Reading · Love Letters to Birds

Hello! This week I decided to do something a bit different—rather than weaving photos and illustrations in between my writing, I created an illustrated essay based on a recent encounter I had while walking through Chicago’s Park 566.

The idea to create an illustrated essay came from watching Rosalie Haizlett’s wonderful talk at the 2025 Wild Wonder Nature Journaling conference. I’ve been a big fan of Rosalie’s work ever since taking one of her Skillshare classes several years ago, and her Wild Wonder talk was packed with so many fantastic ideas and examples. Thanks so much for the inspiration, Rosalie!

As I step onto the road that splits Chicago’s Park 566 down its center, I’m greeted by the “Witchity, witchity, witchity” of a Common Yellowthroat. Though it’s just after dawn, this bird is wide awake and cheerfully greeting the day.

“Witchity, witchity witchity” sings another from just ahead. He leaps to the top of a Compass plant, and sings again.

I meander down the road, carefully skirting the large puddles which stretch across the road. It rained hard last night, and the large patch of Willd Bergamot to my right is covered with a shining layer of dew.

“Witchity, witchity witchity” sings the third Common Yellowthroat of the morning. This one perches at what remains of last year’s blooms, looking like a sweet, if somewhat damp, bandit.

I make my way further into the park while Chimney Swifts chitter above, a Belted Kingfisher rattles from the lakefront, and Dickcissels sing “dick! dick! chee chee chee” from every direction. Summer has arrived at the grassland.

Ahead, another male Common Yellowthroat pops into view. “Tchat” he chips loudly. Unlike his cohorts, this fella isn’t singing. I start to wonder why when he calls out “tchat…….tchat” again from his perch. “Tchat….tchat” comes a reply from deep within the bergamot. Ah, I’ve stumbled upon a pair!

I pause, hoping for sight of the female, when I catch the telltale shake of a flower. There’s a bird down there, jumping from stem to stem, just out of view.

Finally, she leaps into the open. It’s female Common Yellowthroat, and she’s carrying several young grasshoppers. “Tchat…Tchat” she calls through her full beak. “Tchat—tchat” calls her mate. There must be a nest nearby, and this pair is worried about my intentions.

While I’ve never seen a Common Yellowthroat nest, I imagine the nestlings tucked safely below this fragrant sea of green. They’re growing fast, and bound to be keeping their parents busy. I move on so the parents can get on with their important business, hoping to meet the entire family some day soon.

As is often the case while out wandering in nature, I came away from this encounter with a whole lot of questions. What do their nests actually look like? Just how many nestlings do Common Yellowthroats usually have? How long does it take those babies to go from egg to fledge? Here’s what I found from my post-walk research on Common Yellowthroats (Geothlypis trichas) nesting behavior:

Nests are on or near ground and supported by grasses, sedges, and other herbaceous plants (including Skunk Cabbage)!
The female builds the nest on her own, a task that takes 4-5 days
Sometimes the nest has a roof like an Ovenbird’s!
Clutch size can range from 1-6 eggs, usually 4
Females incubate the eggs for about 12 days while her mate brings her food
Those babies do grow fast—their mass can increase 5x between 5th and 7th day post hatching
Both parents feed and contribute equally to care of their young
Young can leave nest by day 8 after hatching

I hope y’all enjoyed this week’s post. Please let me know what you think of this new format, and happy birding!

💜,

Kelly

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All writing and illustrations by me, Kelly C. Ballantyne

Bergamot Bandits

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