A group of 16 who have a shared interest in birds, donned binoculars, wore protective gear, and headed out to the Del Webb Sedge Meadow and Grove Nature Preserve Trail.
It was one of the Sun City Birdwatchers Club regularly scheduled walks, on Aug. 26, and they attend such walks at area preserves. The Sun City Nature Preserve area’s three-fourth mile path has been improved as wood chips were added last year.
“It is a wonderful place, so quiet and peaceful,” club member Allison Dunmore, a member for about two years, said.
A passing blue jay caught the group’s attention.
“That’s a blue jay. I saw it,” member Russ Sandt said. He added there is an app you can download for the purpose of identifying birds and their sounds.
“You feel like you’re not even in Del Webb,” Linda Knight said of the property.
The Sun City Photographers Club joined the Sun City Birdwatchers Club for a bird walk at Wildflower Lake in late July. Bill Kucera of the Photographers Club captured an image of this mouring dove perched on a branch. Photo courtesy of Bill Kucera. (Photo provided)
Sun City Birdwatchers Club President Amy Sanecki said the improvements at Dell Webb Sedge Meadow Grove Nature Preserve have been welcomed.
“What a lovely improvement the Sun City Community Association Board/FSR Management made in creating the Del Webb Sedge Meadow and Grove Nature Preserve Trail,” Sanecki said. “The approximately three-fourth mile wood chipped trail was created last November. There were so many people who contributed to the creation of the trail – residents, management, Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves, and the Illinois Nature Preserve Commission. The Sun City Birdwatching Club walks at the Nature Preserve on the last Wednesday of each month. Last month, members of the Sun City Photography Club joined us.”
Marsha Behrens’ interest is in the bluebird, and she explained how a bluebird box works. She has been involved in efforts at the local preserve since 2010, when it was owned by the Del Webb Sun City Homeowners Association but no work had been done yet.
“A representative of Illinois State Department of Natural Resouces came out to show us what was there,” Behrens, the club historian, said.
The Sun City Birdwatchers Club officers are: Amy Sanecki, President; Ann Weider, Vice President; Phyllis Cronsell, Secretary and Irene Camp, Treasurer.
If anyone wants more info, feel free to contact the club at birdwatchingsch@gmail.com.
