Birding at Bushnell’s North Star Woods
Written by OLC member Susie Reynolds
Sunshine sparkled on the last patches of snow as my friend and I headed to Bushnell’s North Star Woods, a preserve protected by the Ouabache Land Conservancy. We were there for the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), a global community science event where people spend at least 15 minutes counting the birds they see and hear.
Our mile-long, leisurely hike felt like stepping into a winter postcard. We paused often, using birding apps to log sightings and identify calls as the woods rang with taps and trills. We identified several woodpeckers—including the magnificent Pileated Woodpecker—and spotted a Red-shouldered Hawk soaring overhead. Bright songbirds dotted the snowy branches, especially an Eastern Bluebird playfully courting his mate. One seemed to meet up with us along the trail, accompanying us for part of the walk. Nearby, a bold White-breasted Nuthatch chattered as it hopped headfirst down a tree trunk.
Seeing such a variety of birds in mid-winter tells an important story about this place. Woodpeckers rely on standing dead trees, bluebirds need open edges and nesting cavities, and hawks depend on a healthy food chain. Together, they show that this landscape already holds the structure of a complete habitat—not just a scenic woodland, but a living system.
Moments like this reveal why permanent conservation matters. Protection ensures these habitats remain intact while future stewardship can strengthen them—restoring native plants, improving ecological balance, and allowing wildlife to thrive for generations to come.
By reporting our sightings, we contributed to a worldwide snapshot of bird populations while spending time in a preserve that anyone can visit and enjoy. This winter walk felt like a glimpse not only into what the land is today, but what it can continue to become over time.
I left feeling grateful for a place where the health of the land can be heard in birdsong.
Eastern bluebirds
Pileated woodpecker
Downy woodpecker