DuPage Birding Club

Greene Valley Forest Preserve (Thunderbird), Bolingbrook/Naperville
2026-07-31 07:30 - 22:00 (America/Chicago)
Registration with the leader is required. Limit 12 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on July 1.We’ll be looking for summer residents (kingbirds, thrashers, etc.) and avian youngsters as we explore the western part of Greene Valley: the fields and woods along the Thunderbird Trail. New birders are welcome as we will take a fairly leisurely pace to see (and listen to) the birds. If conditions are good, there will be a little bonus walk at the end. Meet at the Thunderbird Youth-Group Campground parking lot aka “West Entrance.” From Greene Road, go west on 79th about 1/2 mile, the entrance is on the south side of 79th Street.https://www.google.com/maps/place/Greene+Valley+Forest+Preserve+West+entranceLeader: Steve Constantelos, steve.constantelos@gmail.com

Wood Dale Reservoir, Wood Dale
2026-07-27 08:30 - 10:00
Registration with the leader is required. Limit 12 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on July 1.On this trip we will be exploring one of the premier shorebird spots in DuPage County. We will focus on finding and identifying migratory shorebirds such as Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers and both species of yellowlegs. There’s even the chance for something rarer like a Stilt or Baird’s Sandpiper. Please meet in the parking lot at the end of School Street.https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZfkBcqu6p8jo9c869?g_st=icLeader: Henry Meade, meadehenry21@gmail.com

Bemis Woods North Grove, Westchester
2026-07-25 07:30 - 11:00
Registration with the leader is required. Limit 8 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on July 1.We’ll take a leisurely walk in the shady forest on crushed gravel and dirt trails looking for summer woodland residents like Indigo Bunting, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Baltimore Oriole, Eastern Wood-Pewee, and all the woodpeckers. Enter from Wolf Road between Ogden and 31st Street. Park in the lot near the Kayak Launch. Meet by the bridge over Salt Creek. Wear bug spray.https://maps.app.goo.gl/vqoPZE8mKBFZpsZu7Leader: Elena Nelson, ladylena76[at]gmail[dot]com

Dean Nature Sanctuary, Oak Brook
2026-07-19 07:30 - 09:30
Registration with the leader is required. Limit 12 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on July 1.A mile walk at a charming nature sanctuary along Salt Creek. New birders welcome! We’ll peek into the creek and then continue looking for summer residents (including young birds!) in pond, savanna, wetland, and some woods. Trails are basically level and are grass/dirt, with some gravel/pavement. Meet at the parking lot on 115 Canterberry Lane, Oak Brook.https://maps.app.goo.gl/F93jCgHbqXjggU6B7Leader: Steve Constantelos, steve.constantelos@gmail.com

Dick Young Forest Preserve, Batavia (Kane County)
2026-07-17 07:30 - 09:30
Registration with the leader is required. Limit 12 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on July 1.This will be a leisurely walk though quality prairie habitat (wildflowers are part of the experience) which is mostly flat with one short hill. Typical birds during breeding season include Dickcissels (lots of them seen and heard this June), Bobolinks, Henslow’s and Grasshopper Sparrows, Common Yellowthroat, and Sedge Wrens. The preserve is separated into a prairie side and a forested marsh side, so if we have enough time, we could walk over to the marsh too. We will meet in the parking lot off of Main St. on the north side of the preserve. Unfortunately, the bathrooms are located on the east side off of Nelson Lake Rd. if you want to stop en route. We’ll likely cancel in the event of rain.https://maps.app.goo.gl/zyeaxvk4PmKraZsj8Leader: Vince Sherwin, vince1230@comcast.net

Swainson's Hawk- Kane County, Burlington Township, IL
2026-07-12 09:30 - 12:00
Registration with the leader is required (see email below). Limit 15 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on July 1.Meet at Burlington Prairie Forest Preserve where we will carpool to nearby Chapman Rd. in search of our local Swainson’s Hawks. We’ll also spend some time exploring the grassland birds at Burlington FP and may venture to Muirhead Springs FP dependent on the conditions. Insect repellent and sunscreen are recommended. There are bathroom facilities at Burlington FP. Meet up location: Take Engle Rd. Go west on Burlington Prairie Forest Preserve Drive (located between Plank Rd. and L’enschow Rd) and follow to the end.https://www.google.com/maps/place/Parking+lot,+Burlington+Township,+ILLeader: Bob Fisher, bfisher926@aol.com

Wingspan Game Day at Giorgi's Game Spot, Elmhurst
2026-07-11 14:00 - 17:00
Registration with the leader is required. Limit 25 participants.Wingspan Returns!Too hot to enjoy birding outside? Let’s get together and play Wingspan in cool comfort! Wingspan is a beautifully crafted game, where each player has several wildlife habitats in which to attract a variety of birds with unique characteristics and abilities. Players collect food, lay eggs, and draw birds from cards with stunning illustrations and interesting facts. It blends education with strategy, in an enjoyable atmosphere.You do not need to know how to play. We will teach you. If you know how to play, you can help others learn. We will provide the game boards and teachers.Georgi’s Game Spot, 350 N York Street, Basement, Elmhurst, IL 60126Entrance is on the north side of the building; additional parking on Grantly Ave.https://maps.app.goo.gl/6iPTF9BhafffvGvq9Leaders: Elena Nelson, ladylena76@gmail.com& Len Edgin

West DuPage Woods Forest Preserve - Rt. 59, West Chicago
2026-07-03 07:30 - 09:30
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/m6Sr6DQNNDtBTj6f6Leader: Stephanie Cullerton, stephcullert@yahoo.com

Lyman Woods, Downers Grove
2026-06-27 18:00 - 21:00
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/zoFesHtQumFeXrKCALeader: Matt Crisler, crislermj@gmail.com

Knoch Knolls Park, Naperville
2026-06-26 07:30 - 10:00
This event has been canceled
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

Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve - Bluff Road Lot, Lemont
2026-06-19 07:30 - 11:00
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/ChJC97r2nC9GPgrE8Leader: Elena Nelson, ladylena76[at]gmail[dot]com

Seager Park, Naperville
2026-06-14 07:30 - 09:30
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/FJhBUMPEhnk5Bufj8Leader: Steve Constantelos, steve.constantelos@gmail.com

Elsen's Hill/West DuPage Woods, Winfield
2026-06-13 07:30 - 10:30
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/m6mHpW1gbkurZwuu8Leader: Diann Bilderback, diann.bilderback@yahoo.com, (630) 272-5746

Greene Valley Bike & Bird, Naperville
2026-06-07 08:30 - 11:00
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/js8SfXCC8myzMY7N8Leader: Matt Crisler, crislermj@gmail.com

Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, Elwood, Will County
2026-06-06 08:00 - 10:00
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/a8YuSYkEgV1XUG5s7Leader: Robert Perez, robertperez787@gmail.com, (630) 724-7534

Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve, Naperville, IL
2026-06-06 07:00 - 10:00
This Event has been CanceledRegistration 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/Eo2T5ZLMn8i6Rh2d6Register for the trip by emailing Joe Suchecki at dbcsec2020@gmail.com.Leader: Joe Suchecki, dbcsec2020@gmail.com, (630) 842-4921

Lyman Woods, Downers Grove
2026-05-29 17:45 - 21:00, 2026-05-15 17:45 - 21:00
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/j9GZWCC2SPn2zvbK6Leader: Matt Crisler, crislermj@gmail.com

Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve, Naperville
2026-05-25 07:00 - 10:00
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

Lyman Woods Big Morning, Downers Grove
2026-05-24 07:00 - 12:00
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/j9GZWCC2SPn2zvbK6Leader: Matt Crisler, crislermj@gmail.com

Volo Bog State Natural Area, Ingleside, IL
2026-05-23 08:00 - 12:00
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/QyW4FRvGBBxe9kay7Leader: Elena Nelson, ladylena76[at]gmail[dot]com

Elsen's Hill, Winfield
2026-05-23 07:30 - 10:30
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

St. James Farm, Warrenville
2026-05-20 08:00 - 10:00
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/zyWMqPuvEjvJmndH8Leader: Mark Freeburg, freebs59@sbcglobal.net, (630) 661-1521

Meacham Grove Forest Preserve, Bloomingdale
2026-05-19 07:00 - 10:00
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/ThvY3hM35h1iWHUV9Leader: Nancy Allured, nallured@gmail.com

Morton Arboretum - West Side, Lisle
2026-05-17 07:00 - 12:00
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/b9WaVCSwBadmuU876Leader: Elena N Nelson, ladylena76[at]gmail[dot]com

Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve, Lemont, IL
2026-05-16 07:00 - 09:30
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

College of DuPage, Russell R. Kirt Prairie, Glen Ellyn
2026-05-14 17:00 - 18:30
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+CenterLeader: Robert Perez, robertperez787@gmail.com, (630) 724-7534

McDowell Grove Forest Preserve, Naperville
2026-05-12 07:30 - 10:00
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

Spring Bird Count, DuPage County
2026-05-09 00:00 - 2026-05-10 00:00
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

Magee Marsh 2026, Toledo, Ohio - "This trip is full. Thanks to all of you who registered.”
2026-05-07 20:00 - 2026-05-10 15:00
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.comSpecial Trips Coordinator: Sherry Courtney sherrycourtney10@gmail.com
