Other Wildlife to Watch

Everyone thnks, of course, that a wildlife center will feature animals. Willowbrook does so. But does any wildlife center not also feature wildflowers? Willowbrook does that as well. In other words, both subdivisions of biology -- zoology and botany -- are important.

Spring brings out the best of the color palette as well. The bright red of the Columbine catches every eye, but many other flowers fill the scene all spring and most of the summer and fall.

More birds in the next post.

Prepared for the Release

The bird we were checking in the prior post, a Gray-Cheeked Thrush, was in great health and ready to be released. Clearly none the worse for wear, we see a different hand grip by the naturalist, firmly but gently holding the legs as the bird looks around and is readied for release. Then the hand is lifted, the legs are released, and the Thrush flies off into the trees, banded for identification and having helped teach us a wonderful biology lesson.

The banding table was just beyond the Willowbrook building and exhibit area, right near the bridge leading to the trails and lots of opportunities to walk over a mile looking for birds. Next post will see some of the species migrating through Willowbrook in May, 2009.

Holding Migratory Birds

Seen here is a bird being checked for age, injuries, gender and so forth. That same grip we saw in the previous post, with the wrist turned over, allows access to the front of the bird and if you look closely at the bird's right leg in the foreground, you will see the band that has already been attached at the very top of the leg. The naturalist will generally band the bird first, in order to allow the bird to be set free in case the bird becomes agitated. While this bird appeared not to be at all uncomfortable, we were able to look quite closely at things such as the wings.

It was determined that this bird is a second year bird, born in 2008, and the wing photograph is the telling detail. Just above the naturalist's thumb, the strip of darker brown wings is identified as the first year wings, clearly a different color than the second year wings. Only in a situation such as this could an amateur like me learn that and see its effect in full color right before my eyes. And now, thanks to the blog, right before your eyes as well!

Migratory Bird Day at Willowbrook

Just nine days after the St. James Farm visit, I attended another wonderful bird walk, this one back at Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn. Ron Skleney, the Willowbrook naturalist who got me started with birds and who was our St. James guide, welcomed the walkers and turned us over to two other staff members for the day.

International Migratory Bird Day was very interesting and educational. And as you can see in the photo, we did not learn about the 'two in the bush,' but we certainly experienced the proverbial 'bird in the hand.' A feature of the day was watching as several migratory birds were netted, banded, checked for identification and for details, and set free. Fascinating and very appealing to the eye of the watcher and of course the eye of the camera.

The photo shows the approved method of holding a wild bird. It allows a firm grip that will not harm the bird. Using the index and middle fingers of the hand for the neck slot works because due to the size of the knuckles, the fingers do not squeeze all that tightly at their base. As we will note in upcoming posts, it is easy to turn over the hand to have view and access to the body of the bird.

Some of those pictures will be in the next post.

Leaving the Farm

As we began to walk back toward the barn with the upstairs door and the parking lot, we did see a few more buildings and a few more birds. Two swans glide across a pond near the former location of the family home, wonderful reflections gliding right with them. A downy woodpecker clung to the side of a tree, as if deciding whether or not to peck; he chose to fly away instead.

And our group glided down to the parking lot and flew away in our cars, all looking forward to the next event that will draw each of us to St. James Farm.

More birding at a different location in the next post.

Four Statues, Four Grandchildren

An earlier post talked about how wonderful it is for our fourth grandchild, our second grandson, to be born early Saturday morning. A few years ago, when we had two granddaughters, we bought two concrete angels to represent our two girls. From spring to fall, they are on the edge of the patio, right near the pond, and they have brought smiles to our faces for four years now. When Joey was born nearly two years ago, we added a third angel, a bit smaller, with a little boy smile on his face.

So Sunday morning, we drove to Church, then headed to Johnson' Statuary in St. Charles to buy a fourth angel, a second boy. The smiles the band of angels bring to us are all that much bigger now!

Wildflowers

Lovers of the outdoors generally love flowers. Many plant lovers spend hours and a

considerable portion of the landscape budget on annual flowers, which by definition must be replaced yearly.

St. James Farm has the beauty of its buildings, of course, and its trees and the allees formed by several of the trees. But the flowers, while not planted in massive drifts or in any way set into a showy display, certainly add that touch of spice to the wonder of the visit. Wildflowers have a classic beauty of its own, and whether in small plants or on large bushes, they provide beauty year after year. Here are a few in bloom this spring at St. James.

And Bobby Makes Four

The highlight of the Memorial Day weekend for our family is certainly the birth of Robert Joseph Bradley Beato, our fourth grandchild and second grandson. Born early Saturday morning in Boston, Bobby completes a symmetrical family for us: two children and two pairs of grandchildren, with one boy and one girl in each pair. Bobby is the lucky little brother of Carolyn, just finishing her year of kindergarten at age six.

Congratulations to the proud parents, Eric and Erin, along with congratulations to the big sister Carolyn, and self-congratulations to the proud and happy grandparents.

An Obstacle in the Path

Leaving the animal cemetery and following the flight of the bright Scarlet Tanager, we walked along a beautifully shaded wide path further into the forest. Cool, pleasant and filled with interesting trees and wild flowers, we noticed an obstacle ahead of us. In seconds, we realized the roadblock was one of the jumps used long ago in the steeplechase events so important to the history of St. James Farm.

It is interesting to see horses jumping such objects on television and in movies, but up close it is much more challenging. These are not neatly-clipped hedges that are more visual than physical; these are giant logs, structured into a demanding jump over a fence. It made me think back to the grueling nature of steeplechase which we learned at the gravesite of The Honda.

Scarlet Tanager

The most colorful bird we saw on this birding experience was a Scarlet Tanager. He posed with his technicolor markings, sitting in the branches for quite a while, giving us all a chance to spot those bright colors. Then, posing time completed, he spread his wings to head east.

A Higher, Taller Viewpoint

Two related plaques on a wall of one of the farm buildings at St. James Farm indicate quite a different feeling than simply the steeplechase and dressage activities that filled weekends at the farm.

We learned that among the common events over the years was a series of opportunities offered to teach children with various handicaps how to ride horses. Looking at the graphic plaque and reading the poem nearby, one wonders how these children felt having this wonderful and enjoyable activity. To give a wheelchair to a child who cannot walk is a great thing, a chance to move about reasonably well in the walking world. But to put a child on a horse would be giving him legs that work, feet that glide across the ground, and a viewpoint higher, taller than others.

These plaques memorialize one of the best events at St. James Farm. When you visit there, be sure to read the plaque!

Horse and Hound Cemetery

The on-site Horse and Hound Cemetery is in a shady, peaceful location north of the cluster of farm buildings seen in the previous post. The family dogs are at rest there along one side, and several of the McCormick horses are at rest to the other side of the fenced area and even beyond the fence into the treed area. One horse not belonging to the family is also buried and memorialized here.

The Honda won the St. James Steeplechase in 1985 and returned here to defend his title in 1986 after winning the St. Louis Steeplechase in that season. Owner Bob Oery, listing himself also as rider and friend, laid The Honda to rest here after his death during the event. Guide Ron Skleney brought up the dangerous nature of the event, with the death of a horse not being an uncommon event. Looking at the plaque attached to the cross one can easily see the emotion and love of the owner for the animal.

Our next post will look at another aspect of riding at St. James, one that will touch your heart.

Kremlin Yellow Buildings

Seeing the first building -- the large barn with the unreachable second floor door that we showed last week -- shining in its Kremlin Yellow was eyecatching and attractive. A warm color jumping from the green of the grass and forest and highlighting the neat buildings. Then a short walk down one way and a turn up one of the alles, and a cluster of buildings, still used for the work of the landscape, came into view.

Two possibilities come to mind: the yellow will either be far too much for the eye, or it will be an attractive signature that becomes unforgettable. If the color is routine, the effect is boring. Neither of the negatives comes into play on a sunny morning at St. James Farm. Rather, the best option, that of the attractive signature, is clear in these pictures. Small building or large, the color stands out and makes every building belong, every building worth remembering, every building a portrait.

Even the vehicle storage building with the convex mirror to check oncoming traffic, reflecting a bit of yellow on adjoining buildings. The signature of St. James Farm.

Our next post will be a visit to on on-site cemetery plot, very peaceful and respectful.

100 Posts .. Already?

Oh, those milestones. I started in January, suggesting I would shoot for one post per week. Here I am before Memorial Day with post #100.

A portion of the land at St. James Farm is set up with what are called 'allees,' wide open strips flanked by mature trees which had been planted at the same time for that purpose. The allees are wide enough for horseriding traffic, shaded with the full canopy of the trees on either side arching overhead, and inviting to the eye in either direction leading off into the forest.

Next post will show more of the farm buildings as we begin the second hundred.

Bridge and Allee

The rustic finish on the footbridge in the last post is quite different from the white-and-Kremlin Yellow panel bridge seen here, leading to a small tranquil pond. The wooden boxes seen in the pond are nesting boxes and a pair of ducks were standing atop one. A bit further on we came to the pair of corral fences bracketing an "allee" leading to some of the farm buildings. The powerful shadows on the trees would be quite different a week later, as trees all across DuPage County have seen their leaves spring open, making birdwatching tougher but treewatching more fun.

More on the French-inspired allees in the next post, which will be the 100th post for RickBeatoPhoto.

Bridge and a Fence

Some of the best vistas at St. James Farm, the sights that clearly memorialize the equestrian history of the farm, can be seen in bridges and fences. The pedestrian bridge shown here was apparently a portion of the dressage area, a footbridge over an access area. In the morning sun, it looked absolutely inviting and allowed the viewer to picture the entrants walking under the bridge as the spectators crossed over. The bright white corral-style fence, stretching far into the distance, looked ready for the next van to stop by with horses ready for the steeplechase.

Another bridge in the next post, looking quite different from the weathered wood seen here.

Bird on a Wall

Ron Skleney, DuPage Forest Preserve Naturalist, got us started with background information on St. James Farm; for example, he explained where the Kremlin Yellow came from. And as he got us off to a great start, the song of a bird caught my ear and I looked to the right to see branches set against the bright color and a small songbird welcoming us.

With that, the next post will take us on the walk, looking for buildings as well as birds.

Blue Heron at St. James

Recent posts have depicted a Great Blue Heron in my backyard pond two years ago, along with another heron as well as a Snowy Egret in the retention pond down the street. It was noted then that these birds are magnificent animals in flight and while wading in a public pond, though they are not really welcome in the private koi pool.

The first bird I got a clear shot of at St. James Farm was a heron, in full flight, passing nearly overhead on a bright blue clear-sky morning. Having seen herons standing and in flight, and knowing how the still figure morphs into the flying figure, I still marvel at the sleek and stylish heron in flight. Doesn't look all that much like the wading fish hunter!

Next post will return to St. James Farm for some fences and structures.

St. James Farm

DuPage County has a wonderful collection of forest preserves, large and small, which cater to all sorts of outdoor activities. The newest is St. James Farm in Winfield, the former suburban home of Brooks McCormick, long the driving force behind International Harvester. The Farm hosted numerous steeplechases and other equestrian events, along with many other activities. When the land was bequeathed to the Forest Preserve District, the family home was razed, taking the personal portion of the farm away and leaving a wonderful, large plot of land open to the public on certain special occasions. The summer of 2008 was the first public look at the farm and its buildings, flowers, trees, fences, birds . . . just a lovely place to enjoy outdoor life.

Near the entrance to the farm, we see the barn with its interesting door to nowhere on an upper level. Our guide, Naturalist Ron Skleney from Willowbrook Wildlife Center, pointed out the beautiful color, known as Kremlin Yellow, that graces so many of the farm buildings. It was specially chosen by Brooks McCormick after he had taken several visits to Moscow, extending the nameplate of International Harvester into yet another country. He fell in love with the warm, bright color . . . and so did I.

In upcoming posts we will see a few other bright yellow buildings, several birds, and lots of scenery that is really impressive. Check back to see.

Meanwhile, this Saturday is International Migratory Bird Day at Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn. Look on the Dupage Forest Preserve District web site for more information.

Reliable Standbys

No matter what else we plan and plant, build or tolerate, the stars of the garden should be the flowers of summer. And while we all look for something new, something different, something popular, the best gardens will feature some old, reliable standbys. Here are a Daylily and a Purple Coneflower, two of the most reliable.

Next post will take us birdwalking at St. James Farm in Winfield, Illinois. Coming soon!

More Pond Visitors

Just about every year we have rabbits, many seeming to be quite tame, and all sorts of butterflies and related species. When the bright sun comes out on a lazy Sunday afternoon, keeping the camera ready is a great idea. Using the macro capabilities on smaller animals and using the power of the telephoto for animals that might be skittish, several good images can be added to the collection.

One more post will return to the garden here at home, and by then I will have some photos from a visit to a great new DuPage County Forest Preserve ready to share.

Pond Visitors

Some years our pond has more visitors than other years. Years that feature frogs are fun as they hold still for hours, it seems, waiting for the right moment to hunt a bug. Years that feature heron visits -- only 2007 so far -- are not so enjoyable. But every summer there comes a time for the visit of the dragonflies.

Up close their beauty is exceptional and they almost seem to realize that as they pose for the telephoto macro shots that will display that beauty. As the time for the dragonflies is the height of summer, the best time to sit out and enjoy the pond, it is always a favorite time in our garden.

Statue On Guard

Several years ago my Father's Day gift was a statue of a baseball player, proudly on duty guarding Dad's Garden. He stands on a home plate we used in practice when I coached the Lisle Lions, and he has some stones near his base. One reads DEDICATION and the other has the number 14 painted on it. I shared that number for the past 20 years with Ernie Banks of the Chicago Cubs, certainly the finest all-around player and gentleman the Cubs have ever had.

A great garden has the mark of its gardeners on it, and my statue helps with that. In addition, I placed under my player some dirt collected at the two fields I played and coached on, at the state tournament field my team played on, at the Field of Dreams movie site in Dyer, Iowa, and at Wrigley Field. A kind member of the groundskeeping crew helped me with that last item in 1995.

Twilight Zone Pond Water Iris

Looking through some recent pond and waterfall favorites, I found this image, with the colors altered in Photoshop. While experimenting, I often delete the results and try to remember the experience. But when one catches my eye, I keep it. This one had a 'Twilight Zone' quality that made me save it. I like it better than the bright yellow original.

The plant is commonly known as a Water Iris. Can't wait for it to bloom again this spring. Who knows where an experiment might lead?

Back to the Garden

After a few posts down at the retention pond on the corner, let's drop back into the family garden for a few looks back to 2008. Not much is abloom as yet, obviously, but the time is just about here. One of the first to impress will be our Rhododrendron PJM, shown here from a year ago. Our neighbors across the street are already in full bloom as their plants get the midday sun; our should go next week. A tremendous mountain of bloom just in time for Mother's Day.

The other shot is more of a souvenir. The handmade bridge is still there, fronting the stand of Red Twig Dogwood. But the red pump, which was set off so well by the bare branches behind, has been retired. The early photo from 2008 did not show the wear on the old pump, and it has been removed and handed on to another gardener. The dogwoods have to be red on their own from now on. I have no doubt that they can handle the job.