WELCOME TO THE

DuPage Birding Club

ABOUT US

A Brief Overview of the DBC

Founded in 1985, the DuPage Birding Club is nationally known as one of the largest and most active birding groups in Illinois. Our mission is to promote birding among our 400+ members and the general public through field experiences and education that focus on the various habitats in DuPage County, the greater Chicago area, and other regional hotspots.  We welcome birders of all skill levels and interest.

ABOVE: Phothonotary Warbler. Photo by Diann Bilderback.

THE DUPAGE BIRDING CLUB IS

Promoting birding in DuPage County and the greater Chicagoland area.

Join us in making birding an experience!

Learn from guest speakers and members at our meetings.

Join us on one of our 100 plus field trips each year.

Explore DuPage County birding hotspots and resources.

DBC YouTube Channel

Identify your warblers, cuckoos, thrushes, owls, blackbirds, ducks, and more.
Learn about bird identification basics, binoculars, migration, and more.
Hone listening skills for thrushes, flycatchers, grassland birds, and more.

Upcoming Meeting

July 11, 2024 - 7:00 PM - In-Person and via Zoom

Topic: Recovery of Eastern Whip-Poor-Wills in the Midwest

Presenter: Dr. Ward

For our July meeting, DBC will be hearing from Dr. Mike Ward, who has been investigating the decline of Eastern Whip-poor-wills in the Midwest and how we can help the species recover. More often heard singing its namesake song than seen, this cryptic night bird has been steadily declining in the Midwest. Dr. Ward will share factors likely leading to their decline and will discuss work occurring on both breeding and wintering grounds to conserve the species.

Dr. Ward is currently the Stuart L. and Nancy J. Levenick Chair in Sustainability at the University of Illinois and an Ornithologist at the Illinois Natural History Survey. He conducts research on avian ecology and conservation throughout the Midwest as well as in Texas, Florida, Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Cuba. He is a global leader in the use of automated telemetry to investigate the migration and behavior of birds and has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers and won multiple awards for his research. Dr. Ward is also on many technical committees, most of which are charged with informing management and policy to better conserve the environment.

We hope that you can join us for this hybrid meeting (in person and via Zoom) on Thursday, July 11th at 7:00pm. To register for the virtual meeting, click here.

For those of you attending in person, doors open at 6:30 p.m. at Faith Lutheran Church (41 N. Park Blvd., Glen Ellyn) for a little socializing. Come mingle with your fellow birders before the official meeting at an optional premeeting dinner at Ellyn’s Tap and Grill (940 Roosevelt Rd., Glen Ellyn) from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Upcoming Field Trips

Registration May Be Required

DBC’s Spring 2024 Photography Contest Winners Set a High Bar

With more than 50 beautiful photos submitted, the Photography Contest Judges had a really tough time selecting this quarter's winners. The entries were judged by Andie Duffy, Steve Constantelos, Natalie McFaul, Thelma Hulka, and Mike ...

Recent News

Summer ’24 Photo Contest Opens

The DBC is looking for pictures of birds taken between June 1, 2024, and August 31, 2024. All photos are welcome: amateur, funny, imperfect, high-quality. The “story behind the shot” is taken into account when judging. The judges want this to be a fun contest; no categories have been predefined for award winners so every entry has a chance to win!  Note: the judges ask that you limit the number of photos entered to five or less. The contest is open to DBC members only. Photos may be taken anywhere (not just DuPage/Illinois). If a picture includes people, the submitter […]

DBC Book Club to Read Wesley the Owl

Wesley the Owl by Stacey O’Brien is the DBC Book Club’s next read. Widely lauded by the nature community and a New York Times Bestseller, Wesley the Owl tells the story of the special relationship that developed between an injured Barn Owl and the woman who adopted him and committed two decades of her life to his care when it was determined he could not live as a wild bird. The next book club will meet September 10, at 7:00 p.m. All members are welcome! Please contact Mike Warner at mwarner2543@gmail.com if you’d like details on participating.

Summer Fun at the DBC Education Channel

With migration season behind us, it’s time to give our resident birds some attention. June is a great  month for sparrow watching, as the birds are singing and active. And of course, it’s nesting season, so  young birds in varied plumage may confuse us. The following four recommendations are excellent  summer viewing at the DBC Education Channel on YouTube [...]

Wanted: Cantigny Bird Walk Leaders

Organized birding at Cantigny Park, in partnership with DBC, started in 2008. Cantigny employee and DBC Past President Jeff Reiter and Cantigny Volunteer Joan Campbell have kept the monthly walks going ever since. With Jeff’s retirement next month, Joan needs some helpers! Cantigny wants to keep offering a monthly walk, and ideally an “Accessible Birding” session every month, too. This is an opportunity to become an official Cantigny volunteer, which comes with nice perks. And, of course, leading bird walks is the absolute best volunteer job at the park! If you are interested, please send an email to Liz Omura, […]

More Book Talk: Nature is Our Country Club

All are invited to Cantigny on Wednesday, June 19, for a presentation by local author, artist, educator and naturalist Christopher Cudworth. He will discuss his latest book, Nature is Our Country Club, which focuses on the environmental impact of golf and golf course sustainability. More broadly, it’s about nature appreciation and the many positive aspects of spending time outdoors. Books will be available for purchase and signing. Whether you play golf or not, all birders will appreciate Chris’s important message. His talk begins at 7:00 p.m. inside the Cantigny Visitor Center. It is free to attend and parking is also […]

Become a member today and join the DuPage Birding Club!

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