Scott Heinrichs is the Founder of Flying Fox Conservation Fund in Chicago. Bats are one of the most beneficial and misunderstood of all animals. Our program is filled with information about where bats live, what they eat, and the vital contributions they make to the ecosystem. He will bring us up-to-date on White Nose. Syndrome and will bring live bats for us to touch and photograph. Bat Tee shirts will be for sale. 7:30 pm. at the Ecology Center, 2024 McCormick Blvd., Evanston, IL, park in the parking lot off of McCormick Blvd in the Ladd Arboretum. (The bridge is under construction and the street is one way towards McCormick Blvd.)

Waukegan Christmas Count Compiler: Joel Greenberg, 630-725-9416

Compiler: Joel Greenberg, 630-725-9416

Dr. Lloyd Davidson, a world traveler and photographer and Conservation Chair of ENSBC, will take us on a photographic tour of the vast area of Argentina and Chile known as Patagonia, one of the least populated and most picturesque areas on earth. He and his wife Arden have visited this area, which is filled with exotic birds, such as the Andean Condor, the very large Magellanic Woodpecker and Darwin’s Rhea, as well as mammals like the Magellanic Fox and Guanacos. Remarkably rugged mountains, such as the splendid Mt. Fitzroy (named after the captain of Darwin’s ship, the Beagle) and the massive Torres del Paine and Cuernos del Paine, are often enhanced by magnificent lenticular (lens shaped) clouds hanging above them, and, along with calving glaciers, waterfalls, and surprisingly beautiful lichens and plants, such scenes make this region one of the most beautiful and interesting in the world.

For the past 15 years, Michael and Kathi Rock have dedicated their lives to learning about and attracting hummingbirds. They have educated many groups in the Midwest and across the country about these "glittering fragments of the rainbow." Their program will guide you in creating a sanctuary for hummingbirds in your own backyard. Through the use of perennial and annual plants, wildflowers, shrubs, trees and hummingbird feeders, you too can discover the magic and excitement of hummingbirds! Michael and Kathi's program will cover identification of the Ruby-throated hummingbird, ideal habitat, migration, nesting, feeding, importance of water features, and how the elements of the best hummingbird feeders and plants can bring you up close to these special birds.

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

Chris Anchor, Wildlife Biologist with the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, will present a program on the return of keystone predators in Northern Illinois. These will include timber wolf, cougar, black bear and a special emphasis on the Cook County Urban Coyote Project. The program is going into its 13th year, and has marked over 650 coyotes making it the largest coyote project of its kind.

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

June 23, 2013 – Sunday. Meet at 7:30am at the forest preserve parking lot on the east side of Burnham Rd., about 1 mile south of Sauk Trail. We'll spend the morning at Josh's favorite local summer birding spot, looking 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.