Lake Cook Chapter of the Illinois Audubon Society

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Photo: Birders advertise their hobby with their license plates
Photo: Chipping Sparrow, 4/23/2008 Deerfield, IL by Bonnie Duman
Photo: Ruby-throated Hummingbird Lake County Illinois September 2007
Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird at backyard feeder in Lake County Illinois.
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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?

Learn about membership in the Lake Cook Chapter of the Illinois Audubon Society here.

If you wish to be notified about upcoming field trips and programs please register to receive email updates.


Studying the raft of waterfowl at the gull frolic in Winthrop Harbor, IllinoisSaturday, February 18, 2012
From 8 AM to early PM
IOS Gull Frolic
Winthrop Harbor, Illinois

Now Sold Out
REGISTRATION IS CLOSED

Pre-registration is required and attendance is limited to first 150 people.

Hundreds of gulls and ducks “attend” the Illinois Ornithological Society’s (IOS)
annual Gull Frolic, and you can warm up inside between viewings.

The $10 registration fee will include:

checkBreakfast with muffins, doughnuts, fruit, coffee and tea.
checkLunch with the world famous Sea Gull Stew, Vegetarian Lasagna, pizza, a drink, salad, and a nice cookie for dessert.
checkFree 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.

Visit our Gull Frolic page for more information and complete directions.





Lone Loon sptted on Diamond Lake in Mundelein, IllinoisSunday, 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

Experienced and beginner birders enjoy early spring birding at Fort Sheridan Forest PreservesSunday 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


Brushwood Manor at Ryerson Woods, Lake County Forest Preserves, Illinois
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)


Lake Cook Audubon members on a bird watching field trip at Rollins SavannaSaturday 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 AMBird house at Brookfield Zoo
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


Observing migratory birds in the Ryerson Conservation Area parking lot
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

Openlands Lakeshore Preserve - Photo by Sonny Cohen 7/10/10
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.


Learn more about Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary.

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


Middlefork Branch of the Chicago River looking northSavanna, 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



Lake Cook Audubon Fall tour of ducks on Lake MichiganSunday 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!Watching Cranes at Jasper Pulaski Wildlife Refuge
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.

Learn more about the Jasper Pulaski Fish & Wildlife area here.

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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