Field Trip Report: Lincoln Park North and South Ponds

Northern Cardinal, Lincoln Park South Pond, January 1, 2023

words by Christine Williamson
photos by Robyn Detterline

January 1, 2023

Chicago Ornithological Society’s annual January 1 beginning birder walk featured fairly warm weather for the time of year and an interesting mix of 17 bird species in and around the South and North Ponds in Lincoln Park.

South Pond was still frozen and most of North Pond was iced over as well, but the seven trip participants were able to see some water birds, including Mallards and Canada Geese.

We also noticed that American Crows were picking at something on the ice on North Pond. We think they were finding food, but it was hard to tell!

Our group ventured into Lincoln Park Zoo to see if there were any interesting wild birds in the zoo’s pond, which had open water. We were rewarded with two wild American Black Ducks among the birds that have had their wings clipped and are winter residents of the pond.

American Black Duck, Lincoln Park Zoo Swan Pond, January 1, 2023.

Other species we encountered were White-breasted Nuthatches, an American Tree Sparrow, a White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrows, and numerous Dark-eyed Juncos.

Speaking of Juncos, my co-leader Larry Krutulis and I noticed some junco feathers on the ground under a tall pine tree outside the zoo.

We kept walking but one of the trip participants noticed a Cooper’s Hawk noshing down on a Junco on a bough deep within the tree.

All in all, the morning was a success, and we all look forward to spring when the Lincoln Park ponds thaw and migrant waterfowl and land birds come back to Chicago.