This field trip to our closest state park is a great migratory stopover for southbound migrants. Plus, as a bonus, we will look for wetland species.
Limit 20. Member Priority. Register (required) at renabird3@gmail.com
Directions:
From I-94 tollway, exit IL-173/Rosecrans Rd, turn left on Rosecrans, drive 13 mi, turn left on Wilmot Rd.. then left into park. Follow signs to Park Office/Goldfinch Trail lot.
Local magnet for migrating songbirds and more.
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: Joe Rockey (224) 875-8851
Peak fall landbird migration should feature many warbler, sparrow and other species. This is a follow up to our August 28 #BirdthePreserves program and an exceptional opportunity to go birding with Doug Stotz in his “patch.”
Leader: Doug Stotz, Senior Conservation Ecologist, Keller Science Action Center, Field Museum
Note: Members only. Registration required: renabird3@gmail.com
Directions:
Bemis Woods South is on the north side of Ogden, just east of I-294 (there is an exit at Ogden) and west of Wolf Road. Go to the northwestern most part of parking area by Grove # 7 picnic shelter. Here is a PDF map to Bemis Woods Groves.
Multiple sparrow species, possible Pine Siskins and other fall migration goodies. We’ll also be looking for late songbirds, early waterfowl, migrating raptors and whatever else we can find in this diverse habitat of savanna, wetlands, woodlands and prairie.
Directions:
From Rt. 60, take Rt. 43 north to Westmoreland Dr./Middlefork Dr. Turn left to the parking lot
Leader: Maureen Marsh (352) 317-5130
Late fall migrants and early waterfowl.
Directions
Meet at McDonald Woods on Grass Lake Road just west of Rt. 45 and east of Rt. 83.
Possible Scoters, Red-throated Loons & other migrating waterfowl. Multi-stop trip begins at Illinois Beach State Park North Unit in Zion.
Directions:
From Sheridan Rd., turn east on 17th St., bear left after Sand Pond, drive to last parking lot.
Leader: Jeff Sanders (847) 657-6431
Date is subject to change depending on waterfowl migration and will be finalized here and in the chapter email. Multi-stop driving trip begins at Diamond Lake in Mundelein. Specific itinerary will be distributed at starting point based on prior day’s scouting observations. Binoculars mandatory. Bring a scope if you have one.
Directions:
From Rt. 22, take Rt. 83 north to Diamond Lake Rd., turn right, drive ½ mile to Gale Street Inn parking lot on right.
Leader: Jeff Sanders 847-657-6431
NEW! Registration Required. Limit 20. Member priority. $5.00 participation fee.
Join Steve “Owl Whisperer” Bailey to search for Barred Owls and more.
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.
Registration Required.
The Puerto Rican Parrot is one of the world’s most endangered birds. The population has rebounded from just 13 in 1975 to over 600 today, thanks to a multi-agency effort that has included population analysis support from Lincoln Park Zoo scientists. Curator of Birds Sunny Nelson will tell the story and introduce us to two members of this special species, which is found in the wild only in Puerto Rico.
Read more about the Puerto Rican Parrot here.
Space limited, member priority. Register (required) at renabird3@gmail.com.
18th annual Illinois Ornithological Society event.
Pre-registration required. Watch the Lake Cook Audubon email or visit www.illinoisbirds.org for details. Attendance is limited to first 150 registrants. Members of Illinois Ornithological Society get advance opportunity to register.
Waterfowl migration spectacle at Dixon Waterfowl Refuge, 2 hours south on the Illinois River.
Details to be provided to attendees. Register (required) at renabird3@gmail.com
Our annual search for migrating loons and other waterfowl will begin at Diamond Lake in Mundelein and proceed to other lakes in the area. This is mostly a car driving field trip and not much walking for the entire morning. 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 Gale Street Inn parking lot on the right.
NEW!
Woodcock watching at dusk.
Target birds are Smith’s and Lapland Longspurs, plus the first wave of shorebirds.
Directions:
Take I-55 to Exit 279A, Route 45-LaGrange Rd. south; turn west on 179h St., then south on 104th Ave about two blocks. Then left/east into grassland.
First wave of passerine arrivals gets us in the swing of spring migration. This is the first of two spring field trips to Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary, everyone’s favorite Chicago birding hotspot.
Directions:
From Lake Shore Dr. take the Montrose Ave. exit. Continue east toward the lake. Turn right at the Bait Shop (Montrose Harbor Dr.) and park on the street along the bend in the road. We will meet at the entrance to the sanctuary.
Citizen science bird count. Not a leader-led field trip. Prior arrangements for participation are required.
Contact Joel Greenberg for Lake County assignments(630-725-6660) or Alan Anderson for Cook County assignments (casresearch@comcast.net or 847-390-7437).
Warblers and vireos, oh my! Early spring migrants.
Directions:
LaBagh is on the corner of Cicero and Foster Ave., park in Irene Hernandez Picnic Grove lot on Foster, just east of Cicero.
Who’s migrating today? [Note: We will meet at Brushwood Center – NOT the Welcome Center]
Two separate field trips begin at 6:45AM and 7:15AM. You must register for the trip of your choice. Limit 18 per time slot. To register (required): email renabird3@gmail.com
Directions:
From Deerfield Rd., turn north on Riverwoods Rd., drive to Ryerson entrance on left and turn left at first driveway to Brushwood Center.
Spring migration is in full swing – warblers and more await!
Directions:
From Lake Shore Dr. take the Montrose Ave. exit. Continue east toward the lake. Turn right at the Bait Shop (Montrose Harbor Dr.) and park on the street along the bend in the road. We will meet at the entrance to the sanctuary.
Local magnet for migrating songbirds and more. Start Mother’s Day with a (bird)song.
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: Ethan Ellis 773-677-4175
Birding by the Big Lake
Spring Gathering 2019
May 17-19
hosted by Lake-Cook Chapter
Lake/Cook Chapter is hosting the 2019 Illinois Audubon Society Spring Gathering, which will draw IAS members from around the state. The weekend will feature Friday and Saturday night speakers, nearly 20 field trips, and a raffle and silent auction whose proceeds will support future chapter programs and initiatives.
On Friday night, local raptor photographer and enthusiast Vic Berardi will discuss why Lake County has two hawk watches just a short distance apart, what’s been seen at them, and his personal hawk watching highlights. On Saturday night, in keeping with the “Big Lake” theme of the weekend, David Ullrich, longtime director of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, will provide insights into the past and present environmental challenges faced by the Great Lakes.
A full schedule of field trips and registration information will be available in January. Prior registration is required and opens January 1, 2019. Members and non-members are welcome.
Event location:
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel – Libertyville/Mundelein
NEW!
Woodland trail loops around through multiple habitats that can be filled with songbirds, savanna birds and water birds.
Directions:
Preserve is on Wadsworth Rd., just east of US 41. Park at Canoe Launch entrance.
The Grove is a favorite spring stop with both land and water habitat. See warblers and other migrants up close and personal.
Directions:
East side of Milwaukee Ave., south of Lake St. Follow the road into the preserve. Meet in the east parking lot by the Redfield Estate (this is the second parking lot).
Best spot in Chicagoland for Black Terns, Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Common Gallinules and more.
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 preserve. Meet at the first parking lot on right.
If you’ve never seen Atlantic Puffins, Black Guillemots, Razorbills, Common Eiders or boreal birds like Spruce and Ruffed Grouse, Boreal Chickadee and Black-backed Woodpecker, here’s your chance! Led by Red Hill Birding’s Josh Engel, we’ll be exploring Acadia National Park on the coast plus the boreal forests near the border with New Brunswick, Canada. We also expect to see many birds on their breeding grounds that we know only as migrants, including 20+ species of warbler.
Maximum attendance is 14. Members only. Price is $1420 (double occupancy) plus airfare. Email renabird3@gmail.com for an itinerary and to register.
Bird Illinois Beach State Park South, BYO picnic dinner, and go Whip-poor-willing after dark.
Directions
From US-41, turn east on Wadsworth Rd., drive 2 miles into the park, park in Nature Center lot.
Leader: CiCi Birnberg 847-945-8500