With woodland, savanna and wetland habitats that include the Des Plaines River, Sedge Meadow is a great place to look for warblers, flycatchers, vireos and other early fall arrivals as well as resident species. The trail is an easy loop that takes about 2-1/2 hours to complete, with the multiple habitats frequently yielding a rich diversity of species.

Directions: The preserve is located on Wadsworth Rd., just east of US 41. Meet at the Sedge Meadow entrance, which is the first parking lot east of US 41 (NOT the canoe launch lot).

Leader: Stephen Hurst (224) 804-4030

Please register for the Sedge Meadow walk here so that we can get a head count and contact you in the event of a date change due to weather conditions.

This hotspot along the Des Plaines River corridor is a great migrant trap that can be filled with fall warblers, flycatchers and other landbirds winging their way south at this time of year. Resident Pileated and Red-headed Woodpeckers and Barred and Great-horned Owls are other possible highlights at this site, which is both an Illinois Nature Preserve indicating its ecologically high-quality land and a Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Directions: From Deerfield Rd., turn north on Riverwoods Rd., drive to Ryerson entrance. Enter preserve and follow the signs to Brushwood Visitors Center. Meet in the Brushwood parking lot. NOTE: The gates open at 6:30 am.

Leaders: Ed and Rebecca Rice (847) 420-0734

Please register for the Ryerson Conservation walk here so that we can get a head count and contact you in the event of a date change due to weather conditions.