baltimore oriole. Warblers were abundant, with yellow-rumped, palm, black-and-white, Nashville, hooded, magnolia, prothonotary, American redstart and northern waterthrush all been spotted recently.

Naturalists at Willowbrook also reported great birding conditions. A few highlights at that location include Cooper’s hawk, Caspian tern, yellow-throated and blue-headed vireos, blue-gray gnatcatcher, ruby-crowned kinglet, Baltimore oriole, purple finch, pine siskin, northern flicker and red-bellied, downy and hairy woodpeckers. Warbler species were similar to those at Fullersburg and also included black-throated green, Tennessee and Blackburnian.

At Blackwell near the youth-group campground, a rufous-sided towhee and rose-breasted grosbeak were reported this week. The West Branch Regional Trail passes near this area.

Image © Joe Lawlor

Thanks to visitor Joe Lawlor for sharing this photo of his friend Bob Zieman’s 21-inch largemouth bass reeled in on Monday at Silver Lake at Blackwell. The fish weighed in at more than 5 pounds. To share fishing information or wildlife sightings for the Outdoor Report, send an email to forest@dupageforest.org.