After seeing Brood X in Princeton in 2021, we decided to take a trip to Illinois to see the 2024 dual emergence of periodical cicadas (or “Magicicadas”). Most of the places we stopped were well within the northern-only area so we likely only saw one brood… the only way to tell the difference is by the emergence timing (it’s the same species of cicadas either way). Of course, I can’t go on a trip and not see birds, and there were plenty of those around as well.
Periodical Cicadas at the Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL
Periodical Cicada at the Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL
Periodical Cicada at the Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL
Eastern Bluebird at the Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL
Field Sparrow in a prairie at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Batavia, IL
Not my best photo but here’s a Henslow’s Sparrow, also in the prairie at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Batavia, IL. This was my first time seeing this species.
From the “Mourning Doves will nest anywhere files”: this one built a nest on a sculpture along the Fox River in St. Charles, IL. The sculpture was dedicated in May, 1988 and named Ēkwabet (“Watching Over”) the following year by the Potawatomi Nation in a Naming Ceremony.
Mourning Dove nest on a statue
Red-winged Blackbird, Hoscheit Woods Forest Preserve, St. Charles, IL
We stopped at Starved Rock State Park and there were, uh, a few pelicans around…
American White Pelican, Starved Rock State Park, LaSalle County, IL
We counted over 100 Turkey Vultures at this roost in Peoria, IL!
Ok, they were everywhere so probably not that exciting, but I enjoyed seeing Fox Squirrels…
