We spent a lovely couple hours strolling around the Crabtree Nature Center, with lots of feathered friends in attendance. We spotted 34 species! Here are some of the highlights. Here’s our Ebird list.

An American Phoebe on the lookout for bugs
An American Phoebe on the lookout for bugs; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Blue-winged Teal swims in a pond
A Blue-winged Teal swims in a pond; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Blue-winged Teal swims in a pond
A Blue-winged Teal swims in a pond; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Brown Creeper on its way up a tree
A Brown Creeper on its way up a tree; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Brown Creeper, well, creeps up a tree
A Brown Creeper, well, creeps up a tree; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Canada Goose browses for its breakfast
A Canada Goose browses for its breakfast; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Golden-Crowned Kinglit peeps between two branches
A Golden-Crowned Kinglit peeps between two branches; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Killdeer flies overhead, peeping!
A Killdeer flies overhead, peeping! Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Northern Flicker peeks its head up against the top of a tree
A Northern Flicker peeks its head up against the top of a tree; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Palm Warbler looks at us
A Palm Warbler looks at us; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Palm Warbler eyes us suspiciously
A Palm Warbler eyes us suspiciously; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Palm Warbler perches on a twig
A Palm Warbler perches on a twig; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Palm Warbler perches on a twig
A Palm Warbler perches on a twig; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Pine Warbler sits on a perch
A Pine Warbler sits on a perch; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Pine Warbler makes its way to a new perch
A Pine Warbler makes its way to a new perch; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Red-Tailed Hawk soars overhead
A Red-Tailed Hawk soars overhead; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Ruby-Crowned Kinglet shows its crown
A Ruby-Crowned Kinglet shows its crown; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Ruby-Crowned Kinglet calls out
A Ruby-Crowned Kinglet calls out; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Ruby-Crowned Kinglet perches on a twig
A Ruby-Crowned Kinglet perches on a twig; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
Two Sandhill Cranes stand among the reeds
Two Sandhill Cranes stand among the reeds; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Yellow-Rumped Warbler sits above us
A Yellow-Rumped Warbler sits above us; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Yellow-Rumped Warbler perches on a log
A Yellow-Rumped Warbler perches on a log; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025

We glimpsed some American White Pelicans cruising overhead, and spotted horned grebes for the first time. 

On our way out to see some birds this afternoon, we looked up the word slough and learned that in the context of a pond or other water, it rhymes with “flew.” Either way, it must mean full of birds.

We saw oodles of coots, who took off in a hurry when a bald eagle flew by.

New Lifers:

  • Horned Grebe
  • Ruddy Duck
Three American Coots float in a lake
Three American Coots float in a lake; Saganashkee Slough, IL; 29 March2025
A big flock of American Coots float in a lake
A big flock of American Coots float in a lake; Saganashkee Slough, IL; 29 March 2025
A bald eagle soars overhead
A bald eagle soars overhead; Saganashkee Slough, IL; 29 March 2025
A big flock of American Coots take flight from a lake
A big flock of American Coots take flight from a lake; Saganashkee Slough, IL; 29 March 2025
A Brown Creeper scoots its way up the tree
A Brown Creeper scoots its way up the tree; Saganashkee Slough, IL; 29 March 2025
A Brown Creeper scoots its way up the tree
A Brown Creeper scoots its way up the tree; Saganashkee Slough, IL; 29 March 2025
Two horned grebe make their way across a lake
A horned grebe and a coot hang out on the lake; Saganashkee Slough, IL; 29 March 2025
Two horned grebe make their way across a lake
Two horned grebe make their way across a lake; Saganashkee Slough, IL; 29 March 2025
Two horned grebe make their way across a lake
Two horned grebe make their way across a lake; Saganashkee Slough, IL; 29 March 2025
Three American White Pelicans soar overhead
Three American White Pelicans soar overhead; Saganashkee Slough, IL; 29 March 2025
Three American White Pelicans soar overhead
Three American White Pelicans soar overhead; Saganashkee Slough, IL; 29 March 2025