All events

-A +A

Field Trip: Fridays at Skokie Lagoons, Winnetka

Friday, May 13, 2022

Fridays at Skokie Lagoons, Winnetka. These Friday trips pack a great list of warbler species during spring migration. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at Erickson Woods Forest Preserve parking lot. Turn north into the parking lot from Willow Rd. just east of the Edens Expressway. Leaders: Ed and Rebecca Rice.

Field Trip: Perkins Woods Thursdays

Thursday, May 12, 2022

Perkins Woods. Look for warblers and other migrants (and also a great display of spring wildflowers).  Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the corner of Ewing Avenue and Grant Streets.  Park along Ewing Avenue.  Leader: John Bates.

FIELD TRIP: Montrose

Tuesday, May 10, 2022

Enjoy Spring MIgration at Montrose.  Meet at 8 am at the Entrance.  Leaders:  Libby Hill and Nancy Halliday.

Gillson Park, Wilmette

Sunday, May 8, 2022
 

Gillson Park.  Sponsored by our partner Go Green Wilmette, Meet at 8 a.m.at the Wildflower Garden near the Coast Guard Station.. Parking is available for non-residents of Wilmette through May. For more information, contact Go Green Wilmette -

Canal Shores Bird Walk

Sunday, May 8, 2022

Walk the north birding loop of Canal Shores Golf Course. Meet at 7:30 a.m. by the 10th hole tee on Maple Ave, Wilmette, just west of the canal. There is four hours of free parking on Maple in that area.  For more information: Matt Rooney matthewarooney@gmail.com

 

Spring Bird Count

Saturday, May 7, 2022

Annual Spring Bird Count.  To participate, email Alan Anderson at  casresearch@comcast.net

 

 

 

 

Field Trip: Fridays at Skokie Lagoons, Winnetka

Friday, May 6, 2022

Fridays at Skokie Lagoons, Winnetka. These Friday trips pack a great list of warbler species during spring migration. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at Erickson Woods Forest Preserve parking lot. Turn north into the parking lot from Willow Rd. just east of the Edens Expressway. Leaders: Libby Hill and Nancy Halliday..

Field Trip: Perkins Woods Thursdays

Thursday, May 5, 2022

Perkins Woods. Look for warblers and other migrants (and also a great display of spring wildflowers).  Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the corner of Ewing Avenue and Grant Streets.  Park along Ewing Avenue.  Leader: John Bates and/or Josh Engel.

Ryerson: New Trip

Wednesday, May 4, 2022

Ryerson! New Trip. Meet at 8:00 AM at Brushwood Center Parking lot for Ryerson woods spring migration walk. Register with libbyhill@comcast.net.  Leader:  John Leonard

Canal Shores Bird Walk

Sunday, May 1, 2022

Walk the south bird loop at Canal Shores Golf Course. Meet at 7:30 a.m. by the 18th hole green on Lincoln St, Evanston, just east of the canal. There is four hours of free parking on Lincoln in that area. eRgistration Reqired: email  Matt Rooney matthewarooney@gmail.com

Gillson Park, Wilmette

Sunday, May 1, 2022

 

Gillson Park.  Sponsored by our partner Go Green Wilmette, Meet at 8 a.m.at the Wildflower Garden near the Coast Guard Station.. Parking is available for non-residents of Wilmette through May. For more information, contact Go Green Wilmette -

PROGRAM: UNDERSTANDING BIRD MIGRATION

Tuesday, April 26, 2022

Josh Engel, “Understanding Bird Migration” Just in time for Spring Migration

Spring and fall are prime birding times in the Chicago area, thanks to the vast number of birds migrating through during those periods. But how does migration work? Josh will try to untangle some of the complexities of bird migration, discussing how birds migrate, how they know when and where to go, and giving some examples of the astounding migrations that some birds make on a twice-annual basis. He will also explain how eBird--whether you have an account or not—can help you better understand migration and to inform your own birding. 

Canal Shores Bird Walk

Sunday, April 24, 2022

Walk the north birding loop of Canal Shores Golf Course. Meet at 7:30 a.m. by the 10th hole tee on Maple Ave, Wilmette, just west of the canal. There is four hours of free parking on Maple in that area.  Registration Required: email Matt Rooney matthewarooney@gmail.com

 

Earth Day at the Evanston Ecology Center

Saturday, April 23, 2022

Visit us at our booth at the Evanston Ecology Center as the community celebrates Earth Day.  John Bates will join us with bird specimens from the Field Museum collection.

Air Station Prairie and Techny North

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

 

Air Station Prairie and Techny North.  Meet at 8 a.m. at t he west side of the parking lot across the street (Compass Road) from the Air Station Prairie Interpretive Center. We will look for early migrants including shorebirds, especially Wilson's Snipe there and at Techny North.  Registration required.  Register with Libbyhill@comcast.net.  Leader:  John Leonard.

Field Trip: Air Station Prairie Woodcocks

Friday, April 15, 2022

Come out to see the spectacular aerial displays of the American Woodcock at dusk!  The Air Station Prairie in Glenview is a great location for these displays, and we may even spot a woodcock on the ground. Meet on the deck of the interpretive center at 6:45 p.m.  The parking lot is across the street on Compass Road. Registration required.  Register with libbyhill@comcast.net. Leader: Jeff Sanders.

FIELD TRIP: AIR STATION PRAIRIE WOODCOCKS

Saturday, April 9, 2022

Air Station Prairie Woodcocks.  Come out to see the spectacular aerial displays of the American Woodcock at dusk!  The Air Station Prairie in Glenview is a great location for these displays and we may even spot a woodcock on the ground. Meet on the deck of the interpretive center at 6:40 pm.  The parking lot is across the street on Compass Road. Registration required.  Register with libbyhill@comcast.net.

Leader: Jeff Sanders

PROGRAM: JASON WECKSTEIN: "ARE SPECIES REAL? THE ROLE OF SPECIES DEFINITIONS IN BIOLOGY AND HOW DIFFERENT CONCEPTS OF SPECIES AFFECT YOUR LIFE LIST!"

Tuesday, March 22, 2022

As birders we may think that we all know what we mean when we talk about species, and in the field of biology there are few ideas that impinge on more research than the concept of species.  Species are the currency with which we do our studies as biologists and they are the currency of our birding life lists as well.  Species are how we convey what we learn as biologists and what we see as birders.  We also have laws enacted that protect species.  Yet, it turns out that defining species isn't all that simple, and that there are innumerable ways to define species, and that these different concepts have different utilities as well.  Some of the changes that you see to your life list through lumping and splitting are in part due to different definitions and philosophies being applied to understand and describe avian biodiversity.  Jason Weckstein, Associate Curator of Ornithology at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University,  will talk about species concepts, what are they, how do they differ in their utility, some examples of how they are applied, and what they tell us about the birds that we all love.

Field Trip: Air Station Prairie Woodcocks

Friday, March 11, 2022

Air Station Prairie Woodcocks.  Come out to see the spectacular aerial displays of the American Woodcock at dusk!  The Air Station Prairie in Glenview is a great location for these displays and we may even spot a woodcock on the ground. Meet on the deck of the interpretive center at 5:45 pm.  The parking lot is across the street on Compass Road. Registration required.  Register with libbyhill@comcast.net.  Leader:  John Leonard

NOTE TIME CHANGE!

 

 

PROGRAM: Ben Goldfarb: Dam It: How Beavers Can Save the Planet ( ON ZOOM)

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

In  Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter, environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb reveals that our modern conception of a healthy ecosystem is wrong, distorted by the fur trade that once trapped out millions of beavers from North America’s waterways. The consequences of losing beavers were profound: ponds drained, wetlands dried up, and species from salmon to swans lost vital habitat. Today, a growing coalition of “Beaver Believers”—including scientists, ranchers, and passionate citizens—recognizes that ecosystems with beavers are far healthier than those without them. Ben, who lives in Spokane, Washington, will share his knowledge about these wonderful animals.  

Pages