Getting a true bird's eye view

Nature buffs can now get a closer look at a variety of resident and migratory birds at Rollins Savanna Forest Preserve near Round Lake Beach.

Two high-powered viewing scopes, like the ones you may have seen or used at national parks, were installed Monday atop a small observation area overlooking wetlands and grasslands.

One could say it gives hard-core watchers, as well as the less avian-savvy, a bird's-eye view of the comings and goings at an "Important Bird Area" as identified by the National Audubon Society Inc.

"It's starting to be the beginning of the fall migration south, so a lot of birds will be passing through Rollins Savanna," said Jim Anderson, natural resources manager for the Lake County Forest Preserve District.

That a variety of unique birds find Rollins an enticing haunt is an affirmation of seven years of effort to restore the area from farmland. As drain tiles were removed from the 1,225-acre site, wetlands began to emerge and so did the bird population.

"We're very, very pleased with the way Rollins Savanna has turned out," Anderson said. "It has a lot of bird species that are unique to the Chicago area."

Those include bob-o-links, meadowlarks, great blue heron, egrets, blue-winged teal and several species of ducks and woodpeckers, as well as the endangered yellow-headed blackbird.

The extensive wetlands also provide food sources for other birds that inhabit or lay over at Rollins.

"People reported seeing bald eagles passing through," said Greg Walenter, a forest preserve planner. "There's probably a couple of dozen migratory bird (species) that use this area."

The observation area is actually an earthen plateau built about 5 feet above grade about 200 feet from the water. Leftover stone from the playground at Independence Grove Forest Preserve was used to build a retaining wall.

It's located on a stone path spur about 100 feet off the main trail near the Drury Lane entrance. The main entrance is on Washington Street across from Atkinson Road near Grayslake.

Interpretive signs are scheduled to be installed this fall to tell visitors about the habitat and bird species they may be seeing. Next year, a seating area will be installed and about 50 oak trees planted to provide shade and camouflage of sorts for viewers.