High summer on the prairie means the warm season grasses have started a sudden march skyward. The prairie in spring and early summer takes just a brief spurt of growth for shooting star or golden Alexander to showcase their beauty. As the calendar turns to August, however, the grasses become king. The prairie dock knows this and extends its stem skyward to six, seven, or eight feet tall. The Dickcissels know this too, and find perches of compass plant and prairie dock to commandeer their grassland domain.
Dickcissel perched on a Silphium. Photo by Joshua Mayer
With a population that fluctuates wildly in Wisconsin over a cycle of about five years, the Dickcissel likely reached a high point in 2021. Last year, almost every parcel surveyed at Faville Grove held a Dickcissel. This year, Dickcissels are abundant, but not incredibly so. It doesn’t take long to hear their barking song if they are indeed occupying a patch of prairie.
Late to arrive, many Dickcissels won’t reach Wisconsin until late June or even early July. Even still, the birds quickly mark out a territory and rear a brood, and most of the birds nevertheless depart Wisconsin by the end of August. On migration and wintering grounds, the Dickcissels abandon the highly territorial nature of their breeding grounds and instead form into enormous flocks, sometimes numbering into the millions on wintering grounds. The birds reach high densities in south Texas, and researchers have used the abundance of Dickcissels to ground truth doppler radar estimates of birds by comparing song notes heard during overnight flights with radar readings.
Dickcissel singing in the prairie. Photo by Joshua Mayer
You can look down Prairie Lane at Faville Grove for the charismatic Dickcissels, oftentimes the birds will sing right along the road even with cars approaching. Look for a stout bird with a yellow breast, a black V on its chest, and a thick bill. You can’t miss it as it barks from prairie Silphiums, lording its wings over the outstretched grasses.
Written by Drew Harry, Faville Grove Sanctuary land steward
Cover photo by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren
