Registration with the leader is required. Limit 12 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on January 1.The goal of this trip will be to help participants get early additions to their year lists. This area can have great diversity of waterfowl, so we will be looking for Common Goldeneye, mergansers etc.  We will meet in the gravel parking lot at the end of Canal Bank Road.  If using navigation, search for 15112 Canal Bank Rd, Lemont.  Feel free to ask questions on how to get there after you RSVP. https://maps.app.goo.gl/MFJjyyMduu9q1a386Leader: Henry Meade, meadehenry21@gmail.com (224) 319-4377

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 12 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on January 1.The goal of this trip will be to help participants get early additions to their year lists. This area can have great diversity of waterfowl, so we will be looking for Common Goldeneye, mergansers etc.  We will meet in the gravel parking lot at the end of Canal Bank Road.  If using navigation, search for 15112 Canal Bank Rd, Lemont.  Feel free to ask questions on how to get there after you RSVP. https://maps.app.goo.gl/MFJjyyMduu9q1a386Leader: Henry Meade, meadehenry21@gmail.com (224) 319-4377

This trip has been canceled.Short-eared Owls frequently winter at Springbrook Prairie and can be seen as they come out to hunt over the preserve at dusk. We will walk a short distance off-trail to wait for the owls to appear. Dress very warmly since we will be standing in one place as the sun goes down. Note that the owls are generally pretty far away and often appear just as the light is failing, so this trip does not offer a photo-op. The trip will last about 40-50 min. The owls do not always winter at Springbrook and the trip […]

Registration not required.Join us for a walk around the marsh in search of the wide variety of bird species that overwinter at this site. This will be a 3.25 mile walk on preserve limestone and earthen trails. Wear appropriate shoes and clothing for the weather. Meet at the visitor parking lot located on the north side of Mack Road, to the east of Rte. 59 & west of Winfield Road.https://maps.app.goo.gl/nqjzSJkfqZcSimPd8Leader: Kyle Wiktor, (708) 506-5186

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 15 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on January 1.We will be looking for common woodland wintertime residents. We will conclude the trip with a brief search for the resident Great Horned Owls around and after sunset. Dress warmly as we may be stationary at times. A red flashlight or headlamp is recommended. Meet at the parking lot on 31st Street. https://maps.app.goo.gl/mtddFUwocgK1RULz6Leader: Matt Crisler, crislermj@gmail.com 

No registration required. New birders welcome. An afternoon walk to see what birds have spent the winter with us in this 30-acre patch of woods, ephemeral wetland, and edge habitat. We’ll keep our eyes and ears open for woodpeckers, raptors, crows, etc. With luck, we may see an owl stirring at dusk. Trails mixed. Dress warmly! Meet at the Seager Park parking lot at 1163 Plank Road, Naperville. Indoor restrooms available!https://maps.app.goo.gl/h36m17FE7ShTtiL79Leader: Steve Constantelos, steve.constantelos@gmail.com (630) 890-8956

This trip Has been canceled.Registration with the leader is required. No limit on participants.We'll walk along the paved trail around the lake looking for waterfowl and winter residents. The leader will provide updates in case of bad weather.https://maps.app.goo.gl/eTDfs3E3QgBJqufZ7Leader: Elena Nelson, ladylena76@gmail.com

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 10 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on February 1.Let's visit Fullersburg Woods for a morning of winter birding. This location can be good for winter birds and has a nice trail system with wooded areas and open water most of the winter. Plan on snow and/or ice on the trails and use footwear accordingly.Leader: Nancy Allured, nallured@gmail.com

No registration required.Join us for a walk around one of DuPage county's premier birding hotspots to look for resident and wintering birds. Hopefully, some waterfowl should be around. This approximately 3-mile walk will be on crushed limestone and earthen trails; wear appropriate shoes and clothing. Meet at the visitor parking lot on the north side of Mack Rd., located between Winfield Rd. and Rt. 59 in Warrenville.https://maps.app.goo.gl/Bj3NzyY2zZiJ4L5X6Leader: Kyle Wiktor, (708) 506-5186

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 15 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on February 1.We will be looking for common woodland wintertime residents. Meet at the parking lot on 31st Street. We will conclude the trip with a brief search for the resident Great Horned Owls around and after sunset. Dress warmly as we may be stationary at times. A red flashlight or headlamp is recommended.https://maps.app.goo.gl/tY5mCcKSims6dzF8ALeader: Matt Crisler, crislermj@gmail.com

Registration with the leader is required.Snow Geese Spectacular! Chautauqua NWR (and Emiquon NWR across the Illinois River) typically hold tens of thousands of Snow Geese as a stopover point for these waterfowl as they journey northward for their spring migration in mid to late February. Other waterfowl, Gr. White-fronted Geese for example, are also likely to be present in very large numbers. The trip starts at Chautauqua, then crosses the river in Havana to visit Emiquon NWR. The trip may also include a short meeting with Forbes Biological Station personnel to learn more about their work at Chautauqua. Lodging is available […]

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 8 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on February 1.We'll be looking for migrating waterfowl and early nest builders (herons, cormorants and egrets) on the last day before they close the trail for the rookery's breeding season. There's also a pair of nesting eagles. Bring a scope if you have one. We'll be walking a couple miles on easy, flat gravel and paved trails along Lake Renwick and Turtle Lake.https://maps.app.goo.gl/vuVA4cvKFfFtRzxo6Leader: Elena Nelson, ladylena76@gmail.com

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 15 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on March 1.We will be looking for common woodland wintertime residents. Meet at the parking lot on 31st Street. We will conclude the trip with a brief search for the resident Great Horned Owls around and after sunset. Dress warmly as we may be stationary at times. A red flashlight or headlamp is recommended.Note that DST kicks in on the day the trip - check your clocks!https://maps.app.goo.gl/vUbvGeMD7Kyb2mHq6Leader: Matt Crisler, crislermj@gmail.com

Pre-registration is required. Limit 10 participants. Registration for members only.In this first-of-its-kind event, DBC members will get a private, behind-the-scenes tour of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County's Urban Stream Research Center. This 60-minute tour will help participants better understand the work done at the USRC and the importance that freshwater mussels provide to DuPage County's ecosystem. The USRC was opened in 2012 and is the cornerstone of the Forest Preserve District's commitment to preserving aquatic habitats. To this date, nearly 38,000 sub-adult mussels have been propagated, reared, and released into area waterways to boost declining populations. After the […]

Registration with the leader is required.Join a morning workday to restore a degraded shrubland at Fermilab and make a difference for birds. We will help clear invasives and restore habitat for Bell’s Vireo, Yellow-breasted Chat, Brown Thrashers, and other shrubland birds. All that is required for Fermilab entry is a REAL ID or passport for each person in the vehicle. Further meet-up instructions will be provided at registration. All supplies will be provided as well as snacks. Bring your favorite work gloves and water. Activities will include using hand saws or loppers to cut down invasive shrubs with a maximum […]

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 10 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on March 1.Get an early, birdy start to your Sunday. New birders welcome! We’ll be looking for some of our “basic” resident birds (and hopefully a few spring surprises) in this 30-acre patch of woods, ephemeral wetland, and grass, with lots of edge habitat. Trails are a mix of surfaces, and there could be mud. Bathrooms available. Meet at Seager Park at 1163 Plank Road, Naperville.https://www.google.com/maps/place/Seager+Park/Leader: Steve Constantelos, steve.constantelos@gmail.com

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 12 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on March 1.The first day of spring! A morning walk to the DuPage River confluence, where the east and west branches meet. We'll look for migrants and residents emerging from the doldrums of winter in the water, fields, and woods. Trails are a mix of surfaces, and it could be muddy, so wear boots. Meet at the parking lot on 336 Knoch Knolls Rd., Naperville. Bathrooms available at trail head.https://www.google.com/maps/place/Knoch+Knolls+Park/Leader: Steve Constantelos, steve.constantelos@gmail.com

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 12 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on March 1.Waterfowl, cranes, eagles, and pelicans will be sought on this all-day trip exploring spots along the Mississippi, both in Illinois and Iowa. In addition to the river, Lost Mound National Wildlife Refuge will be visited to search for Western Meadowlark and Northern Mockingbird. We will meet in Woodridge in the Jewel-Osco parking lot and caravan together.https://maps.app.goo.gl/dFzsVPsMrSN6XXee8Leader: Jeff Chapman, jeffchapman948@gmail.com, (847) 456-2784

Registration with the leader is required.We will meet at the DuPage River Greenway Trailhead parking lot. It is just off Royce Road, as soon as you make the turn west off Rt 53. It is a nice asphalt path and we will follow that along the DuPage River to Whalon Lake and back. We will look for returning migrants- both passing through and the ones sticking around. Just text me if your are interested in joining.   https://www.google.com/maps/place/DuPage+River+Greenway+TrailLeader: Mark Freeburg, freebs59@sbcglobal.net, text (630) 661-1521

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 15 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on March 1.We will be looking for early migrants & woodland residents. Meet at the parking lot on 31st Street. We will 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 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/vUbvGeMD7Kyb2mHq6Leader: Matt Crisler, crislermj@gmail.com

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 8 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on March 1.Van Patten Woods is a Lake County Forest Preserve off I-94 just below the Wisconsin border and features Sterling Lake and the Des Plaines River. Grab your cameras and we'll stroll a couple miles on crushed gravel trails around the lake to see Common Loons, Horned Grebes and other migrating waterfowl. There will also be plenty of other returning migrants like Song Sparrows and Red-winged Blackbirds establishing their territories. If you just want to relax and enjoy the view there is also a wheelchair accessible floating […]

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 12 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on March 1.We will walk along the canal looking for waterfowl and returning songbirds. We will meet in the gravel parking lot at the end of Canal Bank Road. Coming off of Lemont Road this turnoff is called Old Lemont Road. Feel free to ask questions on how to get there after you RSVP.  https://maps.app.goo.gl/CCXDNzB5SbTQjdKY6Leader: Karen and Michael Warner, mwarner2543@gmail.com, (630) 640-2450

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 15 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on April 1.We will be looking for early migrants & woodland residents. Meet at the parking lot on 31st Street. We will 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 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/zLxxAF1AM4WPMCS37Leader: Matt Crisler, crislermj@gmail.com

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 10 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on April 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/ZB9rGJRvgfAHamTT6Leader: Matt Crisler, crislermj@gmail.com

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 15 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on April 1.Early Spring Field Trip for migrants, waterbirds, and early grassland species. 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. We will bird in wetland, grassland, and some forest patches for migrants and early-returning summer residents. Dress for the weather and wear waterproof boots since we will be going off-trail to look for some species. Use insect repellent for ticks and mosquitos. Field Trip to last about 2.5-3 hours.Leader: Joe Suchecki, […]

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 12 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on April 1.We’ll explore grassland, edge, and riverside habitat along the east branch of the DuPage River, looking for resident birds and, of course, spring migrants. New birders welcome! Trails are mostly grass with some blacktop. Meet in the parking lot east of Braddock Drive at 808 Royce Road.https://maps.app.goo.gl/kkmoXY6N3KFrPUWH7Leader: Steve Constantelos, steve.constantelos@gmail.com

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 8 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on April 1.Deer Grove, Cook County’s first forest preserve, features nearly 2,000 acres of diverse habitat such as rolling upland forest, wooded ravines, wetlands and prairie. Following years of dedicated restoration work, two areas within Deer Grove are recognized by the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission as some of the highest quality natural areas in the state.We'll start by walking to the bottom of the sledding hill to check out the waterfowl and rookery on Deer Grove Lake. Then we'll walk over 3 miles on dirt trails with roots […]

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 10 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on April 1.Get an early, birdy start to your Sunday. New birders welcome! We’ll be looking for birds settling into and birds passing through this 30-acre patch of woods, ephemeral wetland, and grass, with lots of edge habitat. Trails are a mix of surfaces, and there could be mud. Bathrooms available. Meet at Seager Park 1163 Plank Road, Naperville, https://maps.app.goo.gl/wah4DsoWXksaSfRv5.Leader: Steve Constantelos, steve.constantelos@gmail.com

Registration with the leaders is required. Limit 12 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on April 1.Lyman Woods has many habitats which attract a wide variety of birds. At the time of the trip we would expect to find spring migrants, including some early warblers and woodland birds. The lake area usually attracts a variety of waterfowl while the marsh areas have several different species of sparrows. Up to two miles of walking; expect to walk on some muddy paths. Meet in the parking lot for a fun and informative morning.https://maps.app.goo.gl/EvuYT9k2hvAtph2E6Leader: Mike and Karen Warner, mwarner2543@gmail.com, (630) 640-2450      Please register […]

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 15 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on April 1.We will be looking for migrants and returning residents. Easy walking on a gravel road and a mulch trail. It will about 2 hours. Meet at the Thunderbird parking lot: https://maps.app.goo.gl/oc7GWihKD4pHKiZC8. Leader: Mark Freeburg, freebs59@sbcglobal.net, (630) 661-1521 (text preferred)