Preregistration is suggested so you can be contacted in case of cancellationOur first sit of the year! This is a field trip for anyone who finds the long walks of our regular field trips too difficult or who would like a less vigorous birding experience. Share in the camaraderie of fellow birders! Bring your folding lawn chairs, binoculars, and field guides and join us at Whalon Lake Preserve.A scope can be helpful for spotting birds on the lake. We will meet and sit as a group and look for early spring migrants, waterfowl and any birds that come to us! […]

Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 12 participantsThis morning trip is designed to focus on waterfowl such as Common Loons and Horned Grebes, but we will also search for songbird migrants alongside the lake. We will most likely go onto smaller trails, which could be muddy depending on recent conditions, so boots are highly recommended. We will meet in theparking lot off Army Trail Road, near Deep Quarry Lake.Leader: Henry Meade, henrymm21@icloud.com

Pre-registration with the leader is suggestedOn this trip we will be exploring the western part of Danada Forest Preserve looking for nesting Great Blue Herons who have had a rookery here in the past. Also, we will be searching for early spring migrants. Please meet on the west side of the Forest Preserve HQ parking lot.Leader: Mike and Karen Warner, mwarner2543@gmail.com, 630 640-2450

Pre-registration with the leader is requiredJoin Joe Suchecki to look for early spring migrants, grassland birds and marsh birds at this great birding location. Wear appropriate clothing and footwear in case we go off-trail. Insect repellant recommended. Meet at the main parking lot on 83 rd Street, between Book Rd. and Route 59.Leader: Joe Suchecki, Dbcsec2020@gmail.com

Pre-registration required with the leader, 10 participantsGreene 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.Leader: Matt Crisler, crislermj@gmail.com

Pre-registration with the leader is requiredThis trip will look for early migrants and returning summer residents in the Thunderbird area. We will travel along the gravel road to the campground and then walk back through the woods. Meet at the west entrance parking lot off Thunderbird Road. https://maps.app.goo.gl/qBDz7dMEctk3oJss8Leader: Mark Freeburg, Cell: (630)661-1521, freebs59@sbcglobal.net

Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 10 participantsWe will be looking for early migrants and woodland residents and conclude the trip with a search for the resident Great Horned Owls and/or migrating Woodcocks around and after sunset. Dress warmly as we may be stationary at times. A red flashlight or headlamp is recommended. Lyman’s trails are oftenmuddy and there may be areas with standing water. Be prepared with appropriate footwear. Meet at the Lyman Woods main parking lot on 31 st Street.Leader: Matt Crisler, crislermj@gmail.com

Registration is not required. Please email the leader if you plan to attend to receive updates.Start the weekend off with a casual evening of birding. This trip is planned with the after-work/school crowd in mind, but anyone interested is welcome! Danada East is located at 3S501 Naperville Road, on the east side of the road, south of Butterfield Road and north of 1-88 (Danada House). Plan to meet at the north end of the parking lot near the entry kiosk with the benches and bike racks. This trip may be cancelled due to weather.Leader: William Pixler, pillwixler@gmail.com

Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 10 participantsWe'll be concentrating on early woodland migrants as we explore some of the excellent trails through this preserve. We will meet in the main parking lot which is accessed off of Winfield Road just north of Butterfield Road. Leader: Denis Kania, djkan36@gmail.com

Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 10 participantsThis walk will cover approximately 3 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/dJvRbGDZAmZ5cKGeALeader: Nancy Allured, nallured@gmail.com

Pre-registration with the leader required, limit 15 participants.Shorebirds after work! 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. The 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 […]

Pre-registration with the leader required, limit 20 participantsThe Heron Rookery Preserve at Lake Renwick is a limited access preserve where it is possible to view nesting egrets, Great Blue Herons, and Double-Crested Cormorants. The rookery itself is located on an island in Lake Renwick. This trip will include hiking less than 1 mile to viewing areas on natural surfaces and uneven terrain. If there is time, we may also walk some of the trails at the rookery. We will meet our guide at the visitor center at the Renwick Road entrance. Bring your cameras and scopes! Dress for the weather. […]

Registration with the leader is required. Limit of 20 participants.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 the dunes area. Some trails may be muddy, so dress appropriately. Targets will include migrating warblers and shorebirds. Leader: Robert Perez,  robertperez787@gmail.com

Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 10 participantsThis morning trip will focus on woodland migrants passing through our area. This is a popular migrant hotspot in both spring and fall. If birds are on the move, we will be in a great location to view them. Meet in the first parking lot after entering the preserve. The entrance is at the intersection of Raymond Dr. and McDowell Rd. where there is a stoplight.Leader: Denis Kania, djkan36@gmail.com

Registration with the leader is required.Come check out a popular birding hotspot at a less-often visited time of day; an evening at Elsen's!  There should be plenty of migrant birds around, as well as resident species. Hopefully we could also encounter some crepuscular or nocturnal birds and other wildlife. This trip will be approximately 2 miles on earthen trails which might be muddy or even have standing water if there has been a lot of rain lately.  Meet at the Elsen's Hill parking lot in West DuPage Woods located on the north side of Gary's Mill Road, west of Winfield Road, and […]

Registration not required.We’ll walk at least 3 miles searching this watershed for all the spring migrants, summer breeding birds, and a couple resident specialties. PLEASE be prepared for rocky, root-filled trails along the creek, and hills throughout. Bring lunch so we can eat together in the picnic shelter afterwards. Park in the large new parking lot just southeast of the intersection of Cass and Bluff. (Enter from Bluff Rd. and listen for nesting Pine Warblers singing.) Leader: Vicky Sroczynski, 630-297-9512 (text with any questions)

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 10.  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 […]

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 10 participants.On this trip, we will be driving to different locations that offer a variety of habitats including mudflats, lakes, woodlands, and more.  There should be a large variety of bird species found.  Our exact route within northeastern DuPage County may be determined based on recent sightings.  Participants can continue as long as they wish.  Expect approximately 3 miles of walking on limestone or earthen trails. Meet at the parking spots for Wood Dale Reservoir located on School Street as far as you can go west of Wood Dale Road.  The exact meeting […]

Registration with the leader is required.This trip will check out the river and the Barrow Pit and then follow along the trail looking for spring migrants and new summer arrivals. We will meet at the bike trailhead on the east end of Canal Bank Road. If using navigation, search for 15112 Canal Bank Rd, Lemont.Leader: Mark Freeburg, Cell: (630) 661-1521, freebs59@sbcglobal.net

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 10 participants.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. Leader: Matt Crisler,  crislermj@gmail.com

Registration is not required. If you want to be informed of any last-minute changes, email the leader with your contact information. This is a small park on the Des Plaines River. This field trip is for anyone who finds the long walks of our regular field trips too difficult or who would just like a less vigorous birding experience but still share the camaraderie of fellow birders. Bring your folding lawn chairs, binoculars, and field guides. Dress for the weather, bring bug spray, and water. We will meet at the visitor center parking lot; when entering the park turn left […]

Registration with the leader is required. Limit of 20 participants.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, […]

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 12 participants.Meet at the main parking lot, 1163 Plank Rd. This relatively small area is rich in varied habitat, which increases the number of species we may observe.  We will be in search of migrants (especially warblers), Red-headed Woodpeckers, and other woodland birds. Leaders: Mike and Karen Warner,  mwarner2543@gmail.com, 630 640-2450

Registration not required.Join us for a morning walk at one of DuPage County’s premier birding hotspots to look for spring migrants and breeding species. The walk will be approximately 3 miles on limestone and earthen trails; wear appropriate shoes and clothing. Meet at the visitor parking lot on the north side of Mack Road, located east of Rt. 59, and west of Winfield Road.Leader: Kyle Wiktor, 708-506-5186

Registration with Thelma Hulka is required.Bob’s backyard is a bird sanctuary, with a creek running through it that attracts many migratory birds. Come relax and share a birding experience with other club members in a private environment. We are unsure what we will see. There are surprise birds on occasion. Participants should bring their own lawn chair. Park on the street.  Restroom facilities available nearby. Oldfield Oaks FP is a short distance away, and Bob's property borders on Meyer's Woods, a Darien Park District parcel comprising a mostly natural area. This Big Sit event is, of course, weather permitting.Leader: Call or text Thelma Hulka […]

Registration with the leader is required by email. Limit 10 participants.Our primary targets will be warblers, but we'll explore most of the preserve in search of any of the recent spring arrivals. On the expectation of plenty of activity, this will be a longer walk than typical. 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. Leader: Matt Crisler,  crislermj@gmail.com

Registration is not required. If you want to be informed of any last-minute changes, email the leader with your contact information.This is a field trip for anyone who finds the long walks of our regular field trips too difficult or who would just like a less vigorous birding experience but still share the comradery of fellow birders. Bring your folding lawn chairs, binoculars and field guides. We will meet and sit as a group and look for spring migrants and any birds that come to us! Birders of all levels are welcome. Elsen’s Woods is part of West DuPage Woods. […]

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 10 participants.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. There will be a slight emphasis on areas more likely to have migrating warblers. 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 & […]

Registration is not required. We’ll be looking for shrubland/grassland birds on a walk of 2.5-3 miles on limestone trails only, through the prairie and savanna. Optional continuation through the oak woodland-kettle pond area for later migrants. Hat, water bottle and snack highly recommended. Meet at the Lemont Rd parking lot at 101st Street (Google Maps Waterfall Glen Parking Lot #3.) No reservation is needed but please text or call leader with any questions. Leader: Vicky Sroczynski, 630-297-9512

Registration required. Limit of 20 participants.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.  Leader: Robert […]