Field Trips

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 15 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on April 1.
Warblers (and other spring migrants) after work! Meet at the parking lot on 31st Street. We'll conclude the trip with some dusk birding looking for the resident Great Horned Owls. A red flashlight or headlamp is recommended. Lyman's trails are almost always muddy regardless of weather. If rain occurs ahead of the trip, expect areas with standing water. Be prepared with appropriate footwear.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/zLxxAF1AM4WPMCS37
Leader: Matt Crisler, crislermj@gmail.com

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 15 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on April 1.
Field trip to Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve in Naperville to look for a variety of spring migrants with the long-time Steward and Bird Monitor, Joe Suchecki. We will bird in wetlands, grasslands, and patchy forest habitats. Good opportunity to find rails, waterfowl, several grassland sparrows and migrants such as vireos and warblers. We will be going off-trail on this trip so footing will be unlevel and possibly wet. Wear water-proof shoes or boots and dress for weather. Use insect repellent since ticks and mosquitos will be active. Expect field trip to last 2-3 hours depending on whether migrants are present.  Meet at the model aircraft field parking lot on the west side of Plainfield-Naperville Road about 0.5 miles south of 75th Street in Naperville, https://maps.app.goo.gl/25ZqUpfN1DUrcrB48.
Leader: Joe Suchecki, dbcsec2020@gmail.com, (630) 842-4921

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 15 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on April 1.
This walk will be geared towards new birders, but any level of birder is invited. Our walk will focus on early migratory birds, including warblers and thrushes. Lyman Woods can be muddy, please wear appropriate footwear. We will meet in the parking lot by the Lyman Woods Nature Center, 901 31st St. Downers Grove.
Leader: Bonnie Graham, coye72112@gmail.com, (630) 204-8750

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 15 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on April 1.
This unique spot in northern McHenry County is a great spot for sought after marsh birds. The walk will focus on finding the site's nesting Yellow-headed Blackbird population, as well as species such as Black Tern, King Rail, Marsh Wren, and others. There is roughly a mile walk on a straight gravel path before we hit the marsh area. We may venture off trail into tall grass, so dress appropriately and bring bug spray and sun protection. The parking lot is behind the Hebron Township Building in Hebron, Illinois (10206 Seaman Rd, Hebron, IL 60034).
https://maps.app.goo.gl/BENbuwH9mN7e6rHe7
Leader: Robert Perez, robertperez787@gmail.com, (630) 724-7534

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 8 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on April 1.
Moraine Hills State Park is comprised of 2,200+ acres of glacier-formed park nearly half of which are wetlands & lakes. The McHenry Dam trail is an easy two-mile crushed gravel loop through forest and wetlands with two observation decks.  We can expect to see waterfowl, shorebirds, warblers, and returning summer residents.  Bring bug spray.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/rEkc1xaJkhekfN6y6
Leader: Elena N Nelson, ladylena76[at]gmail[dot]com

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 20 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on April 1.
Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary is one of the premier birding hotspots in the state. Located next to Montrose Beach along Lake Michigan in Chicago, Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary offers a variety of habitats for a large number of birds. The group will explore the entire sanctuary, including wooded areas, prairie, beachfront and dunes area. Some trails may be muddy, so dress appropriately. Targets will include migrating warblers and shorebirds.  Meet at the main entrance, https://maps.app.goo.gl/BZjWnjUSN1y1r6Wh9.
Leader: Robert Perez, robertperez787@gmail.com, (630) 724-7534

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 15 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on April 1.
Wood Dale Reservoir offers great viewing opportunities for several species of migrating shorebirds. Spotting scopes can be useful here; trip leader will have one. Shorebird IDs can be difficult at times - Trip leader will be happy to help people who may be new to it, but it will help to review field guides, eBird/Merlin, and/or some of the DBC YouTube content (Yellowlegs and Similar Waders, Peeps) ahead of time. We will meet at the parking lot at the end of School Street. (298 School Street in Wood Dale if using GPS).
https://maps.app.goo.gl/mtUwQ3eaf1niFCeAA
Leader: Matt Crisler, crislermj@gmail.com

Registration with the leader via text or call is required, but there is no limit to the number of participants.
Join us for a morning walk around one of DuPage County's top birding hotspots. Going through multiple habitat types at this time of year should result in finding a large variety of bird species. Most of this 3.25 mile walk will be on limestone or earthen trails. Make sure to dress accordingly to the predicted weather conditions. Meet in the visitor parking lot on the north side of Mack Rd. located west of Winfield Rd. & east of Rt. 59.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/nXtgY54hNjHBZ1u39
Leader: Kyle Wiktor, (708) 506-5186

No Registration Required
We will meet at the boat rental building, near the bathrooms off the Butterfield Road lot and walking on the gravel paths checking for spring migrants and seasonal and year round resident birds. https://maps.app.goo.gl/Venm2bxegr5ZW6vE6
Leader: Laurel Salvador, laurelsalvador@yahoo.com, (630) 534-0734

Registration with the leader is required.
Magee is known around the world as one of the best places to experience the spring warbler migration, but is also notable for the variety of other habitats in close proximity that allow you to see far more than just warblers. This trip is part of our “Special Trips” program, and since space is limited, all potential registrants must have a current membership with the club.

This trip will be less scheduled than last year, with more options to choose your interest and activity level. Matt’s plan is to “Bird ‘til we drop,” which means birding from sunrise-ish to sunset, and maybe beyond if there’s reason to. There will be a club group going throughout each day, and participants will have the option to drop in and out as desired. While we’re able to run the trip with one leader, if someone else is willing to volunteer, that’ll expand our options and variety of activities (plus volunteers are guaranteed entry!).

Potential hotspots we’ll visit include the world-famous Magee Boardwalk, Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, Metzger Marsh, Howards Marsh, Oak Openings Preserve, East Harbor State Park, and other places nearby (exact itinerary dependent on the birds!). This trip also coincides with the first week of the “Biggest Week in American Birding” Festival, so members who would like to register to attend any part of those events can do so. Here’s the link: https://www.biggestweekinamericanbirding.com/

Additional Logistical Information:
- There is no club fee for this trip. However, travel costs are at the participant's expense. We are currently checking into discounted group rates for lodging, feel free to ask if you want to know what to budget for.
- The first club event is expected to be the Magee Boardwalk around 7ish on the morning of 5/8. Plan to arrive in the Toledo area on the 7th. Note that the local area is in Eastern Time, so you lose an hour on the way out.
- The last club event is expected to be Oak Openings Preserve in the early afternoon on 5/10. From there, it is approximately a 4 hour drive back to the DuPage area.
- Last year’s ebird trip report: https://ebird.org/tripreport/369379. While we cannot guarantee any particular sighting, this is generally representative of what we’ll be aiming to do this year.

In the interest of fairness to all members, registration for this trip will operate on a lottery system. Here’s the lottery information:
- You may register yourself and one additional person.
    - Entries submitted as pairs will be kept together in the drawing.
    - Exceptions to the pair rule can be made for families traveling with children.
- Each registration should include name, email address, phone number for each participant.
    - You may also include your ebird information if you wish to be included on trip checklists
- All entrants must be current members of DBC with dues paid for 2026.
- The lottery is open until March 8th. The drawing will be conducted on March 9th and all entrants will be informed of status then.
- Lottery entries should be sent to Matt Crisler. You will receive a confirmation of entry.

Any questions, feel free to contact Sherry Courtney, Special Trip Coordinator at the email below.

Leader: Matt Crisler crislermj@gmail.com
Special Trips Coordinator: Sherry Courtney sherrycourtney10@gmail.com

Registration is required.
A hundred or more birders will fan out across DuPage County to identify all the bird species they can find at the Spring Bird Count on Saturday May 9th. A group of birders will be in the field somewhere near your home. Come join us; we need more birders to make it possible to cover as many locations within the county as we can. You don't have to be an expert birder to participate; all skill levels are welcome. Even if you can only bird for part of the day, we can use you. And if that’s your preference, you’ll probably be able to look for birds close to home, since we divide the county into 16 areas, with teams scouring each area. To volunteer or find out more information email Joe Suchecki. Please sign up by April 30th to participate.

Coordinator: Joe Suchecki, dupagesbc@gmail.com

Registration with the leader is required.
This trip will focus on woodland migrants and resident birds. We will walk on limestone paths and some dirt paths along the river, through the woods, and fields. Meet in the first parking lot after entering the preserve. The entrance is off Raymond Rd, south of Diehl Rd.
Leader: Mike and Karen Warner, mwarner2543@gmail.com, (630) 640-2450

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 15 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on May 1.
Warblers (and other spring migrants) after work! Meet at the parking lot on 31st Street. We'll conclude the trip with some dusk birding looking for the resident Great Horned Owls. A red flashlight or headlamp is recommended. Lyman's trails are almost always muddy regardless of weather. If rain occurs ahead of the trip, expect areas with standing water. Be prepared with appropriate footwear.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/j9GZWCC2SPn2zvbK6
Leader: Matt Crisler, crislermj@gmail.com

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 8 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on May 1.
***Arboretum members only due to start time*** We'll meet at P19 and do a 3 mile loop along the river to the prairie and back on mulched trails looking for warblers and residents. (I can bring one additional person in with me if you're not an member and want to join us).
https://maps.app.goo.gl/b9WaVCSwBadmuU876
Leader: Elena N Nelson, ladylena76[at]gmail[dot]com

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 10 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on May 1.
This walk will cover approximately three miles of trails through woodland groves, meadows, wetlands and along open edges. Woodland trails can be wet and/or muddy. Meet at main parking lot on Circle Avenue, just north of Lake Street (Rt 20).
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ThvY3hM35h1iWHUV9
Leader: Nancy Allured, nallured@gmail.com

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 15 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on May 1.
We will meet at the horse statue in the main parking lot. We will walk mainly crushed limestone paths, looking for spring migrants and returning summer residents. Please text or email me if you are interested. https://maps.app.goo.gl/zyWMqPuvEjvJmndH8
Leader: Mark Freeburg, freebs59@sbcglobal.net, (630) 661-1521

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 15 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on May 1.
Elsen's Hill is a premier birding spot for spring migrants and summer residents, with a mix of woodland, shrubland, grassland, and wetland. We will target late migrating warblers such as Nashville, Bay-breasted, Magnolia, and Golden-winged warblers as well as newly arrived summer residents. These include the vireos and flycatchers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Scarlet Tanagers, Indigo Buntings, and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, among others. With luck, we'll find Red-headed Woodpeckers and Wood Ducks to top off the day.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/West+DuPage+Woods+Forest+Preserve+-+Elsen's+Hill+Area/
Leader: Diann Bilderback, diann.bilderback@yahoo.com, (630) 272-5746

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 8 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on May 1.
Volo Bog State Natural Area is home to the only open-water quaking bog in Illinois. Formed in an ancient glacial kettle hole lake, Volo Bog features a floating mat of sphagnum moss, cattails and sedges surrounding the open pool of water in the center of the bog. We'll hike about 3 miles on the Tamarack Trail loop stopping at the observation areas.  We can expect to see marshbirds, warblers, and summer residents.  There are some moderate hills. Bring a sack lunch and we can picnic afterwards. If you've never been here before I highly recommend that you do the interpretive trail before you leave, this rare ecosystem is really cool!  Bring bug spray.
We'll meet in the parking lot by the trail head to the public toilets.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/QyW4FRvGBBxe9kay7
Leader: Elena Nelson, ladylena76[at]gmail[dot]com

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 10 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on May 1.
Join us for an extended outing where we'll attempt to rack up as many species as possible at Lyman Woods in one morning! Think you can help us beat last year's score of 65 species? This will be a long outing, and we'll go until we run out of birds to find (the end time is a best guess and not firm). Meet at the parking lot on 31st Street. Lyman's trails are almost always muddy regardless of weather. If rain occurs ahead of the trip, expect areas with standing water. Be prepared with appropriate footwear.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/j9GZWCC2SPn2zvbK6
Leader: Matt Crisler, crislermj@gmail.com

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 15 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on May 1.
Warblers (and other spring migrants) after work! Meet at the parking lot on 31st Street. We'll conclude the trip with some dusk birding looking for the resident Great Horned Owls. A red flashlight or headlamp is recommended. Lyman's trails are almost always muddy regardless of weather. If rain occurs ahead of the trip, expect areas with standing water. Be prepared with appropriate footwear.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/j9GZWCC2SPn2zvbK6
Leader: Matt Crisler, crislermj@gmail.com

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 20 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on June 1.
Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie is one of the premier grassland birding spots in the area. The area is littered with abandoned munitions bunkers, as well as fantastic grassland species such as Henslow's Sparrow, Bell's Vireo, Yellow-breasted Chat, and Blue Grosbeak. This walk will primarily take place on gravel trails, but may venture into tall grass. Dress appropriately and bring bug spray and sun protection. We will meet at the Iron Bridge Trailhead on Route 53 in Elwood, Illinois. The entrance to the trailhead parking lot is about a mile south of Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery and the intersection of Hoff Road and Route 53.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/a8YuSYkEgV1XUG5s7
Leader: Robert Perez, robertperez787@gmail.com, (630) 724-7534