Next Field Trips
Join us on our next bird watching field trip. Unless otherwise noted, there is no charge for participation. Some trips may require prior registration or are prioritized for Lake Cook Audubon members. This will be noted in the field trip description.
Join us for a ‘Little Sit’ at the Winthrop Harbor Yacht Club and surrounding area to look for migrating waterfowl, interesting gulls and possible winter landbird arrivals like Snow Buntings (some have shown up already). We’ll check the slips and open water on the south side of the harbor, the waterfront and grassy areas by the Yacht Club (the ‘Little Sit’ part of the morning), and adjacent State Line Beach – then head to the nearby donut emporium for coffee and arguably the best donuts in Lake County.
Bring binoculars, spotting scopes if you have them, and chairs if desired – and dress warmly.
Note: There is no access to the Yacht Club so plan your bathroom stop before arriving.
Directions: From Sheridan Road, turn east on 7th Street. Drive to the end of the road, then turn left and follow the service drive to the Yacht Club sign. Turn right at the stop sign and park in the lot near the Yacht Club.
Leader: Kerry Swift 847-323-6878
Please register here so that we can get a head count and contact you in the event of a date change due to weather conditions.
Texas Hill Country and Big Bend Led by Red Hill Birding
Texas Hill Country and Big Bend National Park are must-visit U.S. destinations for avid birders. Highlights include Golden-cheeked Warbler and Black-capped Vireo, two endangered migratory songbirds that breed exclusively in south central Texas; Colima Warbler, a montane species found nowhere else in the U.S.; and stunners like Painted Bunting, Painted Redstart, Lucifer Hummingbird, Greater Roadrunner and many more – plus the spectacle of millions of Mexican Free-tailed Bats leaving their roosting cave in a small town 90 minutes west of San Antonio in the evening.
Red Hill’s last trip here tallied 181 species, including the Elf Owl that was voted #1 bird of the trip. The lodge at Big Bend is scheduled to close for renovations at the end of the season, so this will be the last opportunity to make the trip for several years.
Email renabird3@gmail.com for a detailed itinerary and pricing. Space is limited; Lake/Cook members have priority.
Next Programs
Our programs are open to the public and free. Most are offered at Heller Nature Center in Highland Park. Some may be presented on Zoom. This will be noted in the program description. Many past-programs can now be viewed on YouTube here.
Our program year 2024-2025 is in development and programs are being published when set up.
For over 50 years, most of his adult life, Dr. Stephen Kress worked to bring back extirpated Atlantic Puffins to their once established colonies of Eastern Egg Rock Island and other islands off the coast of Maine. Brenda Hente studied under Dr. Kress at Maine’s Audubon Camp during the summers of 2015, 2016 and 2017. In this presentation, Hente will describe the causes of this seabird’s disappearance, the struggles and obstacles that Dr. Kress faced while restoring Atlantic Puffin and other seabird colonies to where they once lived, and how this difficult task of seabird restoration is teaching others about successful seabird restoration and conservation efforts throughout the world.
If you’re just getting into birding and trying to figure out where to go, when to go, what to bring, and how to identify the birds you see, this program will provide both direction and inspiration. Matt Igleski, Executive Director, Chicago Bird Alliance, will discuss field guides, phone apps, weather patterns, bird identification, birding terminology, and other topics to equip you with a quick start guide to all things birding.
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Who We Are
We are a gathering of people who enjoy bird watching and studying birds and wildlife. We welcome people of all ages and skills to join us on our field trips, programs and other events. Most of our monthly programs are bird-oriented, but we also address environmental and natural history topics.
The Illinois Audubon Society is the state’s oldest conservation organization that functions as a land trust to protect and enhance Illinois’ unique habitats and to educate the public about them. Organized in 1897, Illinois Audubon is not affiliated with the National Audubon Society.