Great Lakes report

[Donnie Dann]

This morning I joined my colleagues, Brad and Taylor, to survey the state-endangered Common Tern at Great Lakes, its only colony in Illinois. Here are our observations:

41 adults

10 active nests

32 chicks (many nearing flight capability)

1 chick fledged

20 unhatched eggs

Also of note were two Forsters Terns, 3 Semi-palmated Sandpipers and the three species that have been hanging out together for a few weeks, a Lesser Scaup, a Pied-billed Grebe and an American Coot. Later on, on his own, Brad came across 4 Semi-palmated Plovers and a Willet.

Donnie Dann
Highland Park/Lake County