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PROGRAM: “Gulls – More Than Meets the Eye”

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Amar Ayyash. Often approached with apprehension, gulls have gained a love-hate relationship with many birders. Among these larids are some of the most coveted bird species in the world, yet some are so commonplace that we don’t often give them a second look. Why should we even care about gulls? Come hear Amar Ayyash delight in this diverse group of “seabirds”. Recent genetic data and frequent hybridization in this family compel us to reassess the very concept of a species. Amar will touch on these topics as he highlights key identification field marks for separating our winter gull species. He’ll also touch on some often-ignored topics such as the aging process and molt. Come learn why an increasing number of people are being drawn to this family of birds and brush up on your gull ID skills before the Gull Frolic!

FIELD TRIP: Jeff Sanders’ Fall Specialty Trip! North Shore Lakefront

Saturday, November 18, 2017

48th Annual Jeff Sanders’ Fall Specialty Trip. North Shore lakefront – Northwestern, Gillson Park, Maple Park, Tower Road Park, Park Ave., Rose Beach in Highland Park, and other areas as time permits. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at Gillson Park Beach House in Wilmette, off of Sheridan Road. We will carpool from there. Bring scopes and dress for cold lake wind. Leader: Jeff Sanders, yellowstart5@yahoo.com. 847-657-6431.

BIG MONTH BIRD WALK AT PERKINS

Saturday, October 28, 2017

Be part of the Perkins Prairie School Warblers for the Forest Preserve's BIG MONTH. Meet at the corner of Grant and Ewing at 8:30 a.m. Leader:  Sarah Flax

BIG MONTH BIRD WALK AT PERKINS

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Be part of the Perkins Prairie School Warblers for the Forest Preserve's BIG MONTH. Meet at the corner of Grant and Ewing at 7:30 a.m. Leader:  John Bates

PROGRAM: "The Past, Present, and Future of Cameroon's Birds"

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Jacob C. Cooper.  Cameroon is widely hailed as Africa in miniature, possessing varied climates ranging from impenetrable jungle to expansive savannah to volcanic alpine grassland. This biodiversity hotspot has attracted ornithologists for centuries, and has proven to be home to some of the most unique birds on the planet. For his dissertation at The University of Chicago, Jacob Cooper is studying this country's rich ornithological history in order to create a complete picture of the region's birdlife and is combining our knowledge of species' distributions with state-of-the-art genetic techniques to understand the past, present, and future of Cameroon's birds.

BIG MONTH BIRD WALK AT PERKINS

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Be part of the Perkins Prairie School Warblers for the Forest Preserve's BIG MONTH. Meet at the corner of Grant and Ewing at 7:30 a.m. Leader:  Gerry Ginsburg

BIG MONTH BIRD WALK AT PERKINS

Saturday, October 21, 2017

Be part of the Perkins Prairie School Warblers for the Forest Preserve's BIG MONTH. Meet at the corner of Grant and Ewing at 8:30 a.m. Leader:  Sarah Flax

BIG MONTH BIRD WALK AT PERKINS

Thursday, October 19, 2017

Be part of the Perkins Prairie School Warblers for the Forest Preserve's BIG MONTH. Meet at the corner of Grant and Ewing at 7:30 a.m. Leader:  John Bates

BIG MONTH BIRD WALK AT PERKINS

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Be part of the Perkins Prairie School Warblers for the Forest Preserve's BIG MONTH. Meet at the corner of Grant and Ewing at 7:30 a.m. Leader:  Gerry Ginsburg

BIG MONTH BIRD WALK AT PERKINS

Saturday, October 14, 2017

Be part of the Perkins Prairie School Warblers for the Forest Preserve's BIG MONTH. Meet at the corner of Grant and Ewing at 8:30 a.m. Leader: Wayne Svoboda

FIELD TRIP: The Grove

Friday, October 13, 2017

Expect sparrows, a few late warblers and other late passerines, maybe a hawk or 2 if the winds are right. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at The Grove: east side of Milwaukee Ave., just south of Lake Ave., in the second parking lot that leads to the Interpretive Center.  Leader: Jeff Sanders.

BIG MONTH BIRD WALK AT PERKINS

Thursday, October 12, 2017

Be part of the Perkins Prairie School Warblers for the Forest Preserve's BIG MONTH. Meet at the corner of Grant and Ewing at 7:30 a.m. Leader:  John Bates

BIG MONTH BIRD WALK AT PERKINS

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Be part of the Perkins Prairie School Warblers for the Forest Preserve's BIG MONTH. Meet at the corner of Grant and Ewing at 7:30 a.m. Leader:  Mark Vaughan

BIG MONTH BIRD WALK AT PERKINS

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Be part of the Perkins Prairie School Warblers for the Forest Preserve's BIG MONTH. Meet at the corner of Grant and Ewing at 7:30 a.m. Leader:  Gerry Ginsburg

BIG MONTH BIRD WALK AT PERKINS

Saturday, October 7, 2017

Be part of the Perkins Prairie School Warblers for the Forest Preserve's BIG MONTH. Meet at the corner of Grant and Ewing at 8:30 a.m. Leader:  Sarah Flax

BIG MONTH BIRD WALK AT PERKINS

Thursday, October 5, 2017

Be part of the Perkins Prairie School Warblers for the Forest Preserve's BIG MONTH. Meet at the corner of Grant and Ewing at 7:30 a.m. Leader:  John Bates

BIG MONTH BIRD WALK AT PERKINS

Wednesday, October 4, 2017

Be part of the Perkins Prairie School Warblers for the Forest Preserve's BIG MONTH. Meet at the corner of Grant and Ewing at 7:30 a.m. Leader:  Mark Vaughan

BIG MONTH BIRD WALK AT PERKINS

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Be part of the Perkins Prairie School Warblers for the Forest Preserve's BIG MONTH. Meet at the corner of Grant and Ewing at 7:30 a.m. Leader:  Gerry Ginsburg

FIELD TRIP: Perkins Woods

Thursday, September 28, 2017

 Look for fall warblers, thrushes and other migrants. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at corner of Ewing Ave. and Grant St. Leader: John Bates.

PROGRAM: "How Birds Make Colorful Feathers, and Why it Matters"

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Chad M. Eliason, "How Birds Make Colorful Feathers, and Why it Matters".  In addition to flight, birds must use their feathers to keep warm, stay dry, hide from predators and attract mates. Colorful signals, like the tail eyespots of a peacock, are among the most diverse traits in nature, and several groups of birds differ only in their plumage colors. Inspired by this dazzling array of colors, Chad Eliason from the Field Museum uses a combination of physics and modern comparative methods to tackle pressing questions in biology, including: How do birds produce colorful signals? What do other birds see in a signal? and What are the forces driving changes in color through time?

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