CHACONIAC's Blog

Greetings all:

Have been trying to get outside as much as possible (on my own time, not those brutal live shots) but spring seems stubborn in coming and at least a couple of weeks late. The garden is definitely behind schedule, I have not so much as a crocus! But out on the rivers and lakes the waterfowl are on the move.

Spent the weekend near the Rock River and saw thousands of birds in awe-inspiring strings and flocks. At least half a dozen bald eagles, rafts of diving ducks like canvasback, merganser, redheads, scaups, and those adorable buffleheads. Also great blue herons, redbreasted nuthatches, robins and chickadees.

Here in the city I like to jog along the lakefront and come back around North Pond: there has been a beaver living there but I have never seen him when I take a camera. Wood ducks are already nesting. Also mute swans on Diversey Harbor. Swans!

I find these persistent acts of nature in the heart of the city just thrilling.

But here's a sad note. The falconer who was featured in a story I did on hawk migration last fall was targeted by thieves. His lovely goshawk was stolen 2 weeks ago from his backyard. He put an alert out to falconers across the country so the thief was unable to sell the bird...it was probably released back into the wild. He says he's okay with that, but he's lost a fierce and beautiful animal.

Go out and play, and if you can, take some binoculars. You can't see if you won't look!

Regards,

Lilia