Chicago Botanic Garden Friday 10-17-25 (And Jeff Sander's funeral)

[Al Stokie]

Hello Bird People,

Pretty windy today & the mudflats were under water so not a great day
for conditions.
Also had a big bunch of ducks at the mudflat area but all were flushed
by two employees who decided it was time to spray the weeds ringing
the water. I was 10 min too late to I.D. most of the ducks.

Chicago Botanic (7:45-11:15 am)

P.B. Grebe (1)
Great Blue Heron (2)
Great Egret (1)
Canada Goose (71)
Wood Duck (12)
Mallard (31)
BLACK DUCK (1)
Green Winged Teal (6-8)
Red Tailed Hawk (1 fly-by)
Red Bellied Woodpecker (1)
Blue Jay (4)
Chickadee (H-2)
Red Breasted Nuthatch (3)
Brown Creeper (2)
Ruby Crowned Kinglet (4)
Golden Crowned Kinglet (2)
Robins (20-22)
Cardinal (1-PR)
House Finch (2)
Goldfinch (4)
House Sparrow (12)

Jeff Sanders funeral was today & the birding community was represented
by Libby H, Rena & Sonny C, Karen L, Vickie B, Joel G, John L, Joe L &
yours truly. And from the family Ira Sanders. I think there were a
couple more but I missed their names. It was a nice ceremony & the
first Jewish service I have ever attended.

So only 21 species at the Garden & not much quality but
Bird-Of-The-Day will be the lone Black Duck & Runner-Up the 2
Creepers. Did not have time to check McDonald Woods.

Al Stokie

[ALAN ANDERSON]

I was also able to attend the funeral for Jeff Sanders today. It was a very well done, beautiful and sentimental service, and reminiscing about Jeff by his brother Ira, and son Randall were such a wonderful addition.

For those who want to know at least a bit more of at least some of what Jeff did volunteering for bird groups and birders over the years, read this blog that is on the Chicago Bird Alliance site after he retired from 25 years of service to Chicago Audubon/Chicago Bird Alliance:

https://chicagobirdalliance.org/blog/2023/4/14/z4dvxwbetcm2l0zyznleimhy9jn53v

Jeff also started and did everything for the Chicago Urban Count for over 55 years, and that is another thing that will be hard to replace his efforts. The ENSBC, Lake-Cook Audubon and Ft. Dearborn Audubon and CBA would love if someone would be able to take over coordinating the Urban Count this year (it's usually on the first Sunday of the count period).

Sheryl DeVore wrote an article for the Tribune in 2014 about Jeff's efforts on the Urban Count (and more):

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2014/12/24/glenview-man-celebrates-50-years-of-christmas-bird-counts/

To add a bird sighting to this report, I made a quick stop at Air Station Prairie after leaving the funeral (two purposes!) and saw two Orange-crowned Warblers just north of the nature center building. Some one saw numerous OCWA there a few days ago too, if you'd like to check too.

Sincerely,
Alan Anderson, casre...@comcast.net Des Plaines

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