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Winter 2012 - Summer 2012 Birding Field Trips
Unless otherwise noted, there is no charge for participation. Some trips have participation limits and are identified as
such. You do not have to be a member of Illinois Audubon Society or the
Lake Cook Chapter to participate in our events. Good deal, huh?
Breakfast with muffins, doughnuts, fruit, coffee and tea. Lunch with the world famous Sea Gull Stew, Vegetarian Lasagna, pizza, a drink, salad, and a nice cookie for dessert. Free coffee, tea and hot chocolate will be available all day.
Additionally the fee helps defray facility expenses with any surplus
going to the IOS Grant Program to benefit Illinois birds and birding.
Sunday, March 25, 2012 8:00 AM
Loons of Lake County
Our annual search for migrating loons and other waterfowl will begin at the Gale Street Inn parking lot and proceed to other lakes in the area. Bring a spotting scope if you have one.
Directions:
From Rt. 22, take Rt. 83 north to Diamond Lake Rd., turn right, and drive ½ mile to the parking lot on the right.
Leader: Fred and Cheri Thompson 847-275-1687
Sunday April 29, 2012 at 8:00 AM
Beginners Birding
Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve Highwood, Illinois
Bring your binoculars for a Birding 101 lesson and walk at this site just north of downtown Highwood on Lake Michigan. Experienced birders will help find and identify birds with you.
This is a moderate walk along some asphalt and bark trails. Mostly wheelchair accessible. It is a moderate grade down path to lake. While children are welcome, this walk is best enjoyed by those who are old enough to use binoculars.
Please bring binoculars. None will be provided.
Directions:
Take Sheridan Rd. north of Highwood to Old Elm Rd/Simonds Way, enter on Simonds Way, turn left on Leonard Wood Drive North, then left on Gilgare Lane to parking area.
Leader: Sonny and Rena Cohen 847-831-0331
Sunday, May 6, 2012 at 7:00 AM
Daniel Wright Woods
Lincolnshire, Illinois
Welcome back the early migrants. This Lake
County Forest
Preserve along the Des
Plaines River offers a variety
of habitats that should yield many species of these colorful songbirds
as
well as other migrants - including a special sparrow or two (we
hope!).
Directions:
From Waukegan Rd.,
turn west on Everett Rd. in Lake Forest, drive to the end (St. Mary’s
Rd), and turn left (south) into the parking lot.
Leader: Adam Sell 847-910-7813
Thursday, May 10, 2012 at 7:00 AM
The Grove
Glenview, Illinois
A favorite spring stop with both land and water habitat yielding a surprise Yellow-crowned Night Heron a few years ago along with many warbler species. See warblers and other migrants up close and personal.
Directions:
East side of Milwaukee Ave., just south of Lake St. Meet in west parking lot by Redfield Estate.
Leader: Rena Cohen 847-971-1107
Saturday, May 12, 2012 at 6:30 AM NOTE EARLY START TIME Ryerson Woods
Riverwoods, Illinois
On a good day, the trees are alive with early migrants at 6 am.
Directions:
From Deerfield Rd., turn north on Riverwoods Rd., and drive to the
Ryerson entrance on the left (west). Turn left (south) on first access road (yes, onto the forest road) and meet
in Brushwood parking lot by the old Ryerson home.
Please drive slow on access roads being alert for deer.
Leader: Nan Buckardt 847-276-5373
April 16 - April 18, 2012
Illinois Audubon Society Spring Gathering
Decatur, Illinois
Members and non-members alike are invited to this birding, social and organizational weekend. Detailed information will be posted on the IAS website.
Tuesday, May 15, 2011 at 7 AM
Skokie Lagoons
Erickson Woods
Northfield, Illinois
A perennial favorite for warbler viewing. We will navigate the areas on the west side of the Skokie Lagoons. The varied habitat ranges from wooded to scrub brush to open field.
Directions:
Meet at the Willow Rd. entrance just east of the Edens Expressway (the sign says Erickson Woods). From the north you should take Edens X-way south exiting at Tower Road. Turn left (south) on the Frontage road to Willow Road. Turn left (east) on Willow over the Edens to Erickson Woods entrance.
Leader: Jeff Sanders 847-657-6431
Sunday, May 20, 2012 at 7:00 AM
Swallow Cliff Woods
Palos, Illinois
NEW!
Half-day trip with multiple stops in southwest Cook County to see specialties like Pileated Woodpecker, Summer Tanager, Acadian Flycatcher, White-eyed Vireo, Hooded Warbler and Louisiana Waterthrush plus migrating passerines. Leader: Amar Ayyash 708-289-4557
Directions:
Directions will be provided soon. :)
Leader: Amar Ayyash 708-289-4557
Thursday, May 24, 2012 at 7:00 AM
North Pond
Chicago, Illinois
NEW!
Warblers before work – most at eye level.
Directions:
North Pond is behind the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N. Cannon Dr., Chicago, just north of Lincoln Park Zoo. Park on Cannon or Stockton but check street signs for rush-hour limitations. Meet at the casting pier in the southeast corner of the pond .
Leader: Bonnie Duman 847-542-4468
Sunday May 27, 2012 at 7:30 AM Glacial Park
Ringwood (McHenry County), Illinois
NEW!
Look for Black Terns, American Bitterns, Common Gallinules and more at one of McHenry County’s best birding spots. Bring spotting scopes if you have them.
Directions:
From IL 137 (Buckley Rd.), turn slight right onto W. Peterson Rd., right onto IL 60, left onto IL 120/Belvidere Rd., right onto N. Richmond Rd./IL 31, and left onto Harts Rd. into the preserve. Meet at the first parking lot past the prairie’/bike trail.
Leader: Mark Fritzmann 815-382-0055
Thursday, May 31 to Sunday, June 3, 2012
Kirtland's Warbler Adventure
Michigan Almost never seen in the U.S. outside their historic breeding grounds in Michigan, Kirtland’s Warblers are among the rarest of North American songbirds. We will visit their nesting grounds and bird the surrounding area.
Registration required. To register: Rena Cohen (rena@sspr.com)
Saturday June 9, 2012 7:00 AM
Rollins Savanna Grayslake
Expect a Bobolink bonanza and more at Lake County’s best spot for grassland and marsh birds.
Directions:
From north suburbs, take I-94 north, merge onto I-120/Belvidere Rd., turn right (north) on Rt. 45, then left (west) on Washington. Entrance on Atkinson Rd. on right at traffic light.
Leaders: Donnie Dann 847-266-2222 and Beau Schaefer 847-265-9067
Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 10:30 AM Behind the Scenes Tour at Brookfield Zoo
Brookfield, Illinois
"Sold Out"
As of 12/26/11 there are no additional spaces available on this field trip.
A personal tour by the zoo’s bird curator, including a bird’s eye view of Tropic World and a visit with Cookie the Cockatoo.
Park in the South parking lot and meet at the South Gate entrance.
Note: $13.50 zoo admission and $9 per car parking fee apply
Maximum 30
Registration required
Registration is closed. Wait list only: Rena Cohen (rena@sspr.com)
Fall 2011 Past Field Trips
Following is a list of this program-year's field trips that are now over. You can additionally view previous year's field trips archived at the bottom of this page.
Sunday,September 4, 2011 at 7:00 AM Winthrop Harbor/Illinois Beach State Park
The ‘sparrow trail’ heading south from Winthrop Harbor toward Illinois Beach State Park North Unit should be filled with migrants, Monarchs and wildflowers. Optional stop at IBSP Hawk Watch afterward.
Directions:
From I-94, exit at Route 173, drive east to Sheridan Rd. (Route 137). Turn left on Sheridan, right on 7th Street, park in the lot across from the main harbor building at the end of 7th.
Leader: Mike Trahan 847-903-3343
Saturday, September 10, 2011 at 7:00 AM
Ryerson Woods, Riverwoods
Search for fall arrivals from ‘confusing’ fall warblers to Philadelphia Vireos – many at eye level in the parking lot.
Directions:
From Deerfield Rd., turn north on Riverwoods Rd., and turn into the Ryerson entrance on the left. Turn left on first access road and meet in the Brushwood parking lot by Ryerson home.
Leader: Todd Anderson 847-602-4001
Saturday, September 24, 2011 at 8:00 AM Openlands Lakeshore Preserve
Highwood, Illinois
NEW!
As a followup to our September 20, 2011 program, tour and bird this new preserve just south of Fort Sheridan including ravines, a 50-foot nature mural, brand new trails and spectacular bluff overlooks.
Directions:
Meet at the Bartlett Ravine parking lot. From Sheridan Road, turn east on First Street, north on Lyster, and right at the first street (opposite Westover Rd)
Leader: Linda Masters (Openlands) and Rena Cohen 847-971-1107
Sunday, September 25, 2011 at 7:15 AM
Chicago Botanic Garden
Glencoe, Illinois
Join the Garden’s Fall Migration Bird Walk, led by Lake/Cook members.
Directions:
Entrance is on Lake/Cook Road between Green Bay Rd. and the Edens
pressway. Meet at Visitors Center. Parking is FREE for Lake/Cook members WITH ADVANCE REGISTRATION.
To register: Rena Cohen (rena@sspr.com)
Saturday, October 1, 2011 at 7:30 AM Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary/Magic Hedge
Chicago, Illinois
Look for Clay-Colored, LeConte’s and other non-standard sparrows plus other fall migrants.
Directions:
From Lake Shore Dr.
take the Montrose Ave. exit east, turn right (east) at the Bait Shop
(Montrose Harbor Dr.) and park along the bend in the road.
Leaders: Joe Johnson and Brian Smith 630-287-0323
Saturday, October 15, 2011 7:30am Middlefork Savanna
Lake Forest, Illinois
Savanna, wetlands, woodlands and prairie yield birdlife from Ruby-Crowned Kinglets to Sandhill Cranes.
Directions:
From Rt. 60, take Rt. 43 north to the traffic light at Westmoreland Dr./Middlefork Dr. Turn left to the end of Middlefork and turn left into the parking lot.ctions:
Leader: Denis Bohm 847-235-2738
Sunday November 6, 2011 at 7:30 AM
Ducks on Lake Michigan,
Evanston, Illinois
This
car tour along the lakefront through Chicago's North Shore reveals
arriving winter ducks and other waterfowl. Some land species will be
seen as well. We will follow the Lake Michigan lakefront starting at
Northwestern University in Evanston and heading north with possible stops at Gillson Park,
Park Avenue Beach, Rosewood, Fort Sheridan and beyond as time permits
and interest remains. Bring spotting scopes and dress for wind coming
off the lake. Join or leave when you want. To locate the tour enroute,
call 847 971 1101.
Directions:
From
Sheridan Road in Evanston, go east on Lincoln St., turn south past the
Fitness Center, turn east (left) and drive almost to the end.
(Map)
Leader: Jeff Sanders 847-657-6431
Saturday, November 12, 2011 at 9:00 AM to 8 PM NEW! Sandhill Cranes in Indiana
Jasper Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area
Indiana Join us for an all-day trip to Indiana to see the spectacle of up to
10,000 Sandhill Cranes staging to migrate at the Jasper-Pulaski Fish
& Wildlife Area, one of the major staging areas for these
four-foot-tall birds in the U.S.
We’ll leave at 9 am, stop at key
birding spots in Indiana along the way (tentatively the Port of Indiana
for waterfowl and Willow Slough for land birds), and arrive at
Jasper-Pulaski in Medaryville in late afternoon as flocks of cranes
converge on the property from all directions to prepare for the night –
easily seeable from the viewing platform. We’ll carpool, bring lunch and
snacks, and optionally stop for dinner on the way home.
To register: Rena Cohen (rena@sspr.com) or call (847) 831-0331 w/ questions
See (or listen to) this 6 minute video featuring the game warden at Jasper-Pulaski discussing the Crane migration. Video is not so good but information is useful.
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Field Trip Events Archive
Field Trips from previous years
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Breakfast with muffins, doughnuts, fruit, coffee and tea.
Sunday, March 25, 2012 8:00 AM 
Sunday April 29, 2012 at 8:00 AM
Savanna, wetlands, woodlands and prairie yield birdlife from Ruby-Crowned Kinglets to Sandhill Cranes. 
Sunday November 6, 2011 at 7:30 AM
