“The Other Side of the Road” at Volo Bog. Bird the less-traveled trails west of Brandenburg Rd. at this beautiful state natural area. Expect about a 2.5 mile hike (about 3 hours) through old fields, woodlands, prairie, and bogs. Target birds include flycatchers, bluebirds, and late migrants. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the parking lot at the Visitor Center on Brandenburg Rd., west of Rt. 12. Bring along water and bug repellent. After the hike, participants can visit the Visitor Center and bird additional trails. Leader: Margo Milde.

These Friday trips pack a great list of warbler species during spring migration and what a spectacle these little jewels will be – dressed in spring plumage and singing away! Meet at 8:00 a.m. on Friday in the Forest Preserve parking lot north of Willow Rd just east of Edens Expressway. Leader may decide to carpool to nearby location, so stay in the parking lot area. Leaders: Ray Pershing and Eleonora diLiscia.

5:30 P.M. Third in a series of trips for when you don’t have much time and can’t go far from home, not to mention the price of gas. Each trip starts at a different location and the leader may choose to go to more than one park. May 19: Emily Oaks Nature Center (Skokie): Meet in the parking lot. Turn north on Knox(east of Skokie Blvd.) and make a left at the T intersection to the Emily Oaks parking lot. Leader: Eleonora diLiscia.

Enjoy warblers and other migrating species. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at parking lot on Keeler Ave. just south of Foster (Keeler is one-way going north). Leader: Eleonora diLiscia.

These Friday trips pack a great list of warbler species during spring migration and what a spectacle these little jewels will be – dressed in spring plumage and singing away! Meet at 8:00 a.m. on Friday in the Forest Preserve parking lot north of Willow Rd just east of Edens Expressway. Leader may decide to carpool to nearby location, so stay in the parking lot area. Leader: Brian Herriott

This area is a stopover for migrants of all kinds heading north. 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: Sue Robert and Libby Hill.

These Friday trips pack a great list of warbler species during spring migration and what a spectacle these little jewels will be – dressed in spring plumage and singing away! Meet at 8:00 a.m. on Friday in the Forest Preserve parking lot north of Willow R. just east of Edens Expressway. Leader may decide to carpool to nearby location, so stay in the parking lot area. Leader: Lynne Carpenter

5:30 P.M. First in a series of trips for when you don’t have much time and can’t go far from home, not to mention the price of gas. Each trip starts at a different location and the leader may choose to go to more than one park. May 5: James Park: The entrance to James Park is at the intersection of Dodge and Mulford. Park in the Levy Center parking lot at the end of Mulford. Leader: Eleonora diLiscia.

Stacy Iwanicki has been naturalist at the Volo Bog State Natural Area for quite a while now and knows the bog as well as anybody. Many of us have visited this intriguing site, but Stacy will illuminate the avian, botanical, and other biological wonders of this northern relict, the only open water bog in the entire state of Illinois. This program is a must for those planning to go on the bird club’s May 30 field trip to the bog. And for those not planning on going along, this talk may well inspire you to change your mind.