Seek and Discover – Shabbona Lake State Park

The Green Heron is always a treat to see. Mother nature sure gave this bird a beautiful variety of color and texture to help keep it hidden in any scene. They are quiet, shy and love the marshy swamps and streams within the park. You may see this small wader cautiously creeping along the waters edge while searching for food. They have a keen sense of hearing and excellent vision to help them locate fish and aquatic insects, in addition to tadpoles, frogs and even snakes. I was amazed by the accuracy this one had as he pinpointed the location of his next meal. From two feet away, he came rushing over to his prey using a comical fast stalky walk. He stopped suddenly as if a magnet was leading his beak. Then in the blink of an eye and a plunge of his beak the connection was made. It looked like a very satisfying snack.

Another meal fit for a king. This meal is for an Eastern Kingbird fledgling. A fledgling is a young bird that has recently left the nest. Parents often feed their young for awhile after they leave the nest. As they begin to pick up the necessary skills needed to fend for themselves the parents begin to bring fewer and fewer supplements. This sweet young kingbird sat watching mama, picking up on her technique and eagerly waiting for a delivery. Mama did return with what Eastern Kingbirds love to eat. A succulent dragonfly packed with just the right nutrition for a growing bird. After quickly devouring the tasty snack the young kingbird thanked mama with a few sweet chirps.

This is a Halloween Pennant, the first dragonfly to really catch my eye. His striped autumn colored wings were flowing in the breeze. I guess that is how he got his name. He chose this dried up wispy strand to hawk for bugs. To hawk a dragonfly needs a tall perch with a nice panoramic view. It will continually scan the area searching for insects and juicy bugs. Bugs we find to be a nuisance like mosquitoes are a dragonfly delicacy. Good dragonfly! Once they set sights on their prey they take flight and snatch the bug right out of thin air. They usually return to the same perch with the meal. If you see the dragonfly that looks like it may be chewing on it’s perch, take a closer look. It probably just caught a bug.

Learning to Identify dragonflies is a challenge. This tall dark and handsome insectivore had me searching the internet for hours trying to ID him. It was confirmed to be a Black Saddlebag Dragonfly by Odonata Central and the Illinois Birders Forum. Two wonderful groups for birders and dragonfly enthusiasts. I have been back to Shabbona Lake a few times and have seen him patrolling his territory along the lake. This one was on a path near Pokanoka’s Restaurant. When a dragonfly patrols, he chooses an ariel path that he flies back and forth from repeatedly. If you see a dragonfly going back and forth like crazy in one area it is not crazy, it is just hungry and on patrol. As it flies back and forth it is scoping out bugs and insects to capture. If an area has abundant prospective captures the dragonfly will return and patrol that same area often. This dragonfly really likes this path. The Halloween Pennant was also on this same path every visit. It was the only one I saw at the park. The two were about twenty feet from each other each visit. If you would like to look for them follow the path that leads south from the parking lot of the restaurant. While watching the east side of the path facing the lake, keep your eye on tall dried weeds, sticks and strands. They really love those tall perches.

Another technique a dragonfly uses to capture prey is called gleaning. In shallow waters, a low perspective and an insect perching on a twig or leaf set the stage for success when a dragonfly chooses this strategy. After honing in on the unsuspecting prey the dragonfly will hover briefly above it. Before you are even finished blinking the dragonfly will quickly lower it’s legs and collect the prey right off it’s perch. It happens so fast that even the insect didn’t see it coming. A dragonfly can and will switch techniques to fit the situation. Usually they land back where they began hawking from, which makes seeing the results of the capture easier. I am not sure if this Eastern Amberwing used the gleaning or hawking technique it happened so fast! What he did do for sure was enjoy this delicious bug. I hope it was a mosquito! I have really enjoyed searching for and learning about dragonflies during my recent visits to the park. Lots more to see and learn about. Come for a visit and see what you can find!

This Dickcissel was showing off just outside the park so keep your eyes peeled coming in and going out as well. The natural beauty of Lake Shabbona State Park is just bursting at the seams.

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