Northwest Illinois Birding Calendar

August 2008
Northwest Illinois Birding Calendar

Sunday, August 24, 11am to 4pm

Hummingbird Festival, Starved Rock State Park

Birders interested in learning more about hummingbirds, including an excellent chance of holding one, are invited to attend Audubon's hummingbird festivals. The hummingbirds will be captured and banded and the visiting public will be allowed to release the birds. More precise details available at Illinois Audubon Society website, click on Calendar in the upper right corner. Sponsored by the Illinois Audubon Society. Vernon Kleen, 217-787-3515 or vkleen@comcast.net.

Saturday, August 30, 10am to 1pm

Hummingbird Festival, Sugar Grove N.C. (Funk's Grove)

We attempt to get all information correct in this listing. Check with the trip leader or the host club’s website for last minute changes or cancellations. Please send updates to IllinoisBirdCalendar@yahoo.com.

September 2008
Northwest Illinois Birding Calendar

September 11, 2008 - Thursday at 6:00 p.m.

NCIOS Members Meeting & Pot Luck Dinner – Severson Dells Forest Preserve

The first meeting of the fall features a potluck supper followed by the business meeting at 7:00. Bring a dish to pass, your own tableware and beverage. After the meeting we’ll stroll around the paved path and might try calling some owls or coyotes, weather permitting. Flashlights and bug repellent are a good idea. Hosted by North Central Illinois Ornithological Society. Check http://ncios.org for updates.

September 13, 2008 – Saturday

Illinois Beach State Park

This park is between Waukegan and the Wisconsin border. It is a strip of land that preserves rare plant communities along the lakefront and provides safe haven for migrating birds. We’ll search for fall migrants, especially shorebirds and warblers. Leader: Eddie Callaway 815-323-0011. Hosted by North Central Illinois Ornithological Society. Check http://ncios.org for updates.

Saturday, September 20, 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM

The Illinois Raptor Center Adult Raptor Camp

The cost is $100 per person. Participants must register no later than 1 week prior to the event. Seating is limited for most events. For details on these programs or to register visit http://irc-events.org/, click "Public Events" on the IRC website at www.illinoisraptorcenter.org, or phone 217-963-6909. The Illinois Raptor Center is located at 5695 W. Hill Road in Decatur, IL.

Saturday, September 27, 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM

The Illinois Raptor Center Adult Raptor Camp

October 2008
Northwest Illinois Birding Calendar

October 9, 2008 - Thursday at 7:00 p.m.

NCIOS Members Meeting – Fine Bird Photography

David Olson is well-known as one of the best photographers in the region. He will share some of his excellent photos of birds from the upper Midwest. Hosted by North Central Illinois Ornithological Society. Check http://ncios.org for updates. Location: Burpee Museum, 737 N. Main St, Rockford

October 11, 2008 - Saturday

Birding along the Mississippi River, including Lost Mound Unit of the Upper Mississippi National Wildlife Refuge and Spring Lake

We’ll be searching for migrating waterfowl, hawks, warblers and anything else we can find while taking in the foliage colors and the fall wildflowers. Call the leaders, Jack or Joyce Armstrong at 815 -398-2974. Hosted by North Central Illinois Ornithological Society. Check http://ncios.org for updates.

November 2008
Northwest Illinois Birding Calendar

November 13, 2008 - Thursday at 7:00 p.m.

NCIOS Members Meeting – Aves de Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a beautiful, small country with an incredibly rich and diverse fauna. Jack and Joyce Armstrong, and their camera, visited Costa Rica in July 2008. They will show and tell us all about the country and its birds. Hosted by North Central Illinois Ornithological Society. Check http://ncios.org for updates. Location: Burpee Museum, 737 N. Main St, Rockford

November 15, 2008 - Saturday

Western Winnebago County

We’ll tour some of the best wetlands and Forest Preserves looking for waterfowl and any other late fall migrants. The leader will be Mary Kisamore at 815-636-8234. Hosted by North Central Illinois Ornithological Society. Check http://ncios.org for updates.

December 2008
Northwest Illinois Birding Calendar

December 14, 2008 – Sunday

Test run of a new Christmas Bird Count Circle

Test run of a new Christmas Bird Count Circle is being organized to include Rock Cut State Park, the northeast section of Winnebago County and part of Boone County. Get in on the first count! Charter members get bragging rights! Participants MUST call in advance to sign up. A $5.00 fee will be collected to help defray Audubon Society's data management costs. New counters and feeder watchers are welcomed. Call Eddie Callaway at 815-323-0011 for information. Hosted by North Central Illinois Ornithological Society. Check http://ncios.org for updates.

December 20, 2008 – Saturday

Rockford Christmas Bird Count

Our annual winter bird census improves our understanding of the populations and problems of birds locally and nationwide. Teams and area assignments will ALL be organized in advance of the count date. To participate, please call Dan Williams at 815-968-4732. A $5.00 fee will be collected to help defray Audubon Society's data management costs. Potluck supper to tally the day's sightings will begin at 6:00 p.m. at the Burpee Museum. Please bring a dish to pass and your own tableware and beverage. Hosted by North Central Illinois Ornithological Society. Check http://ncios.org for updates.

December 27, 2008 - Saturday

Kishwaukee Christmas Bird Count

Our annual winter bird census in southern Winnebago and northern Ogle Counties. Team and area assignments will ALL be organized in advance of the count date. New counters and feeder watchers/counters are welcomed. To participate, please call Barbara Williams at 815-968-4732. A $5.00 fee will be collected to help defray Audubon Society's data management costs. No potluck supper for this count. Happy New Year! Hosted by North Central Illinois Ornithological Society. Check http://ncios.org for updates.

January 2009
Northwest Illinois Birding Calendar

January 8, 2009 - Thursday at 7:00 p.m.

NCIOS Members Meeting – Gull Identification: As Painless as Possible

Its gull season again! Time to start looking at iris color, feather wear and tertial edges! Daniel and Barbara Williams will try to give you a good running start at tackling the gulls without fear, guilt or pain. Hosted by North Central Illinois Ornithological Society. Check http://ncios.org for updates. Location to be announced.

January 17, 2009 – Saturday

Starved Rock State Park

If its cold and the river is icy we’ll go to the Corps of Engineers observation deck to watch lots of Bald Eagles and search the flocks of gulls for unusual species. If the conditions aren’t good for concentrations of eagles and gulls then we’ll hike some of the trails in the park checking out the waterfalls and looking for winter woodland birds in the gullies and ravines. Leaders are Barbara and Daniel Williams at 815-968-4732. Hosted by North Central Illinois Ornithological Society. Check http://ncios.org for updates.

February 2009
Northwest Illinois Birding Calendar

February 12, 2009 - Thursday at 7:00 p.m.

NCIOS Members Meeting – The Restoration of Lost Mound

Dan Wenny will give us a look at the history and restoration of the Lost Mound prairies. Hosted by North Central Illinois Ornithological Society. Check http://ncios.org for updates. Location to be announced.

March 2009
Northwest Illinois Birding Calendar

March 12, 2009 - Thursday at 7:00 p.m.

NCIOS Members Meeting – Birds and Birding in Winnebago County

Eddie Callaway has been making a second career of getting to know everything there is to know about birding in Winnebago County. He’ll share his favorite spots, enthusiasm, and insights while giving us an overview of the many possibilities for exciting birding in our own county. Hosted by North Central Illinois Ornithological Society. Check http://ncios.org for updates. Location to be announced.

March 21, 2009 – Saturday

Rock Cut State Park

March is the beginning of spring waterfowl migration with thousands of birds following the receding ice and snow northward. We’ll see what we can find on the lakes at Rock Cut and maybe check a few other spots if time allows. The leader is Eddie Callaway at 815-323-0011. Hosted by North Central Illinois Ornithological Society. Check http://ncios.org for updates.

April 2009
Northwest Illinois Birding Calendar

April 9, 2009 - Thursday at 7:00 p.m.

NCIOS Members Meeting – The Most Important Bird Calls to Know

Get your ears tuned up before the Midwest Crane count, the Spring Bird Count and the peak of spring migration. Lynda Johnson will give us a refresher course in the identification of the different types of crane calls and tell us what to look for on cranes that are visible. Then, other club members will review the calls of some of the local birds that are likely to be heard and not seen - owls, rails, treetop warblers, sparrows and others. Hosted by North Central Illinois Ornithological Society. Check http://ncios.org for updates. Location to be announced.

April 18, 2009 – Saturday (two hours from 5:15 to 7:30 in the morning)

Midwest Sandhill Crane Count

This survey helps the International Crane Foundation monitor the abundance and distribution of Sandhill Cranes. In the 1930’s there were only 25 pairs of Sandhill Cranes in the Midwest. Protection of the birds and their habitat has allowed them to stage a dramatic recovery. In 2000 the census showed 13,000 Sandhills in the Midwest. 3000 volunteers in 5 states participate. Please call Lynda Johnson at 815-629-2781 for information about participating in this annual census. Check http://ncios.org for updates.

April 25, 2009 – Saturday

Winnebago County Hotspots

We’ll visit a few of the places in the county that are the most likely to have a variety of resident and migrating birds. The locations we visit will be determined at the last minute depending on the conditions, weather and on the progress of migration. The leader is Phil Schwab at 815-399-5709. Hosted by North Central Illinois Ornithological Society. Check http://ncios.org for updates.

May 2009
Northwest Illinois Birding Calendar

May 9, 2009 – Saturday

Spring Bird Count

This statewide survey gives us a better picture of spring migration and the arrival of breeding birds in Illinois. Our group tries to census all the birds in the whole county during the day of the count. It’s a big job, but it is the very best time of the year to be out birding. Lots of fun, lots of great birds. To participate for all or part of the day, contact Jack Armstrong at 815-398-2974 for an area assignment. New counters and feeder watchers are welcomed. Check http://ncios.org for updates.

May 14, 2009 - Thursday at 7:00 p.m.

NCIOS Members Meeting – Members’ Best Photos

Bring up to 20 of your most “sharable “photos, in digital or slide form. We’ll show them all in a casual atmosphere with questions and comments free-flowing. This program is not restricted to birds. Any natural history subjects are fine – people in the outdoors, wildflowers, mammals, insects, and, of course, birds, too. Use this opportunity to show us what you’ve been up to in the past year. Hosted by North Central Illinois Ornithological Society. Check http://ncios.org for updates. Location to be announced.

May 30, 2009 – Saturday

Horicon Marsh Boat Trip

A pontoon boat will take us out on the marsh in search of rails, herons, ducks, shorebirds, terns, gulls Yellow-headed Blackbirds and other denizens of the marsh. To get a seat call Ken Frey at 815-877-5028. Hosted by North Central Illinois Ornithological Society. Check http://ncios.org for updates.

June 2009
Northwest Illinois Birding Calendar

June 11, 2009 - Thursday at 6:00 p.m.

NCIOS Members Meeting & Pot Luck Dinner at Arrowhead Shelterhouse at Pecatonica Wetlands

The shelterhouse is northwest of the town of Pecatonica. Go ¼ mile north of the intersection of Blair and Best Roads and turn right into the driveway. The last meeting of the spring features a potluck supper followed by the business meeting at 7:00. Bring a dish to pass, your own tableware and beverage. After the meeting we’ll stroll around the area and look for birds, insects and wildflowers, weather permitting. Flashlights and bug repellent are a good idea. Hosted by North Central Illinois Ornithological Society. Check http://ncios.org for updates.

June 13, 2009 – Saturday

Grassland Birds

By early June most of the prairie birds are starting to nest and can be found in the prairie remnants in the area. We’ll search Deer Run Forest Preserve or Nachusa Grasslands looking for Dickcissels, various Sparrows, Bobolinks and both Meadowlarks. Kevin Kaltenbach leads. Call him at 815-229-1160. Hosted by North Central Illinois Ornithological Society. Check http://ncios.org for updates.