SPECIES TRENDS

The species classifications listed here are based on designations assigned by Chicago Wilderness.  For our purposes, shrubland birds have also been further separated out and placed into their own category.  Indicator species (species that well represent a designated habitat type) are denoted in the "IND" column.  The "TREND" column lists the average yearly rate of change of a species based on 1997-2004 point count data.

* Click on a species below to pull up graphs and detailed information about its trend. *

Grasslands | Shrublands | Woodlands | Wetlands

Nationally, grassland birds are facing the most significant declines according to the Audubon 2004 State of the Birds report.  In the Chicago Wilderness region where tallgrass prairie was one of the predominant habitat types, results are similar and many species are decreasing as urban expansion continues to spread through the Chicago area.  At the same time, results from the BCN Census show that some species like the state threat-ened Henslow's Sparrow are doing very well in preserved areas despite declining trends on Breeding Bird Survey routes in Illinois and the Midwest.  In addition to the protection of habitat, active restoration of grasslands by land managers and volunteers has also had a very noticeable and in many cases almost immediate beneficial impact.

POORLY KNOWN TRENDS

"U.B." & "L.B." represent the upper and lower bounds of the 95% Confidence interval.

This habitat is often under managed and under researched due to its vague identity as an often transitional habitat between grasslands and woodlands and its relatively less important role for plants and other animals.  Nonetheless, this habitat distinction is very important to birds.  The Audubon State of the Birds report shows that many shrubland species are facing serious declines, second only to grasslands.  As a successional habitat, the long term management of fragmented shrublands in the Chicago Wilderness region is a difficult task that often requires sensitive care.
* Shrublands include any grasslands or open canopy woodlands with at least moderate understory. 

SPECIES

POORLY KNOWN TRENDS

"U.B." & "L.B." represent the upper and lower bounds of the 95% Confidence interval.

Trends for woodland birds are fairly equally mixed.  Many species are declining, but many others are increasing.  Woodlands have received a lot of attention due to their degradation by many nonnative, invasive species including buckthorn and garlic mustard that have impacted woodlands at almost every level.  Active buckthorn removal and restoration of woodlands in the Chicago Wilderness region has had beneficial results for many species of birds in preserved areas.  A number of species are negatively impacted by the removal of buckthorn and other shrubs.  Restoration in areas where these birds nest requires additional care; however, these species will likely increase again as native understory is reintroduced and allowed to take hold in areas that were formerly dominated by buckthorn.

SPECIES

POORLY KNOWN TRENDS

"U.B." & "L.B." represent the upper and lower bounds of the 95% Confidence interval.

Wetland birds have the fewest declining trends of the four categories outlined here.  Although collectively wetland species are on the increase, there are still many species of concern.  Many species have adapted to urban and suburban environments, but others are very sensitive to environmental changes.  The depredation of nests by predators, changes in water levels, and invasion of nonnative plant species continue to be problematic.  Furthermore, trends for wetland species are the least well know.  Wetland species are often very elusive and breed in remote, difficult to access areas.  Continued preservation of marshes in the Chicago Wilderness region has helped many wetland species. 

SPECIES

POORLY KNOWN TRENDS

"U.B." & "L.B." represent the upper and lower bounds of the 95% Confidence interval.