All events

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PROGRAM: "Cordillera Azul National Park, Peru"

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

The eastern foothills of the Andes are among the least accessible, little explored yet most diverse parts of South America.  Come learn about Cordillera Azul National Park from John Bates, Associate Curator, Bird Division Field Museum. On a recent expedition, a Field Museum Bird team trekked into this spectacular area and did survey work, documenting birds and their parasites.

PROGRAM: "Bird Topography"

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Knowing the names of all the different parts of a bird gives us a language for communicating in an unambiguous fashion about what a bird looks like. Bird topography is so critical to bird identification that you'll be hard pressed to find a field guide without a section covering the topic. However, that section is usually neglected. Geoff Williamson will provide an introduction and review to the topic and will deepen our appreciation of how incredible birds are. Geoff is active in local, state, and national birding organizations and was a 2013 recipient of the American Birding Association's Ludlow Griscom Award.

Christmas Count: Waukegan

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Contact compiler Joel Greenberg, 630-725-9416 for information and to participate.

Christmas Count: Chicago-North Shore

Saturday, December 27, 2014

54th Chicago-North Shore Count and ENSBC Post-Count Potluck dinner at Libby Hill’s house, 2715 Woodland Rd, Evanston. Arrive any time after 4 p.m. Contact Libby Hill at 847-475-2096 or libbyhill@comcast.net for information about the dinner. Compiler: Contact Tim Wallace, 847-548-2654, for information and to participate in the count. Feeder Count Compiler: Eleonora di Liscia, 847-568-0160.

 

Christmas Bird Count: Chicago Lakefront

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Chicago Lakefront Christmas Count
Please contact compiler: Joel Greenberg, 630-725-9416 for information and to participate.

Christmas Bird Count: Chicago Urban Count

Sunday, December 14, 2014

49th Chicago Urban Count.
Contact compiler: Jeffrey Sanders, 847-657-6431 for more information and to participate.

PROGRAM: "The Seychelle Islands"

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

LOCATION CHANGE!  Mary Lou Mellon will take us on a trip to see the birds of the Seychelles Islands, a tropical paradise in the Indian Ocean 1000 miles from everywhere:  north of Madagascar, east of Kenya, west of India.  Traveling via the 290-foot sailing vessel Le Ponant, a boat that was captured by the Somali pirates and released a year before Mary Lou traveled on it, you'll see the spectacular scenery and wonderful avifauna of islands few people have the opportunity to visit.  IMPORTANT LOCATION CHANGE: THIS PROGRAM WILL BE HELD IN THE LINDEN ROOM AT THE LEVY CENTER IN EVANSTON, 300 Dodge Ave, 60202. The office telephone number is 847-448-8250.  Directions: from McCormick Blvd., turn east at Oakton, then turn right (south) at the stoplight at the corner of Oakton and Dodge. Turn right at the first stoplight onto the road leading to the large parking lot.

Jeff Sanders’ Fall Specialty Trip, North Shore Lakefront

Sunday, November 23, 2014

45th 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 Northwestern University beach.  Go east on Lincoln St. from Sheridan Rd., turn south past the giant fitness center, then turn east (left) and go almost to the end.  Bring scopes and dress for cold lake wind.  Leader: Jeff Sanders.

PROGRAM: "Birds and Windows – The Chicago Database"

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

David Willard of the Field Museum will interpret the database of nearly 70,000 bird fatalities from window strikes in Chicago.  As unfortunate as these deaths are, there is a lot we can learn from them---about bird migration in general, as well as ways to reduce the number of fatalities.  This program will be an up-to-date progress report on some of the things we have learned and hope to learn from all of these birds.

Daniel Wright Woods NEW TRIP

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Target birds are sparrows, other late migrants, and a few hawks if the winds are right.  Daniel Wright Woods is located at the intersection of St. Mary's and Everett Roads.  From that point, turn south into the preserve.  Meet in the first parking lot at 7:30 a.m.  Directions:  From the south, take I-94 or Rte. 41 north to Rte. 22, go west to Riverwoods Rd., then go north to Everett Rd., then go west to St. Mary's Rd.  From the north, take I-94 or Rte. 41 south to Rte. 60, go west to St. Mary's Rd., then south to the entrance.  Leader:  Jeff Sanders.

Northwestern University Campus

Saturday, October 4, 2014

The NU campus has long been a stopover for migrants of all kinds headed south.  Park on the lake side of the upper deck of the south parking lot off of Sheridan Rd. and Clark St., north of Clark St. beach, at 8:30 a.m. Leaders:  Libby Hill and John Bates.

Northwestern University Campus

Saturday, September 27, 2014

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 of Sheridan Rd. and Clark St., north of Clark St. beach, at 8:30 a.m. Leaders:  Libby Hill and Wayne Svoboda.

PROGRAM: "Native Bees 101"

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

LOCATION CHANGE! Tonight’s topic is our wild bees, most of which are solitary, coming in sizes from the burly Carpenter Bee to the many species that are smaller than a grain of rice.  Native bees often have specialized relationships with native plants.  This talk will highlight our native bees’ beauty, their diversity of life styles, and their intrinsic role in native plant pollination....all illustrated with new high definition photography .Our presenter is Sam Droege, head of the bee inventory and monitoring program at the U.S. Geological Survey in Patuxent, Maryland.  IMPORTANT LOCATION CHANGE: THIS PROGRAM WILL BE HELD IN THE LINDEN ROOM AT THE LEVY CENTER IN EVANSTON, 300 Dodge Ave, 60202. The office telephone number is 847-448-8250.  Directions: from McCormick Blvd., turn east at Oakton, then turn right (south) at the stoplight at the corner of Oakton and Dodge. Turn right at the first stoplight onto the road leading to the large parking lot.

Paul Douglas Woods “Mixed Bag”

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Look for early waterfowl, late shorebirds, possible rails and bitterns in the marsh, lingering nesters and migrants in the grasslands, and fall warblers in the shrubs and wooded areas.  Meet at 7:00 a.m. at the Grassy Ridge parking lot, Central Rd. west of Roselle Rd.  From the east, take I-90 to Roselle north exit, west on Central.  Leader:  John Elliott.

Hawkwatch, Illinois Beach State Park

Sunday, September 7, 2014

Meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Nature Center parking lot, South Unit near the Park Lodge.  Target species will be early migrating hawks and passerines.  RSVP to Leader David B. Johnson at djohnsoda@comcast.net or 224-567-9650.

Chicago Botanic Garden

Saturday, September 6, 2014

Expect fall passerine migrants, particularly warblers, vireos and thrushes, plus anything else we can find.  Meet 7:00 a.m. at Starbucks at 243 N. Skokie Blvd. just south of Lake Cook Rd., east side of Skokie Blvd. near Nordstrom's & Marshalls, to carpool with participants who are Botanic Garden members.  Leader: Bonnie Duman.

Calumet Sewage Ponds

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Sunday-Calumet Sewage Ponds. Don’t miss this opportunity to visit the region’s premier shorebird site. Combined trip with Chicago Ornithological Society. Meet at Sewage Ponds at 7:15 a.m. Directions: From I-94, exit at 130th St. Go west 1/4 mile to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District sign. Turn right on the paved road and proceed to the guard house. Trip ends around 11 a.m. Limit: 25. Sign-up for this field trip is required. Registration forms will be available from Walter Marcisz, wmarcisz@att.net or 773-646-3034 or 312-206-9889 (cell). Completed form must be turned in by July 10. Send forms by snail mail to Walter Marcisz , 13416 S. Mackinaw Ave, Chicago, Il, 60633. Forms must include a copy of a government-issued photo ID. No cameras but scopes and binoculars OK.

Rollins Savanna

Sunday, July 20, 2014

This area is one of Lake County's hottest birding spots and is home to many nesters such as Least Bitterns, Sedge Wrens, Henslow's and Grasshopper Sparrows, and Bobolinks. There also may be early shorebirds. Meet at 6:30 a.m. at the Washington Road parking area. The trip will last 4 hours and water and sun protection are good ideas. Leader: Beau Schaefer

Plum Creek Forest Preserve

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Meet at 7:30am at the forest preserve parking lot on the east side of Burnham Rd., about 1 mile south of Sauk Trail. This is one of Josh's favorite summer birding spots.  We'll look especially for grassland and shrubland birds that are otherwise rare so close to Chicago--Henslow's and Grasshopper Sparrows, Dickcissel, Yellow-breasted Chat, and White-eyed Vireo all breed there. Leader: Josh Engel.

NEW TRIP! Weekend Getaway to the Mississippi

Friday, May 30, 2014

May 30, 31 and June 1, 2014-Friday, Saturday and Sunday – Weekend Getaway Trip to the Mississippi. Two nights lodging. RSVP by email & phone to Leader: David B Johnson, djohnsoda@comcast.net, 847-459-3989. Limit 12 participants. Lost Mound, Upper Mississippi River Valley NWR & Mississippi Palisades State Park, Miller's Landing & local areas around Savanna & Galena. Target species: Cerulean, Hooded, Kentucky and Yellow-throated Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Grasshopper, Lark and Henslow's Sparrow, Northern Mockingbird and Loggerhead Shrike and more.

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