Field Trips

The Evanston North Shore Bird Club sponsors more area field trips than any other birding or nature organization in the area. What's even better, is that most, if not all, are FREE! Car pooling is encouraged on all field trips. Always check the current Bird Calls for possible changes in dates, times, locations, leaders, etc. Contact the individual leader or the Field Trip Chairman if you need more details on specific trips, or looking for someone to carpool with -- numbers are listed in the membership directory pages.

Beginners are encouraged on all ENSBC trips. Most trips are half-day excursions but check individual trip descriptions for those trips that might be all day or even over a weekend. Reservations with the leader may be required. If you have an idea for a possible future trip, or would like to lead a future trip, please contact the Field Trip Chairman.

Most of the locations of field trips are on level, well drained ground, but a few take you to some muddy areas, or it may have recently rained and the trails may be waterlogged. A successful birding trip is a well planned trip; please bring along boots and rain gear as necessary, as well as snacks and water or something to drink to make every outing an enjoyable one. A final tip to good Chicagoland birding: the indispensable Chicago Tribune Map. This map features almost all the sites seen on ENSBC tours and is a must for novice birders and drivers alike.

It is strongly recommended that birders carpool on all ENSBC field trips; in addition, the leaders of the field trips strongly encourage the use of family radios or talkabouts tuned into channel 11/22 while traveling in car caravans and when separated in the field. This is also the national communication birding policy of the American Birding Association. Talkabouts are available at Best Buy, ABT, Circuit City, etc. The radio must have two channels.

Field Trip Quick Links
September October November	January February March	April May	International Field Trips Christmas Bird Count

September 3, 2005 - Saturday
Sod Farm field trip to McHenry and Kane Co. Sod fields. Afternoon trip. Come bird on a sea of grass! Target birds: Buff-breasted Sandpiper, American Golden-Plover and other "grasspipers." Meet at 3:00 p.m. at Wild Bird Center at Fox River Grove at intersection of Rte 22 and Rte 14. Leader: David B. Johnson

September 18, 2005 - Sunday
Waukegan Beach and Illinois Beach State Park. Shorebirds and fall migrants. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Waukegan Harbor parking lot. Take Rte 132 to Sheridan Road till you ‘dead end” at “T.” Turn right and go downhill. Turn left and go straight to the harbor parking lot in front of you. Should be a great time for fall migrants and shore birds. Leader: Joel Greenberg.

October 2, 2005 - Sunday
Illinois Beach State Park and Hawk Watch. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Nature Center at the South Unit of Illinois Beach State Park. After birding the Dead River area, we will proceed to North Point Marina to participate in the Hawk Watch. Directions to IBSP Nature Center: from Rte 41, go east on Wadsworth Rd, continuing east into the state park. Follow the road to the sign for the Nature Center on your right (if you see the lodge you’ve gone too far.) Leaders: Either Joel Greenberg or Paul Sweet. Ask for the ENSBC Leader.

October 23, 2005 - Sunday
Barrington Area. Expect good numbers of waterfowl and late landbirds, possibly Sandhill Cranes. Meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Crabtree Nature Center parking lot off of Palatine Road, west of Barrington Rd. Leader: Joel Greenberg.

November 20, 2005 - Sunday
36th Annual! Jeff Sanders’ fall specialty trip. North Shore lakefront – Northwestern, Gillson Park, Maple Park, Tower Rd Park, Park Ave and Rose Beach in Highland Park; others areas as time permits. Meet at 8 a.m. at Northwestern University Beach. Go east on Lincoln St. from Sheridan, then turn south past the giant Fitness Center, then turn eaat (left) and go almost to the end. Bring telescopes and dress for cold lake wind. Leader: Jeffrey Sanders.

January 14, 2006 - Saturday
Waukegan and Illinois Beach State Park! Look for gulls and other winter birds. Meet at 8 a.m. at the MacDonalds at 132 (Grand) and Sheridan. Leader: Joel Greenberg.

February, 2006 - a Saturday
5th Annual Gull Frolic at the Winthrop Harbor facilities on a Saturday in February TBA. From 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Winthrop Harbor Yacht Club at the end of 7th Street near Skipper Buds. Bring loaves of bread to chum for the gulls. Lots of gulls and lots of people. More details in Bird Calls. Leaders: Jim Landing and David B. Johnson.

March 18, 2006 – Saturday
Cranes, Waterfoul and other early migrants. Enjoy Waterfowl, early migrants and a crane spectacle of continental significance. Stops will be made at such refuges as Kingsbury, Kankakee, and Jasper Pulaski. Prepare for a late return home. Meeting place at 7:30 a.m. in Indiana TBA. Call Joel Greenberg, 630-725-9416 for more information.

April 2. 2006 – Sunday
Looney Trip, Lake County. A Dave Johnson specialty. Loads of loons on lots of lakes. Expect other birds as well. Meet at Gale Street Inn Diamond Lake parking lot on the East side of Diamond Lake Rd. (North of 83) in Mundelein at 7:30 a.m. 2/3 day trip bring food. Leader: David B. Johnson.

April 9, 2006 - Sunday
Botanic Gardens, Glencoe. This trip will be good for close looks at waterfowl, sparrows and early migrants. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at parking lot #3 (east end of the Garden) off Lake-Cook Rd. Leader: Ann Harness.

April 28, May 5, May 12, 2006 - Fridays
Skokie Lagoons. These Friday trips pack a great list of warbler species for the spring migration--and what a spectacle these warblers will be, dressed in spring plumage, singing away! Meet at 8:00 a.m. on Friday in the Forest Preserve parking lot north of Willow Road just east of Edens Expressway. Leader may decide to carpool to another nearby location so stay in the parking lot area. Leaders: Wayne Svoboda on April 28, Lynne Carpenter on May 5, Barbara Brown on May 12.

April 29 – April 30, 2006 - Saturday and Sunday
Perkins Woods Garlic Mustard Pull. Help rid the woods of this aggressive alien weed. Perform a good deed, be among friends, and enjoy birds and wildflowers. Come for an hour or a morning. 9:30-12 noon each day. Perkins is at Colfax and Ewing between Central St. and Golf Rd in Evanston. Leader: Libby Hill.

April 30, 2006 - Sunday
Jackson Park and Lakefront - Wooded Isle. A perennial favorite among Club members, this trip is always good for early migrants. Meet at 7:45 a.m. Directions: Park south of Museum of Science and Industry after driving on east side of building. Leader: Dick Young.

May 3, 10, 24 and 31, 2006 - Wednesdays
Ryerson Conservation Area. Join these early morning trips to help start out your working day. Meet at 7:00 a.m. at the Ryerson parking lot, off Riverwoods between Rte 22 and Deerfield Rd. Trips are in cooperation with R. David Johnson’s Wild Bird Center in Fox River Grove. Leaders: May 3 and 31 TBA; May 10 and 24: Donald Dann.

May 6, 2006 - Saturday
Illinois State Spring Bird Count. Contact Joel Greenberg for Lake Co. assignments (630-725-6660). Contact Chicago Audubon (773-363-7089) to help with Cook Co.

May 14, 2006 – Sunday
LaBagh Woods and Gompers Park – Sunday - New Trip! 7:30 a.m. Enjoy warblers and other migrating species. Meet in parking lot on Keeler Ave just south of Foster (*Keeler is one way going north. Leaders: Eleonora DiLiscia and Julie Samansky.

May 17, 2006 - Wednesday
Birding at The Grove, Glenview. LIMITED TRIP, OPEN ONLY to the first 15 to sign up. Expect later warblers, vireos, thrushes and tanagers. Meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Grove east side of Milwaukee Ave., just south of Lake Ave. Contact leader to make reservations. Leader: Lynne Carpenter, 847-446-8794.

Late May weekend, 2006 - Friday-Sunday
Kirtland’s Warbler Excursion. Three-day trip to Grayling, Michigan to see the Kirtland’s Warbler, one of the continents rarest breeding warblers. Trip will include a 48-mile-loop drive elsewhere in Northern Michigan. Reservations required. $50 deposit necessary upon registration. Call Leader R. David Johnson, 847-639-6594 at the Wild Bird Center in Fox River Grove for reservations and other information. Watch Bird Calls for final dates. Trip limited to 12 people.

International Field Trip

February 19 - March 2, 2006
Western Belize and Tikal
Trip full. Watch for Birding in Belize in February, 2007; announcements via Bird Calls.

Christmas Bird Counts

Christmas bird counts are the largest volunteer effort in the world to monitor birds and changes over the years. They have been going on nationally since 1900. Get involved! Call the compiler for information and assignments.

December 18, 2005 - Sunday: 40th Chicago Urban Count
Compiler: Jeffrey Sanders, 847-657-6431.

December 25, 2005 - Sunday: Chicago Lakefront Count
Compiler: Joel Greenberg, 630-725-9416.

December 26, 2005 - Monday: 45th Chicago North-Shore Count
Compiler: Tim Wallace, 847-548-2654

January 1, 2006 - Sunday: Waukegan Count
Compiler: Joel Greenberg, 630-725-9416

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