Field Trips

This Event has been Canceled
Registration with the leader is required. Limit 12 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on June 1.
Field trip to look for breeding grassland birds. With the spring migration over, this trip will concentrate on finding grassland birds that typically stay and nest in DuPage County. Targets include Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark, Sedge Wren, Dickcissel, and Savannah, Henslows, and Grasshopper sparrows. Meet at 7:00 am at the main parking lot for Springbrook Prairie on 83rd Street across from the Springbrook golf course. NOTE: With Book Road CLOSED you must get to the parking lot from Route 59 by taking 83rd Street east - 83rd Street is open to the preserve entrance. Wear long pants and hiking boots since we will be going off-trail. Use insect repellent for ticks since ticks are prevalent in the grassland habitat.  https://maps.app.goo.gl/Eo2T5ZLMn8i6Rh2d6
Register for the trip by emailing Joe Suchecki at dbcsec2020@gmail.com.
Leader: Joe Suchecki, dbcsec2020@gmail.com, (630) 842-4921

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

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 15 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on June 1.
The warblers may have gone, but there's still plenty to see at Elsen's Hill during the summer months. We'll do a meander on the trails looking for our colorful breeding birds such as Scarlet Tanager, Red-headed Woodpecker, Indigo Bunting, Baltimore Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Wood Duck, and more. We'll also give due to our less showy friends among the flycatchers, sparrows, and vireos. It's always fun to see what turns up!
https://maps.app.goo.gl/m6mHpW1gbkurZwuu8
Leader: Diann Bilderback, diann.bilderback@yahoo.com, (630) 272-5746

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 10 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on June 1.
Let's see who's decided to spend the summer with us in this 30-acre patch of woods, ephemeral wetland, and grass, with lots of edge habitat. New birders welcome! We’ll be looking for a wide variety of summer residents (including Red-headed Woodpeckers) in this little gem of a park. Trails are a mix of dirt, grass, and pavement. Bathrooms available. Meet in the parking lot at 1163 Plank Road, Naperville.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/FJhBUMPEhnk5Bufj8
Leader: Steve Constantelos, steve.constantelos@gmail.com

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 8 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on June 1.
We'll walk about 2.5 miles on crushed gravel trails through the forest looking for breeding birds such as Red-headed Woodpeckers, Scarlet Tanagers, Great Crested Flycatchers, and Indigo Buntings. Wear bug spray.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ChJC97r2nC9GPgrE8
Leader: Elena Nelson, ladylena76[at]gmail[dot]com

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 12 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on June 1.
An early summer walk to the DuPage River confluence, where the east and west branches meet. We'll go about two miles round-trip, looking for budding bird families in the water, fields, and woods. Trails are flat, with a mix of grass, dirt, and pavement. Meet at the parking lot on 336 Knoch Knolls Rd., Naperville. Bathrooms available at trail head.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/4Cb5LjmxwvbzZG6T6
Leader: Steve Constantelos, steve.constantelos@gmail.com

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 15 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on June 1.
Meet at the parking lot on 31st street. We'll conclude the trip with some dusk birding looking for the resident owls. A red flashlight or headlamp is recommended. Lyman's trails can be muddy if we get rain - be prepared with appropriate footwear. Insect repellent is highly recommended.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/zoFesHtQumFeXrKCA
Leader: Matt Crisler, crislermj@gmail.com

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 10 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on June 1.
Join me for a short, leisurely, 1/2 mile loop around this wooded area to check in on the summer residents. Beginner birders are welcome. This is a crushed limestone trail with some slight elevation changes. Note this is the same patch of land as Elsen's Hill, but on the west side. The entrance to park is off of Rt. 59. in West Chicago, just south of Forest Ave. https://maps.app.goo.gl/m6Sr6DQNNDtBTj6f6
Leader: Stephanie Cullerton, stephcullert@yahoo.com