Chicago
Region Birding Calendar
Go to October
Go to November
Go to December
Go to January 2009
Go to February 2009
Go to March 2009
Go to April 2009
Go to May 2009
Go to June 2009
Go to July 2009
Go to August 2009
Go to September 2009
Go to October 2009
Go to November 2009
Go to December 2009
Back to top
October
2008
Chicago Region Birding Calendar
Back to top
Several Walks This Month
Wednesdays, October 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29, 7:00AM
North Pond Bird Walks
Regular weekly walks emphasize the waves of bird migration
that Chicago experiences throughout
the spring. They’re a great way to see what birds have stopped en route to
nesting grounds up north. Make your own day! See lots of warblers, tanagers,
orioles and grosbeaks before work or school! Well-behaved kids who like birds
and their parents (if they are well-behaved) are very welcome. Bring binoculars
and dress for the weather. The walks start at 7:00am
and usually last 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Participants can easily depart earlier if
their morning schedules require it.
Directions: North Pond is next to the Peggy
Notebaert Nature
Museum on Fullerton
Drive (between Cannon and Stockton) just west of Lake
Shore Drive. Parking is typically available on
northbound Cannon Drive.
The group meets by the Nature Museum,
at the southeast end of North Pond. Look for us on the casting pier at the
south end of the pond or in the museum lobby. Contact: Geoff Williamson
773-935-8439 or email to: geoffrey.williamson@Comcast.net
Results of the walks and other information are posted at http://home.comcast.net/~geoffrey.williamson/northpond.html
Several Walks This Month
Wednesdays, October 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29, 7:00 AM
Wooded Island Wednesday Birdwalks—Jackson Park
Bring binoculars and field guides, and please dress for
the weather. Many species of songbirds and water birds are seen. Meet at Clarence
Darrow Bridge,
just south of the Museum of Science
and Industry. Contact Doug Anderson at (773) 493-7058 with questions. Everyone
is welcome! Hosted by the Chicago Audubon Society
Several Walks This Month
Thursdays, October 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 8:00 AM
Birdwalks at Lincoln
Park Zoo's South Pond
Meet on the Lester
E. Fisher Bridge
at 8 a.m. More than 300 species of
birds have been observed in Lincoln Park,
one of the Chicago area's best
locations to see the large numbers of migrating birds that pass through Chicago
every year. Join us on Thursday mornings during migration as we look for
warblers and tanagers, finches and flyover hawks. The South Pond is also home
to a nesting colony of black-crowned night-herons, and spring is the best time
to watch them court and build nests. These walks are geared toward beginning
and intermediate birders, with an emphasis on learning bird identification. All
are welcome. Bring binoculars, and dress for the weather. For more information,
please visit: http://www.lpzoo.org/events/south_pond/
Several Walks This Month
Saturdays, October 4, 11, 18 & 25, 8:00 AM
Wooded Island Saturday Birdwalks—Jackson Park
Bring binoculars and field guides, and please dress for
the weather. Many species of songbirds and water birds are seen. Meet at Clarence
Darrow Bridge,
just south of the Museum of Science
and Industry. Contact Doug Anderson at (773) 493-7058 with questions. Everyone
is welcome! Hosted by the Chicago Audubon Society.
Wednesday, October 8, 8:30AM –
10:00AM
Field Trip for Beginners - Whalon Lake
Forest Preserve, Naperville
Part 1: This is a short trip for beginners to focus
on sparrow identification. Meet at the parking lot on south side of Royce
Road, between Route 53 and Naperville
Road and south of 75th
Street. Part 2: Greene
Valley Forest
Preserve, 10:00am-noon. If the hawk watch is active,
we will also visit nearby Greene Valley Forest Preserve to learn about hawk
identification, after finishing at Whalon Lake.
For the hawk watch portion please bring a hat, lawn chair, water, a sack lunch,
and clothing layers to add, depending on weather. Leader: Vicky Sroczynski, 630-964-8277. E-mail vsroczynski@comcast.net
for sparrow study guide/suggestions. Hosted by the DuPage
Birding Club.
Wednesday, October 8, 7:00 PM
Kane County Audubon
Program: Effects of Conservation on
Bird Populations
Peck Farm Park, Geneva. Speakers Judy Pollock and Joe Suchecki
will give a presentation on the effects on bird populations of conservation
efforts in the Chicagoland region. Judy Pollock is
Director of Bird Conservation for Audubon, Chicago Region, and Joe Suchecki is steward and bird monitor at Springbrook
Prairie in Naperville. Also to be
included: "a new initiative for Kane
County grassland and shrubland birds." And, as usual, we'll have the latest
bird sightings, chapter news, the raffle, refreshments, and the opportunity to
meet and socialize with other birders. To reach Peck Farm Park, from Randall Road
drive 1½ miles west on Fabyan Parkway (the border street between Geneva and Batavia).
Turn right on Kaneville Road.
After ½ mile turn right into the parking lot. If you'd like more information,
please call Bob Andrini at (630) 584-8386. (Map) Hosted by the Kane County Audubon.
Thursday, October 9, 7:30PM
DuPage Birding Club Program: “Letters from Eden” with Julie Zickefoose
Come for socializing at 7:00PM. The DuPage Birding Club is pleased to welcome writer and nature
artist Julie Zickefoose. Her work is well known
throughout the birding community, and especially to readers of Bird Watcher's
Digest. She's also a regular on NPR's “All Things Considered.” Julie's
passion for the birds and other wildlife on her family's farm property in
southeast Ohio will be apparent as she expands upon “Letters From Eden,” her
book of essays, watercolors and sketches published in 2006. A book signing will
follow the presentation, and we'll raffle off a signed and framed print that
further showcases Julie's extraordinary talent. The meeting is held at Faith Lutheran church located at 41 N. Park
Blvd. (just north of Roosevelt Road, on the east side of the street). Just
like in the "old days," our pre-meeting dinner will take place at
Beijing Restaurant, at 404 Roosevelt Road in Glen Ellyn, starting at 5:30 pm. Hosted
by the DuPage Birding Club.
Friday, Oct. 10, 8 AM– 10AM
Fall Bird Walk-Irons Oaks Environmental Learning
Center, Olympia
Fields, IL
Join a Naturalist for a light hike through the colorful
woods of Irons Oaks in search of resident bird species and migrating visitors.
Iron Oaks is located at 20000
Western Avenue Olympia Fields, IL 60461(click address for map of location) Lead by Laura
Berry. Free program but call to register 708.481.2330 http://www.ironsoaks.com.
Several Walks This Month
Saturdays,
October 11, 18 & 25 8:00 AM
North Park Village Nature Center Bird Walks
Join us to learn about birds and their habitats
while walking with new and seasoned birders through the beautiful woods
surrounding the Nature
Center. The walks are led by expert birders. If you have questions,
please call the Chicago Audubon Society office at (773) 539-6793. All levels of birders are welcome! Meet at the Nature Center at 5801 N. Pulaski Road, Chicago. Hosted by the Chicago Audubon Society - www.chicagoaudubon.org
Saturday, October 11, or Sunday,
October 12 (day & time to be announced)
Illinois Beach State Park,
Zion Hawkwatch
Hawkwatch trip leader Roger Hotham
will consult with the weather gods to select the better day for the outing.
(Winds play a critical role in increasing the odds of a good hawkwatching day.) If you haven't attended Hawkwatch before, you'll be amazed at the ability of the
spotters to identify the birds at ridiculously long distances. Please advise
Roger of your interest in this trip. He'll choose the day and arrange
carpooling. You can contact him at (847) 697-7484.
(Map) Hosted by the Kane County Audubon.
Saturday, October 11, 11:00AM –
1:30PM
Greene Valley
Hawk Watch
Open to all ages 10 and above. Register with Willowbrook Wildlife Center to reserve a spot,
(630) 942-6200. Hosted by the DuPage
Birding Club.
Saturday Oct. 18, 7:30 AM
Middlefork Savanna, Lake
Forest
Search for migrating waterfowl, late shorebirds and more.
From Rt. 60, take Rt. 43 north to the traffic light at Westmoreland Dr./Middlefork Dr. Turn left to the
end of Middlefork and turn left into the parking
lot. Leader: Denis Bohm
847-235-2738. Sponsored by Lake/Cook Chapter IAS, www.lakecookaudubon.org
Saturday, October 18, 8:00AM
Oakhurst Forest
Preserve (Kane County)
Oakhurst F.P. is a 450-acre island on the east side of Aurora.
Its varied habitats include a 70-acre lake-marsh complex, a mature forest, and
sections of old field succession of varying ages. It is on the
Kane-DuPage line, four miles south of Fermi and three miles from Big Woods
Forest Preserve. Come west on New York Street,
past the mall to Eola Road.
Go south on Eola to McCoy Drive, then west on McCoy,
which becomes 5th in Kane County, to the entrance of the Preserve on the north side
of the street. A Greek Church is south of the Preserve, which you do not want to go past. Most of the driving described
above is through subdivisions, so when you find trees, you are at the
Preserve.
Leader: Terry Murray 630-896-3219 Tamurray@msn.com
Hosted by the DuPage Birding Club.
Saturday, October 18, 8:00 AM
Birdwalk at Fermilab, Batavia
Migrating waterfowl for years have used
Fermi's lakes for a stopover. We'll scan the waters for waterfowl and the edges
for migrant and resident passerines. Meet in the parking lot next to the
security shack on Pine Street east
of Kirk Road. For more
information, call Chris Madsen at (630) 377-0773. (Map) Hosted by the Kane County Audubon.
Sunday, October 18, 10:00 AM
Illinois Beach
State Park, Camp
Logan
A great spot for hawkwatching is
Sailing Beach.
Reservations with the leader required. Leader: David B. Johnson,
djohnsoda@comcast.net or 847-459-3989Meet at 10:00
a.m. at the Sailing Beach
entrance shelter off Camp Logan
(17th Street in Zion).
If hawk migration is slow the leader will decide to bird elsewhere. Hosted by: Evanston North Shore Bird Club
Sunday, October 19, 7:30AM
Hennepin Area
This will be an all-day trip. Target
birds will be shorebirds and waterfowl along with other migrants and local
specialties. We will be stopping for lunch on the way, but bring plenty
of water as it still can be hot at this time of the year. Please
register with the leaders so arrangements can be made for
carpooling. We will meet at the Bolingbrook Park & Ride on Old
Chicago Drive east of IL53 about a mile south of I-55 (behind the Ramada
Motel).Leaders: Bob and Karen Fisher, 630-985-2956, KFisher928@aol.com.
Hosted by the DuPage Birding Club.
Sunday, October 19, 8:00AM
Fullersburg Woods
Join us along Salt Creek at Oak Brook's Fullersburg Woods as we look for waterfowl and
warblers. If there's time we'll migrate over to Harvester
Park in Burr Ridge afterwards to
check out the small wetland there. We'll meet at the main
parking lot at Fullersburg Woods on Spring Road west
of York Road in Oak
Brook. Please pre-register with the leader by October 16
for directions and car-pooling opportunities. Hosted by the DuPage Birding Club
Leaders Linda Padera and Lesa
Hipes: waterthrush@comcast.net
or (708)870-5385.
Sunday, October 19, 8:00 AM
Waterfowl in the Palos Preserves
Leader: Amar Ayyash,
amarayyash@hotmail.com. This part
of southwestern Cook County
can be a great staging area for migrating waterfowl. Amar
lives near Palos and has birded the area extensively. We should see a nice assortment of ducks,
geese and cranes. Hawks may also be
moving overhead, if conditions are right.
Dress appropriately for weather and bring scopes and walkie-talkies if
you have them. Meet at McGinnis Slough
at 8:00 a.m.Directions:
From I-55, exit south onto U.S. Rte.
45/LaGrange Road. Head straight south to the McGinnis Slough parking lot on the
west side of LaGrange Road (at about 13600
to 13700 south). Hosted by the Chicago Ornithological
Society
Monday, October 20, 7:00PM
Chicago
Ornithological Society Program - Dr. Chris Whelan on
'Why do Birds Migrate?'
INHS avian ecologist Dr. Chris Whelan will talk about the
“demands of the migratory annual cycle, the problems and solutions.” Using
examples from his location at the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, Chris will explore migration from
various angles: what is it; why do it; how to do it; navigation; physiology;
hazards; and global climate change. By understanding what motivates birds,
perhaps we birders can improve our chances of spotting them in action.
Unless otherwise indicated, COS meetings start at 7:00
p.m. at the Peggy Notebaert Nature
Museum, 2430 N. Cannon Drive in Lincoln Park. You can arrive anytime after 6:30 to socialize. The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is
located on the northwest corner of Fullerton Avenue
and Cannon Drive in Lincoln
Park in Chicago.
For detailed directions and public transportation info visit: http://www.chicagobirder.org/programs.
Hosted by the Chicago Ornithological
Society
Saturday, October 25
Sprague's Pipit Walk at Pyramid
State Park
Following the success of last year's trip, Dan Kassebaum will again lead eager birders through the
grasslands of Pyramid State
Park in search of the elusive Sprague's
Pipit. Why not take the opportunity to potentially add a new bird to your
state list? For more information, please contact Travis Mahan at: calidris_1004@yahoo.com. Hosted by the Illinois
Ornithological Society. Pre-registration is required.
Participants’ $5 fee for IOS members, $25 fee for non-members (includes
membership). Additional details can be viewed on the IOS webpage at: http://www.illinoisbirds.org/fieldtrips.html
For more details and to register, please contact Tyler
Funk or call:
(217) 348-5597.
Saturday, October 25, 7:30 AM
Thatcher Woods,
River Forest
Walk beautiful
Thatcher Woods with expert birder and former Chicago Audubon Society board
member, Jill Anderson. Meet at the Trailside Museum parking lot west of the intersection
of Thatcher Road and Chicago Avenue (south side of parking lot) in River Forest.
Bring binoculars. If you have questions, please call the Chicago Audubon
Society office at (773) 539-6793. All
levels of birders are welcome!
Hosted by the Chicago Audubon Society - www.chicagoaudubon.org
Saturday, October 25, 8:00 AM
Burnidge Forest Preserve, Elgin
This
590-acre preserve offers a variety of bird habitats that can be accessed over
miles of mowed grass paths. KCA VP Jerry Hope is the walk leader. Meet in
the parking lot next to the main pond off Coombs Road. To reach Burnidge FP, take Highland Avenue west from Randall Road for 2 miles. Turn right on
Coombs and travel .7 mile to the preserve entrance. If you'd like more
information, please call Jerry at (630) 377-1444. (Map) Hosted by the Kane County Audubon.
Saturday, October 25, 8:00 AM
Paul Douglas
Forest Preserve - Grassy Ridge
Meadow
This preserve is composed of a vast
grassland with a nice marsh and some adjacent shrubland
areas. This should be a good time for migrant ducks and sparrows. We'll also
keep an eye out for fall hawks, snipe and shrike. Directions: To get to Grassy Ridge Meadow take I-90 west.
Exit Roselle Rd. north
(about 3 miles west of Route 53/I-290). Grassy Ridge is only about 1.5 to 2
miles from here. Turn left at the first light on Central
Rd., cross Ela, turn right into Grassy Ridge Meadow. We will meet at 8 a.m. at the farthest end of the parking lot,
by the marsh. Leader: Jenny Vogt jmvogt2003@yahoo.com or 847-408-0444. Hosted by the Chicago Ornithological
Society.
Saturday, October 25, 11:30AM –
2:00PM
Field Trip for Beginners - Greene
Valley Forest
Preserve
Hawk identification for Families and Beginning
Birders. Meet at the parking lot, top of the landfill, to learn how to
identify raptors in flight and assist with a national raptor population
count. Bring water, a sack lunch, hat, and a lawn chair for each
participant. Bring clothing to layer depending on wind and temperature
conditions on the hill. We will have a scope, binoculars, and field guides.
Leader: Vicky Sroczynski, 630-964-8277 vsroczynski@comcast.net.
Hosted by the DuPage Birding Club.
Sunday, October 26, 8:00AM
Nelson Lake Marsh,
Batavia
We will be looking for late migrants and waterfowl.
In Batavia, from Rt. 31, take Main
Street (about halfway between Butterfield and Roosevelt
Road) west to Nelson Road,
turn south about 1/2 mile to the parking lot on the west side. From the south,
take I-88 west to Orchard Road north, immediately turn west (left at the stop
sign to Deerpath Road north (right), take Deerpath Road north to Nelson Lake Road (go straight, Deerpath veers right at this point) to parking lot on west
side. Look for old silo. Leader: Scott Cohrs,
630-377-6814, cell 847-651-9891. Hosted by the DuPage
Birding Club.
Monday, Oct. 27, 7:30 PM
Lake/Cook
of IAS Program - The Amphibian Ark: Saving Our Frogs
Frogs are disappearing. So are toads, salamanders, newts,
and caecilians. At least 1/3 of known amphibian species may be threatened with
extinction. Dr. Kevin Zippel, program director for
The Amphibian Ark, is working to stem this crisis. Join him as he shares his
efforts to ensure the global survival of amphibians. Ryerson Woods Welcome Center, 21950 Riverwoods Rd., Riverwoods. Co-sponsored
by Lake/Cook Chapter IAS www.lakecookaudubon.org
with the Lake County Chapter of National Audubon Society.
Tuesday, October 28,
2008, 7:30 PM
ENSBC Program: “Wings of the
Imagination: Why We Need Birds”: Kenn Kaufman
Kenn Kaufman is one of the
country’s premier birders and has done as much as anyone alive to popularize
this glorious endeavor through his writings, lectures, and field trips. We are
truly privileged to have Kenn speak to our group on
some of the more philosophical aspects of birds and birding, ruminations that
reflect the contents of his latest book, Flights Against the Sunset. (Books
will be available for purchase and signing.) Hosted by: Evanston North Shore Bird Club. The
Evanston North Shore Bird Club has monthly membership meetings every fourth
Tuesday of the month, September through April (no December meeting) at 7:30 p.m. at the Ecology
Center, 2024
McCormick Blvd., corner of Bridge
St., in Evanston.
For directions to program meetings on meeting nights, call the Ecology
Center at 847-448-8256. For
information on this program, contact Joel Greenberg, 630-725-9416.
Back to top
November 2008
Chicago Region Birding Calendar
Back to top
Several Walks This Month
Saturdays, November 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29, 8:00 AM
Wooded Island Saturday Birdwalks—Jackson Park
Bring binoculars and field guides, and please dress for
the weather. Many species of songbirds and water birds are seen. Meet at Clarence
Darrow Bridge,
just south of the Museum of Science
and Industry. Contact Doug Anderson at (773) 493-7058 with questions. Everyone
is welcome! Hosted by the Chicago Audubon Society
Saturday, November 1, 6:30 AM
Northwest Indiana (Miller
Beach, Jasper-Pulaski Fish and
Wildlife Area, and other sites)
Join this all-day trip to see a variety of fall
migrants. Trip ends at JPFWA at dusk at the elevated viewing platform to see
thousands of sandhill cranes. Participants can meet
at the home of Joel Greenberg at 6:30 a.m.
or in Miller, IN at 7:30 a.m. Contact the leader for more details.
Leader: Joel Greenberg, ckerchmar@earthlink.net or 630-725-9416. Hosted by Evanston North Shore Bird
Club.
Saturday, November 1, 8:00 AM
Scope
Day/Birdwalk at Nelson Lake/Dick Young Forest
Preserve, Batavia.
Twice each year KCA
celebrates "Scope Day" at Nelson Lake, where members bring their
spotting scopes to share views of the migrating birds with the general public.
The scopes, with magnifications of 20 to 60 power,
afford closeup views that can't be gotten with
binoculars. After all the waterfowl on the lake have been identified,
participants will undertake a leisurely 3-mile stroll around the lake. Meet in
the parking lot by the silo. Dick Young Forest Preserve is located on Nelson Lake Road about ¾ mile
south of Main Street, and about 1½ mile west of Randall Road in Batavia. For more information,
please contact Rhonda Nelson at (630) 479-1384. (Map) Hosted by the Kane County Audubon.
Several Walks This Month
Wednesdays, November 5 & 12, 7:00AM
North Pond Bird Walks
Regular weekly walks emphasize the waves of bird migration
that Chicago experiences throughout
the spring. They’re a great way to see what birds have stopped en route to
nesting grounds up north. Make your own day! See lots of warblers, tanagers,
orioles and grosbeaks before work or school! Well-behaved kids who like birds
and their parents (if they are well-behaved) are very welcome. Bring binoculars
and dress for the weather. The walks start at 7:00am
and usually last 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Participants can easily depart earlier if
their morning schedules require it.
Directions: North Pond is next to the Peggy
Notebaert Nature
Museum on Fullerton
Drive (between Cannon and Stockton) just west of Lake
Shore Drive. Parking is typically available on
northbound Cannon Drive.
The group meets by the Nature Museum,
at the southeast end of North Pond. Look for us on the casting pier at the
south end of the pond or in the museum lobby. Contact: Geoff Williamson
773-935-8439 or email to: geoffrey.williamson@Comcast.net
Results of the walks and other information are posted at http://home.comcast.net/~geoffrey.williamson/northpond.html
Several Walks This Month
Wednesdays, November 5, 12, 19 & 26, 7:00 AM
Wooded Island Wednesday Birdwalks—Jackson Park
Bring binoculars and field guides, and please dress for
the weather. Many species of songbirds and water birds are seen. Meet at Clarence
Darrow Bridge,
just south of the Museum of Science
and Industry. Contact Doug Anderson at (773) 493-7058 with questions. Everyone
is welcome! Hosted by the Chicago Audubon Society
Wednesday, November 5, 7:00 PM
Lake/Cook
of IAS Program: Illinois Audubon Society - Past, Present, Future
The Illinois Audubon Society oversees 10 wildlife
sanctuaries and has acquired thousands of acres of land in an ongoing effort to
preserve future habitat and biodiversity. Tom Clay, Executive Director, will
talk about IAS’ 111-year history from its founding in an effort to curtail the
feather trade to its present major role in Illinois land acquisition and
restoration. Heller Nature
Center, 2821
Ridge Rd., Highland Park
(directions on website). Hosted by Lake/Cook Chapter IAS, www.lakecookaudubon.org
Thursday, November 6, 7:00 PM
Social / 7:30 PM Program
Chicago Audubon Society Program
– Grassland Bird Communities and Their Responses to
Habitat Management and Restoration
Joe Suchecki
will give a presentation on the grassland birds of Springbrook
Prairie, including a discussion on how we can reverse the national trend of
declining grassland bird populations.
Over 215 species have been documented at Springbrook,
including some recent nesting records for short-eared owls and northern
harriers. Mr. Suchecki
is a long-time birder in the Chicago area and is currently the Volunteer Bird Monitor and
Site Steward at Springbrook, where he has conducted
quantitative counts of the breeding birds for 15 years. This program is free and
open to the public, but please call the Chicago Audubon Society office
to register at (773) 539-6793. The
meeting will be held at the North Park Village Nature Center, 5801 N. Pulaski Road, Chicago.
Hosted by the Chicago Audubon Society - www.chicagoaudubon.org
Sunday, November 9, 7:30 AM
Ducks on Lake Michigan, Evanston
– Bird Walk
Follow the lakefront starting at Northwestern University
and heading north to Gillson Park, Park Avenue Beach,
Rosewood, Fort Sheridan and beyond as time permits. Bring spotting scopes and
dress warm. From Sheridan Rd
in Evanston., go east on Lincoln,
turn south past the Fitness Center,
turn east (left) and drive almost to end. Leader: Jeff Sanders 847-657-6431.
Sponsored by Lake/Cook Chapter IAS, www.lakecookaudubon.org
Sunday, November 9, 8:00 AM
Miller Beach, Indiana
We will be looking for Loons, Grebes, Scoters, &
hopefully, Jaegers! This trip is
co-sponsored with DuPage Birding Club. Directions:
Take I-94 east through Gary,
Indiana to I-65 north. Take I-65 north to
Hwy 12. Go east on Hwy 12 about 2 miles to Lake St. Turn left and follow Lake
St north to the beach parking lot. There is a McDonald’s on the corner of Lake
St. and Hwy 12 with a bathroom. There are no
facilities at the beach. Some COS
& DBC members will meet at the McDonald's and depart from there at 7:45 am. Scopes are very useful here. Also,
dress much warmer than expected as the wind can be very chilling. Leaders:
Karen and Bob Fisher, 630-985-2956, Kfisher928@aol.com
Wednesday, November 12, 7:00 PM
Kane County Audubon Program: "Amphibians
and Reptiles of Kane County."
Meeting Night at "The Barn" at Peck Farm park, Geneva.
Pam Otto, Manager of Nature Programs and Interpretive Services for the St.
Charles Park District, and a KCA member, will give a presentation on
"Amphibians and Reptiles of Kane County." Did you know there are 13
species of frogs in Kane
County?
She'll help us identify them. And, as usual, we'll have the latest bird sightings,
chapter news, the raffle, refreshments, and the opportunity to meet and
socialize with other birders. To reach Peck Farm Park, from Randall Road drive 1½ miles west on Fabyan Parkway (the border street between Geneva and Batavia). Turn right on Kaneville
Road. After ½ mile turn right
into the parking lot. If you'd like more information, please call Bob Andrini at (630) 584-8386. (Map) . Hosted
by the Kane County Audubon.
Saturday, November 15, 7:00 A.M
Gillson Park, Wilmette- Lake County
Join COS for a lake-watch at Gillson Park,
where migrating waterfowl and many resting ducks and other water birds are
reasonably close to shore. Expected species include diving ducks, loons and
grebes, possibly including Red-throated Loon, Red-necked Grebe and Long-tailed
Duck. We will also keep an eye out for any unusual gulls and any late-migrating
passerines. The field trip will visit other nearby lake front spots to search
the lake for water birds, and depending on conditions, we might add other north
shore lake front stops to the itinerary. Dress for extreme cold weather, as the
wind off the lake can be brutal. Bring a thermos of a hot beverage and plan to
drink it to keep your body temperature up. A spotting scope is very helpful for
this trip. Directions: Gillson
Park
is located at Lake Michigan
at the end of Lake Avenue
in Wilmette.
Meet at the lake house in the park. From the Edens
Expressway north bound, exit at Lake
Avenue and go east to Gillson
Park.
From the Edens Expressway south bound, exit at Skokie
Road, go south to Lake
Avenue, turn left and go east to
Gillson
Park.
Coming from DuPage, from I-294, exit at Dempster eastbound. After about 1.5 miles, turn left
(north) at Greenwood Ave.
After another 2 miles, turn right (east) on East
Lake Ave and take it to its end at
Gillson
Park.
Leader: Geoff Williamson 773-935-8439 or geoffrey.williamson@Comcast.net
Hosted by the Chicago Ornithological Society
Saturday, November 15, 8:00 AM
Birdwalk at SEBA Park, South Elgin
Jane McMillan leads this stroll along the paved bikepath
from South Elgin
to Jon Duerr Forest Preserve, a roundtrip of about 3
miles. The path parallels, and gives great views of, the Fox
River, a natural attractor of
birds and other wildlife. Meet in the parking lot of SEBA
Park,
one block east of Route 31 and two blocks south of State
Street (the river crossing in South
Elgin). If you have questions
about this walk, please call Jane at (847) 622-3216. (Map) Hosted by the Kane County Audubon.
Saturday, November 22, 10:00 AM
Field Trip to Jasper Pulaski State Park, Medaryville,
IN
KCA President Bob Andrini heads up this car pooling trip to Indiana to view
one of the most dramatic avian sights in the Midwest: the huge flocks of
migrating Sandhill Cranes that stop over at Jasper
Pulaski. Imagine thousands of 4-foot-tall birds, with an almost 7-foot wingspan
congregating in one area. It's spectacular. Participants should meet in the
parking lot of Peck Farm Park. To reach
the park, from Randall Road drive 1½
miles west on Fabyan Parkway (the
border street between Geneva and Batavia). Turn right on Kaneville Road. After ½ mile turn right
into the parking lot. If you'd like more information, please call Bob Andrini at (630) 584-8386. (Map)
Hosted by the
Kane County Audubon
Sunday, November 23, 8:00
AM
39th 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
the 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, yellowstart5@yahoo.com. Hosted
by: Evanston North Shore Bird Club.
Tuesday, November 25, 7:30 PM
ENSBC Program: “Birding Southeast Arizona, the Camp Chiracauha Way”: Sulli
Gibson and Ari Rice. Evanston North
Shore Bird Club members Sulli Gibson and Ari Rice spent eleven days this past summer at Camp
Chiracauha,
a unique program run by the American Birding Association that draws many of the
country’s best and most avid young birders. (The prevalence
of “nature deficit disorder” notwithstanding.) Ari
and Sulli were the only representatives from Illinois
and both were recipients of ABA
scholarships. Southeast Arizona was new to both of them,
and they share their experiences in this avian hotspot. Hosted
by: Evanston North Shore Bird Club.
The Evanston North Shore Bird Club has monthly membership meetings every fourth
Tuesday of the month, September through April (no December meeting) at 7:30 p.m. at the Ecology
Center, 2024
McCormick Blvd., corner of Bridge
St., in Evanston.
For directions to program meetings on meeting nights, call the Ecology
Center at 847-448-8256. For
information on this program, contact Joel Greenberg, 630-725-9416.
Back to top
December 2008
Chicago Region Birding Calendar
Back to top
Tuesday, December 2, 7:30 PM
Lake/Cook
of IAS Program: Behind the Scenes of
Raptor Rehabilitation
Barnswallow is a raptor
rehabilitation program and public education facility run by Linda Breuer. We will view the birds on her property in Wauconda
through closed-circuit cameras and learn about her work with threatened raptors
in Lake County.
Bring donations of paper towels and bleach. Call Rena Cohen 847-831-0331 for
directions. Those wishing to carpool from the Highland
Park area should meet at 7:00
pm at Heller Nature
Center, 2821
Ridge Rd., Highland Park
(directions on website). Hosted by Lake/Cook Chapter IAS, www.lakecookaudubon.org
Several Walks This Month
Wednesdays, December 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31, 7:00 AM
Wooded Island Wednesday Birdwalks—Jackson Park
Bring binoculars and field guides, and please dress for
the weather. Many species of songbirds and water birds are seen. Meet at Clarence
Darrow Bridge,
just south of the Museum of Science
and Industry. Contact Doug Anderson at (773) 493-7058 with questions. Everyone
is welcome! Hosted by the Chicago Audubon Society
Several Walks This Month
Saturdays, December 6, 13, 20 & 27, 8:00 AM
Wooded Island Saturday Birdwalks—Jackson Park
Bring binoculars and field guides, and please dress for
the weather. Many species of songbirds and water birds are seen. Meet at Clarence
Darrow Bridge,
just south of the Museum of Science
and Industry. Contact Doug Anderson at (773) 493-7058 with questions. Everyone
is welcome! Hosted by the Chicago Audubon Society
Saturday, December 6, 8:00 AM
Birdwalk at Nelson Lake/Dick Young Forest
Preserve, Batavia
On the
first Saturday of every month, KCA sponsors this bird/nature hike around Nelson Lake. This is an
easy 3-mile walk at a leisurely (3-hour) pace. Meet in the parking lot by the
silo. Dick Young Forest Preserve is located on Nelson Lake
Road about ¾ mile south of Main Street, and about 1½
mile west of Randall Road in Batavia. For more
information about this walk, please contact Rhonda Nelson at (630) 479-1384. (Map)
Hosted by the Kane County Audubon
Wednesday, December 10, 7:00 PM
Kane County AudubonProgram:
"Birds of the Northwest and Beyond,"
Meeting Night at "The Barn" at Peck Farm Park, Geneva.
Paul Mayer, a KCA member, will speak on "Birds of the Northwest and Beyond," sharing stories and pictures of his recent
birding trip to Alaska. And, as
usual, we'll have the latest bird sightings, chapter news, the raffle,
refreshments, and the opportunity to meet and socialize with other birders. To reach Peck Farm Park, from Randall Road drive 1½ miles west on Fabyan Parkway (the border street between Geneva and Batavia).
Turn right on Kaneville Road.
After ½ mile turn right into the parking lot. If you'd like more information,
please call Bob Andrini at (630) 584-8386. (Map)
Hosted by the Kane County Audubon
Saturday, December 13, 8:00 AM
Birdwalk at SEBA Park, South
Elgin
Jane McMillan loves this
walk and you will too if you join her on this easy 3-mile stroll along the west
bank of the Fox River. Given the proper weather (cold), Bald Eagles may
have returned to this stretch of the river for this walk. Meet in the parking
lot of SEBA Park,
one block east of Route 31 and two blocks south of State Street (the river crossing in South Elgin). For additional information about this walk, please
call Jane at (847) 622-3216. (Map)
Hosted by the Kane County Audubon
Wednesday, December 15, 7:00 AM
North Pond Bird Walks (only one walk this month)
Regular weekly walks emphasize the waves of bird migration
that Chicago experiences throughout
the spring. They’re a great way to see what birds have stopped en route to
nesting grounds up north. Make your own day! See lots of warblers, tanagers,
orioles and grosbeaks before work or school! Well-behaved kids who like birds
and their parents (if they are well-behaved) are very welcome. Bring binoculars
and dress for the weather. The walks start at 7:00am
and usually last 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Participants can easily depart earlier if
their morning schedules require it.
Directions: North Pond is next to the Peggy
Notebaert Nature
Museum on Fullerton
Drive (between Cannon and Stockton) just west of La