June marks the wind-down of the spring bird migration and the beginning of baby bird season. Things I observed this month include a mallard nesting in the stevia patch in the community garden to which I belong. When I went back to check on it a week later, the nest had seemingly been predated and abandoned. But later in June, I saw a red-headed woodpecker make multiple visits to a nest hole at Turnbull Woods, near the Chicago Botanic Garden. I wasn’t able to see the baby bird in the nest hole, but from observing the adult bird’s behavior, I could surmise that one (or more) was there. That same day I observed a mink being chased by blackbirds, a bald eagle being chased by much smaller birds, a kingbird chasing a much larger black-crowned night heron, and a tree swallow chasing a goldfinch. I can recollect this information today because I took the time to write it down when I made these observations. Otherwise, those experiences would have gotten lost in the shuffle of life. If you don’t have the time to make a detailed study on your page, just writing can preserve your memories of your experiences in nature.
