LF_062118

16 | June 21, 2018 | The lake forest leader NEWS
LakeForestLeader.com
Residents explore wildlife at Birds and Brews event
Katie Copenhaver
Freelance Reporter
Residents of Lake Forest
and surrounding communities
came out for the
Birds and Brews event
June 8 at the Mellody
Farm Nature Preserve as
part of the Lake Forest
Open Lands Nature and
Nibbles series. Unlike
other events in the series,
this event paired a birding
stroll with beer from Kings
and Convicts Brewery in
Highwood.
Lake Forest Open Lands
Association’s birding expert
and wildlife ecologist
Luke Buckardt led the
group through the prairie,
savannah and wetlands
of the nature preserve in
search of native songbirds
and their nests during this
prime mating season for
many species.
“There’s a lot more to
birding than the migration
rush in May,” said Buckardt
in his introductory
comments. “Many of these
bird populations are in decline
across the U.S., so
these habitats are crucial.
Many use this [nature preserve]
as a nesting place.”
To that purpose, the
Lake Forest Open Lands
Association has installed
nesting boxes throughout
Mellody Farm for those
species who use cavity
nests.
Buckardt and the group
spotted a swallow sitting
on top of one of the boxes,
which he said meant the
swallow’s mate was inside
the box tending to the
eggs.
The walk lasted a little
more than an hour at dusk,
during which time the
group also cited a goldfinch,
mallard duck and
Caspian tern in flight and a
robin and pair of mourning
doves perched in the trees.
A great blue heron was sitting
atop its horizontal nest
in the center of one of the
ponds, standing guard as
the swallow had been doing.
Buckardt heard a warbler
in the prairie and tried
to make noises to get it to
come out, but it wouldn’t.
“Warblers are curious
birds, so they’ll often pop
up to take a look when
they hear something.”
Buckardt explained that
he goes birding by ear because
he finds it easier to
first hear a bird’s call and
then try to spot it.
“Any time you can go
birding with Luke, it’s
a good day,” said Laura
Carney, a Lake Forest resident
who regularly attends
Lake Forest Open Lands
Association events.
Other people in attendance
included Melinda
Tom, of Libertyville, who
encouraged four friends to
come with her.
Lesley and Gil Smith,
of Vernon Hills, were also
there. The couple have
been running their Lake
Bluff based tree and shrub
consulting business, Arborsmith,
for 37 years.
They are also regularly
involved with Lake Forest
Open Lands Association
and are scheduled
to instruct kids in a tree
climbing activity at one of
the organization’s summer
camps.
The Smith’s interest in
birds goes hand in hand
with their passion for nature
and ecology in general,
which started when they
both studied landscape architecture
and horticulture
at the University of Illinois
Champaign-Urbana.
Logen and Quinn Gordon,
who just finished
elementary school year,
Luke Buckardt, Lake Forest Open Lands Association’s birding expert and wildlife ecologist, gives a presentation
before taking attendees outside to search for wildlife at the Birds and Brews Event June 8 at Mellody Farm Nature
Preserve. Photos submitted by corinne Stagen Photography.
Attendees at the Birds and Brews event look through
binoculars for wildlife.
were the only kids in attendance.
They are the sons of
Peter Gordon, the director
of land management and
operations for Lake Forest
Open Lands Association.
Susie Hoffman, the director
of education, mentioned,
these “Nature and
Nibbles” events are the
main adult education program
the organization runs.
“We do a lot for kids, so
these are for adults.”
Before and after the bird
walk, attendees enjoyed the
ales and pilsners of Kings
and Convicts Brewery of
Highwood, which is owned
and operated by Lake Forest
residents Chris Bradley
and Brenden Watters. The
appetizers came from Sunset
Foods.
Luke Buckardt points out birds to event attendees.