Tagging along on practice run for breeding bird survey at Cap Sauers, part of BCN’s growing database

A rose-breasted grosbeak spotted at Cap Sauers Holding Nature Preserve on monitor Woody Goss’ practice run for the breeding bird survey, part of building a decades-long database by the Bird Conservation Network. (Woody Goss)

Woody Goss spotted an American red squirrel — an Illinois first for him — after we crossed from Teason’s Woods parking to Cap Sauers Holding Nature Preserve in Palos Park. We had just met, so he had no clue red squirrels hold a piece of my heart.

That set the tone for a practice run of his breeding bird survey for the Bird Conservation Network (BCN).