10:30-11:30 Bird Walk at Clark St. Beach Bird Sanctuary. Meet at the Clark St. Beach House, Sheridan Road just south of Northwestern University.

Celebrate Earth Day with the birds at the Clark St. Beach Bird Sanctuary.  Entertainment by LakeDance and associates.  Bird and Plant walks around the sanctuary. 3:30-4:30  For more information, contact libbyhill@comcast.net

April 8-17, 2016. – Friday – Sunday NEW TRIP: Colorado Grouse Loop Tour:  Denver mountains and high plains, 9 nights.  Est cost:  $950 based on double occupancy; $1200 single.  Includes lodging and ground transportation, entrance fees and local tour costs.  Target species: Gunnison Sage Grouse, Greater Sage Grouse, Lesser   Prairie Chickens, Dusky Grouse, White-tailed Ptarmigan, Rosy-Finches, Mountain Plover, McCown's and Chestnut-collared Longspurs and more! 150 species expected.  RSVP and $100 deposit required to djohnsoda@comcast.net.  Leaders: David Johnson and Jennifer Schmidt. Limited to 8 participants.

Edge of the ICE returns!  Meet at 8:00 a.m. at Diamond Lake off Diamond Lake Road between Rtes 60 and 45 at the Mundelein boat launch opposite the Gale Street Inn Restaurant parking lot.  ½ day trip focusing on lingering winter ducks, arriving loons and possible eagles.  Limited to 14 participants.  RSVP required with leader at djohnsoda@comcast.net.

Some 1600 bird species inhabit Ecuador.  Quito is the highest capital city in the world at 9,200 ft.  And what better city to begin viewing the country's high Andes birds at Antisani  & Yanacocha reserves, Tandayapa Valley; then other reserves: Rio Silanche, Milpe, Mindo, Paz de las Aves, and Mashpi.  Andean Condor, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Toucan-Barbet, Cock-of-the-Rock, Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe, hummingbirds, tanagers, manakins, and Antpittas abound and are quite viewable!  This program by David Johnson will touch on all of these wonderful areas and birds.

“City Creatures”: We usually think of cities as the domain of humans—but we are just one of thousands of species that call the urban landscape home. Through a unique and accessible mix of essays, poetry, paintings, and photographs, the recently published City Creatures: Animal Encounters in the Chicago Wilderness introduces readers to an astonishing diversity of urban wildlife. Gavin Van Horn,. Director of Cultures of Conservation for the Center for Humans and Nature, and co-editor of City Creatures, will present an illustrated talk and stories about how urban wildlife can connect us to place, from our backyards to our bioregion.

Josh Engel fell in love with the southwestern part of Africa from the first time he set foot there in 2006. Even after a dozen trips to Namibia and Botswana, their wide-open expanses, easy and wonderful birding, abundant animals, stunning scenery, and friendly people still make him giddy with excitement. Desert habitats predominate across the region, but they take myriad forms: from the coastal sand dunes, across the rocky central highlands and the scrub-filled Kalahari sands, to the lush Okavango Delta. All are filled with incredible birds and mammals, and Josh will present a lavishly illustrated virtual tour across one of his favorite parts of the world.

55th  Chicago-North Shore Count and ENSBC Post-Count Potluck dinner at Libby Hill’s house, 2715 Woodland Rd, Evanston.  Arrive any time after 4 pm. Contact Libby at  847-475-2096 or libbyhill@comcast.net for suggestions about food for the putluck.  Compiler: Tim Wallace, 847-548-2654.  Feeder Count Compiler: Eleonora di Liscia, 847-568-0160.

50th Chicago Urban Count.
Compiler:  Jeffrey Sanders, 847-657-6431