Programs

Following is a listing of our upcoming bird and wildlife programs. To receive notice of future programs and field trips, please sign up to receive our email newsletter (click link). You can also join our Facebook page.

Many of our programs since 2020 were recorded on YouTube with permission of the presenters. These programs can be selected and viewed here.

To provide the greatest diversity of program options, our programs will be a mix of in-person and Zoom presentations. In-person programs are held at  Heller Nature Center at 2821 Ridge Road in Highland Park, Illinois 60035 (directions) unless otherwise noted. All programs are open and free to the public unless noted. Membership is not required to attend these programs. If you like our programming, here are ways to support our organization.

In the calendar below, please click the “+” to expand the view. Once expanded, click “Read More” for more event detail and map.

Aug
19
Tue
Tarik’s Big Year: 294 Species That Broke the Cook County Record @ Heller Nature Center
Aug 19 @ 7:00 pm
Tarik’s Big Year: 294 Species That Broke the Cook County Record @ Heller Nature Center | Highland Park | Illinois | United States

In 2024, Tarik Shahzad broke the Cook County Big Year birding record by logging 294 unique bird species including the first-ever confirmed sighting of a Short-tailed Shearwater in Illinois – all while working full-time as an environmental policy advocate for The Nature Conservancy. The quest took him all over the county and to all sorts of settings, from forest preserves, city parks, lakeside sanctuaries, a cemetery and a retention pond behind a CVS to a boat on Lake Michigan where he spotted a Long-tailed Jaeger. Tarik will share the highlights of his effort, the motivation behind it, and how it connects to his concerns over declining bird populations.

Keep checking back for updates to our program schedule.