393. Monk Parakeet

Date         May 2, 2026

Location    Great Western Trail & Swift Rd, North Glen Ellyn, IL

Monk Parakeets have established a population in the Chicago area. They have built several nests on some electric towers at a ComEd plant. I spotted several working on the nests, including one with an almost comically long twig.

Cornell: Monk Parakeet

392. Brown-headed Nuthatch

Date         April 10, 2026

Location    Niney Six National Historic Park, Ninety Six, SC

We were walking on the trail to the site of the fortress. I was half-listening to all the usual suspects as I read interpretive plaques, tried to avoid fire ants, etc. I heard an unfamiliar noise that immediately grabbed my attention. I turned on Merlin and saw this species listed. I then confirmed the song myself.

I heard them several times, and I made some diligent attempts to see one, but I was never able to. So this is unfortunately an audio-only sighting, but it was definitive, so I counted it.

Cornell: Brown-headed Nuthatch