Chicago Migration Event

October is when the migratory birds fly through Chicago. Unfortunately its kind of a disaster for birds to be flying through skyscrapers.

Here's a magnolia warbler I found a bit stunned by the opera house.

I picked it up to see what kind of damage it had.

Fortunately it had no broken wings and I didn't see any major bruising under the feathers. I took it to the nearest green space in Chicago to get over being stunned.

It was raining so I put it under some thick shrubbery to wait it out. When I went back here for lunch it was gone so hopefully it was able to survive and finish its migration.

Huge glass buildings cause havoc on all kinds of birds in spring and fall. I Usually try and pick up the less damaged ones and relocate them to a safer area when I can.

Last fall I found this little golden crowned kinglet stunned on the sidewalk.

I warmed it up with my hand and put it in the nearest park I could find and it seemed to spring back to life after a while.

The larger birds like this dark eyed junco aren't so fortunate. Their larger body and faster speed make building collisions fatal.

Here's a house wren that didn't make it. Only the tiny warblers and kinglets seem to make it past a collision.

This pine warbler didn't make it either. Sometimes what happens is they get stunned and fall on the sidewalk then during rush hour they get stepped on. If only the people in the offices would put up some bird silhouettes on their windows, maybe it would reduce collisions a bit.

On the bright side of things the bats are doing fine in Chicago.

I tend to notice them sleeping during the day on the sides of buildings during fall.

One of these days I'll find one at the right angle where I can get a shot of its funky looking face. These guys were either way too high up or way too low to the ground.

That's all for now, thanks for looking and if you're in a city during migration keep an eye out on the ground for any stunned little birds.