Field Trips

No Registration Required.  All Welcome.
This pre-meeting walk will explore the Russell R. Kirt Prairie just south of the Human Science Center building where we have our club meetings. The area features three ponds in addition to grassland and trees. We will begin and end the walk outside the entrance to HSC. The May club meeting will follow at 7:00pm.   https://www.google.com/maps/College+of+DuPage,+Health+and+Science+Center
Leader: Robert Perez, robertperez787@gmail.com, (630) 724-7534

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 12 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on May 1.
Multiple habitats in the southwest corner of Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve will be explored for migrants and possibly locally breeding species. We will also access a rarely visited oak woodland also know as bluff savanna, which is off the main trail. There will be some walking on unimproved trails, appropriate footwear and insect repellent is recommended. We will all meet at Water Fall Glen Parking Lot #3 and then carpool to simplify access. Severe inclement weather such as heavy rain or high winds on this date will result in cancellation.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Waterfall+Glen+Parking+Lot+3/
Leader: Bob Fisher, bfisher928@aol.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. Please contact Joe Suchecki at dbcsec2020@gmail.com.  Limit 15 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on May 1. Field trip to Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve in Naperville to look for late spring migrants and summer resident grassland birds. Targets are Mourning and Connecticut Warblers, Yellow-breasted Chat, Bell's Vireo and Clay-colored Sparrow. We will be walking on gravel or grass trails but may go off trail to find some specialty birds. Wear long pants and appropriate footwear and use insect repellent since ticks are common at Springbrook in the spring. Meet at the gravel parking lot on the east side of Plainfield-Naperville Road about 0.5 miles south of 75th St.  https://maps.app.goo.gl/z36cKxBjAjM4kXym7 Leader: Joe Suchecki, dbcsec2020@gmail.com, (630) 842-4921

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

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 10 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on June 1.
Greene Valley has a lot of great habitats in it, but you can't really cover more than one in a typical field trip due to distance. We will bike around the preserve to hit as much as possible in one run. Expect to ride about 5 miles with a few light hills (no overlook). We will be sticking to the limestone/paved trails. Meet at the north end of the Greene Road parking lot near the information sign & trailhead.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/js8SfXCC8myzMY7N8
Leader: Matt Crisler, crislermj@gmail.com