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PROGRAM: Finding Owls in Your Neighborhood

Tuesday, October 17, 2023

Mark Glenshaw: Finding Owls in Your Neighborhood

Co-sponsored with Lake Cook Audubon

at Heller Nature Center 2821 Ridge Rd, Highland Park, IL 60035, 7 pm

Mark H.X. Glenshaw has spent nearly 20 years studying a family of Great Horned Owls in Forest Park, a large urban park in St. Louis, and shares his love of owls through lectures, owl prowls and more. In this program,  Glenshaw will explain how to find owls on your own – whether in a subdivision, city neighborhood, pocket park or large public park. He will discuss the three species of owl you are most likely to see or hear, how to look for them in a safe and ethical manner, how to spot them in trees as well as from the evidence they leave on the ground, what to listen for including both owl calls and the warning calls of other birds and animals, and the importance of research and collaboration.  

Field Trip: Northwestern University Campus North

Saturday, October 7, 2023

Northwestern University Campus North 7:30 a.m.

We’ll start at the North End of Campus looking for migrants.  We may explore the wooded area and and the dunes near Lincoln Street and then head south on campus.  Meet at the end of Campus Drive.  Turn east off of Sheridan Road at Lincoln Street and follow Campus Drive around the athletic building all the way to the end. Park at the farthest parking lot. Leaders:  Meet at 7:30 a.m. Sarah Flax and Libby Hill

 

Field Trip: Birds & Coffee at Jarvis Bird Sanctuary

Friday, September 29, 2023

This 7.84-acre nature area with paths and viewing platforms attracts local and migratory birds. Meeting directions to be provided.

The Leaders: from Red Hill Birding, will be on the platform from 7:30-9:30, so you can come any time. Coffee and fixings are provided.

 

 

 

Field Trip: Perkins Woods

Thursday, September 28, 2023

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

Leader: John Bates and Josh Engel

 

PROGRAM: Geoff Williamson: Current status of Illinois Birds

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

 

Geoff Williamson: Current status of Illinois Birds

At the Ecology Center, 2024 McCormick Blvd, 7: 30 pm. Social time starting at 7 pm.

                       The status and distribution of birdlife in Illinois is always shifting, though generally quite slowly. In the last several decades, however, birders have seen instances of very rapid changes. We'll look at some of what is going on from the viewpoint of the Illinois Ornithological Records Committee, or IORC, by focusing on rarities. IORC maintains a "Review List" of species sufficiently rare to warrant evaluation of observational evidence of their occurrence. The stories behind movement of species on and off the Review List provide insight into how their status and distribution – or the nature of the birding community – is changing. Geoff’s presentation will be illustrated with lots of bird photos. 

 

                   For decades Geoff Williamson has been active in local, state, and national birding organizations. Currently he heads the Illinois Ornithological Records Committee of the Illinois Ornithological Society and is co-compiler of the Illinois-Indiana region's seasonal reports for North American Birds, the journal of ornithological record published by the American Birding Association.

 

Field Trip: West Ridge Nature Park

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

We will look for fall warblers, other migrants, local raptors along the trails through this nearly 22 acres of restored woodlands, wetlands, and a pond. Meet 7:30 A.M. at the main park gate on the east side of Western Ave. (5801 N. Western Ave, where Ardmore dead-ends into Western). Free street parking on both sides of Western Avenue.

Leader: Scott Judd

 

 

Field Trip: Birds & Coffee at Jarvis Bird Sanctuary

Friday, September 22, 2023

This 7.84-acre nature area with paths and viewing platforms attracts local and migratory birds. Meeting directions to be provided.

The Leaders: from Red Hill Birding, will be on the platform from 7:30-9:30 A.M., so you can come any time. Coffee and fixings are provided.

 

Field Trip: Perkins Woods

Thursday, September 21, 2023

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

Leader: John Bates and Josh Engel

Field Trip: Waukegan Beach

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Trip FULL! email libbyhill@comcast.net to be added to the waiting lilst.

 

It’s hard to beat Waukegan Beach in September.  Shorebirds are moving through in good

numbers and migrant warblers begin to reach their peak.  We will spend the morning birding the

beach, swales, and wooded lots of the Waukegan Beach area.  On the beach, we will be targeting

migrant shorebirds, where a good morning could include Baird’s and Semipalmated Sandpipers,

Sanderling, and others.  In previous years, more specialties have shown up including Whimbrel

and Buff-breasted Sandpiper, so we will be ever-vigilant.  In the swales, we will keep our eyes

peeled for early waterfowl and lingering Least Bitterns which breed amongst the reeds.  In the

wooded lots and beachfront park, migrant warblers can be abundant on the right day, and we

hope to find Blackpoll, Bay-breasted, Blackburnian, Wilson’s and Magnolia Warblers among the

20+ that could be present.  We will be hiking the beach and wooded lots, which will total around

1-2 miles of walking at a birder’s pace. The Leader will have a scope, but if you enjoy carrying your own,

you are more than welcome to bring one. Hiking boots or sneakers are both appropriate for this walk,

but please be prepared for walking on sand.  Duration: ~3 hours

Meeting directions to be provided.

Leader: Adam Sell

Registration is required and space is limited to 12 participants. Register

with libbyhill@comcast.net

 

Field Trip: Northwestern University Campus

Saturday, September 16, 2023

 

 

7:30 a.m.

 

The NU campus has long been a stopover for migrants of all kinds headed south.

 

Park on the lakeside of the upper deck of the south parking lot off Sheridan Rd. and Clark St., north of Clark

St. beach, at 7:30 a.m.  Note earlier time!

 

Leaders: Libby Hill and Sarah Flax.

 

Field Trip: Birds & Coffee at Jarvis Bird Sanctuary

Friday, September 15, 2023

This 7.84-acre nature area with paths and viewing platforms attracts local and migratory birds. Meeting directions to be provided.

The Leaders: from Red Hill Birding, will be on the platform from 7:30-9:30 a.m., so you can come any time. Coffee and fixings are provided.

 

Field Trip: Perkins Woods

Thursday, September 14, 2023

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

Leader: John Bates

Field Trip: Emily Oaks Nature Center and Oakton Community College

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

This thirteen-acre Emily Oaks savanna and nature center is an oasis full of native plants, grasses, oak trees, a two-acre pond, and trails. The Oakton Community College Campus native plantings and the area between Emily Oaks and the Campus are both great migrant  traps.

We will be looking for warblers and other Fall migrants.Meet at 7:30 a.m. in the Emily Oaks Nature Center parking lot, 4650 Brummel Street, Skokie.

We will start by birding outside the nature center and the area between the campus and the native garden on the campus.  

 

Leader:  John Bates.

 

 

Field Trip: Northwestern University Campus

Saturday, September 9, 2023

The NU campus has long been a stopover for migrants of all kinds headed south. Park on the

lakeside of the upper deck of the south parking lot off Sheridan Rd. and Clark St., north of Clark

St. beach, at7:30 a.m. Note change of time!

Leaders: Libby Hill and Sarah Flax.

 

 

Field Trip: Birds & Coffee at Jarvis Bird Sanctuary

Friday, September 8, 2023

This 7.84-acre nature area with paths and viewing platforms attracts local and migratory birds. Meeting directions to be provided.

The Leaders: from Red Hill Birding, will be on the platform from 7:30-9:30 a.m., so you can come any time. Coffee and fixings are provided.

 

Field Trip: LaBagh Woods

Friday, September 8, 2023

More than 200 species of birds have been identified at LaBagh Woods, making it one of the area's best places to see migrating birds. Located at the southern point of the popular North Branch Trail, LaBagh is host to a thriving bird-focused habitat restoration project. Be prepared for mud! Meet 7:30 a.m. at the Grove 3 parking lot near the bike trail crossing. (Enter off Cicero and turn right at the T.)

Leader: Judy Pollock

 

Field Trip: Perkins Woods

Thursday, September 7, 2023

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

Leader: John Bates and Josh Engel

 

Field Trip: Techny North

Saturday, September 2, 2023

Look for migrating shorebirds and other migrants and whatever else we can find.  On a good day, Techny Basin can host a variety of shorebirds and ducks. Meet at 7:30 A.M. in the parking lot behind the Sheraton Hotel, facing Techny Basin. Turn north at Foundrs Drive off of Willow Rd.  Leader:  Owen Woodhouse

Field Trip: Birds & Coffee at Jarvis Bird Sanctuary

Friday, September 1, 2023

This 7.84-acre nature area with paths and viewing platforms attracts local and migratory birds. Meeting directions to be provided.

The Leaders: from Red Hill Birding, will be on the platform from 7:30-9:30 a.m., so you can come any time. Coffee and fixings are provided.

 

Field Trip: Calumet Water Reclamation Plant TRIP FULL WITH WAITING LIST

Saturday, August 12, 2023

The Calumet WRP has been a long-time favorite August field trip to look for migrating shorebirds plus other migrants in the ponds at the Plant.  The trip will be from 7:15 - 11 a.m.  

Register with libbyhill@comcast.net  This trip requires forms to be filled out for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD).  Forms must be turned in to Libby by July 25.  Once you register, you'll receive the electronic facility waiver form to fill out.  You'll also be asked to attach a copy of your ID on the waiver, and then present it on August 12 in order to enter the Plant.  Leader: Isoo O’Brien

 

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