Hundreds of state-endangered Black-crowned Night Herons nest in the Lincoln Park Zoo, creating what is believed to be the largest remaining single-species BCNH breeding colony in Illinois. The number of nests, the squawk of the birds and their newly hatched chicks, and the fact that they are breeding in the middle of a busy urban neighborhood create a magical viewing experience as well as a wonderful conservation learning opportunity. Amy Lardner, founder of the Chicago Black-crowned Night Heron Project, will show us the rookery, explain its significance as well as the project’s conservation efforts, and then accompany us to the zoo’s Nature Boardwalk to discuss the zoo’s broader urban conservation involvement. Optional brunch at Café Brauer on the Nature Boardwalk overlooking South Pond to follow.
Meet outside the zoo’s West Gate entrance on N. Stockton Drive. ARRIVE EARLY TO FIND STREET PARKING. (The zoo parking lot costs $35 or more unless you are a member.) Carpool if possible to make parking easier.
Please register for the tour and the optional brunch here – we need a headcount for both.
Southern California: Sea, Mountains & Desert
Led by Red Hill Birding’s Steve Huggins, this trip will begin in Los Angeles, end in San Diego and take us out of the cold Chicago winter to varied (and much warmer!) habitats including the Pacific Ocean Coast, high mountains, vast deserts and bird-rich wetlands. We’ll see many of the common and widespread specialties of California like California Scrub-Jay, California Condor, LeConte’s Thrasher and Mountain Quail; endangered species like California Gnatcatcher; endemic species like Yellow-billed Magpie and Island Scrub-Jay; uncommon species like Lawrence’s Goldfinch; coastal Pacific specialties like Black Turnstone, Surfbird, Bran’s and Pelagic Cormorants, and Pacific Loon; and much more. We’ll also look for pelagic species on our boat ride to Santa Cruz Island. Maximum 7 participants.
Priority to Lake/Cook Chapter members.
Email renabird3@gmail.com if you are interested in a complete itinerary and cost.
North Carolina: Six Days from Raleigh to the Outer Banks
Led by Ron Martin, the leader on our 2023 North Dakota trip who has since relocated to North Carolina, this trip will take us from Raleigh to Hatteras for a pelagic trip to the Outer Banks. Target species range from landbirds like Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Swainson’s Warbler, Brown-headed Nuthatch and Bachman’s Sparrow to coastal specialties such as Sandwich and Gull-billed Terns as well as multiple pelagic shearwater and storm-petrel species. We will also include stops of historic significance at The Wright Brothers Memorial and the Bodie Island Lighthouse. Maximum 14 participants.
Priority to Lake/Cook Chapter members.
Email renabird3@gmail.com if you are interested in a complete itinerary and cost.