Events

CANCELED: This trip has been canceled due to weather predicted. Montrose is a premier birding site in Chicago, especially known for migratory birds and for the famous piping plovers, Monty and Rose. The area has prairie, shrubs, and woodland habitats. Meet at the entrance to the sanctuary: W Montrose Harbor Dr, Chicago, IL 60640; 41.962817, -87.635138. Most of the street parking in the area is metered and is $2.25/hour. The trip is weather dependent.Leader: Bob Fisher, bfisher928@aol.com, 630 985-2956

Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 12 participants. Illinois State Beach park with its diverse habitats of marsh, dune, swale, oak woods, and beach is a great place for spring migrants. We will hike the Dead River trail and explore other nearby trails as time allows. Meet in the parking lot of the Nature Center located on Old Beach Road in the South Unit of the park.   NOTE: If you are a camper you are welcome to join several of us who will be camping at the park Saturday night. Just be sure to  make your reservation early—campsites  are […]

Preregistration is required, limit of 6 cars due to limited parking space. This forest preserve has a wide variety of birding spots accessible via bike/walking trails and small parking lots in several spots. We will bird the Great Western Trail and find migrants in the smaller trees lining the trail, grasslands on the north side and some deeper wooded sections. This trip will include walking at least 3 miles. Try this under- birded preserve to discover a new go-to place. Register one or two people with the leader.Leader: Nancy Allured, nallured@comcast.net

Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 15 participants.Meet at the parking lot on the north side of Garys Mill Rd. Field trip looking for migrants and warblers.  Leader: Joe Suchecki, DuPageSBC@gmail.com

Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 15 participants.Meet at Model Airfield Parking Lot on west side of Plainfield-Naperville Road in Naperville. We will look for grassland birds and late migrants. We will likely go off-trail, so wear appropriate footwear and clothing and use insect repellent for ticks and mosquitos.Leader: Joe Suchecki, DuPageSBC@gmail.com

Meet at the observation tower where we will start the trip by scanning for summering waterfowl, Yellow-headed Blackbirds, and rails. We will also scan from the boat launch lot before moving on to Sandy Hollow to look for sparrows (Lark, Grasshopper, etc.) Due to Covid, lunch we be on your own. Pack a sandwich if you plan to stay past noon. Leader will stay until 5:00 p.m. for those who want to “make a day of it.”  Bring a scope if you have one. Bring plenty of water and snacks. No water available on site. It is a 1 1/2 hour […]

Please join us for a  fun opportunity to meet fellow birders.  Create a team of four or join a team of four.  Sign up by contacting Vicky Sroczynski VSroczynski@gomacast.net.  Bird one park in DuPage county anytime between 5 AM and Noon then meet at Hidden Lake Forest Preserve at 1:00 PM for lunch and socializing.  For specific details see the DBC website or the latest Drummings.  Hidden Lake is located on Route 53 about a ¼ mile South of Butterfield Road.  Hidden Lake Forest Preserve    Leader:  Vicky Sroczynski VSroczynski@gomacast.net

Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 15 participants. You are not registered unless you receive confirmation from the trip leader. Meet at the main parking lot for Springbrook Prairie on 83rd Street between Route 59 and Book Road.  This will be a field trip to look for grassland birds that nest at Springbrook such as Eastern Meadowlark, Bobolink, Henslow's Sparrow, Sedge Wren, and Dickcissel. Possibility for Grasshopper Sparrow as well.  We will be going off-trail and walking in uneven terrain so wear appropriate footwear and long pants.  Bring and use insect repellent - there are many ticks at this time of year […]

Pre-registration with the leader required:  Limit 10 participants. 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 camaraderie of fellow birders. Bring your folding lawn chairs, binoculars, field guides, bug spray and water.  We will sit on the Nature Center balcony where we will be able to observe the river and surrounding woods.  Meet in the main parking lot at 3609 Spring Rd.  Fullersburg Woods Leader: Natalie McFaul natcatcher7@gmail.com

Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 15 participants. You are not registered unless you receive confirmation from the trip leader. Meet at the gravel parking lot on the east side of Plainfield-Naperville Road south of 75th Street. This will be a field trip to look for grassland and shrubland birds such as Eastern Meadowlark, Bobolink, Henslow's  and Savannah Sparrows, Clay-colored Sparrow, Orchard Oriole, Yellow-breasted Chat, Willow Flycatcher, and Bell's Vireo.  We will be going off-trail and walking in uneven terrain so wear appropriate footwear and long pants.  Bring and use insect repellent - there are many ticks at this time of year […]

Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 20 participants. This morning trip will be more oriented for new birders, but experienced ones are welcome. We will walk at a leisurely pace to allow for all to see any birds. We will search for late migratory birds and summer residents. Meet at the Thunderbird Youth Camp Parking Lot. Go west on 79th about 1/2 mile, the entrance is on the south side of 79th Street, west of Greene Road in Naperville/Woodridge. Greene Valley Leader: Bonnie Graham, 630-204-8750, coye72112@gmail.com

Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 15 participants. Let’s meet at James Pate Philip State Park in the northwest corner of the county to look for nesting grassland, shrubland, and marshland birds. This preserve includes an area designated as an Illinois Nature Preserve, comprised of a Dwarf Bur-Reed Marsh. Please be prepared to walk almost 4 miles on flat turf and limestone trails, mostly without shade. Park in the main parking lot in front of the Visitor Center. Bring a sack lunch so we can eat there together afterwards. Depending on time, and scouting results, we could visit parts […]

Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 15 participants. On this morning trip we will be searching for summer residents including sparrows, wrens, and marsh birds. Meet in the Pickerel Lake parking lot off Powis Road.Leader: Henry Meade. Please register with kathleenreeves22@yahoo.com.

Pre-registration with the leader required, limit 10 participants. 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 camaraderie of fellow birders. Bring your folding lawn chairs, binoculars, and field guides. We will be birding at the Herrick Lake West Shelter. Meet at the parking lot located on the east side Herrick Road south of Butterfield (Hwy 56). Drive all the way to the end of the parking lot, the shelter is on the right. The lot […]

Pre-registration with the leader required, limit 20 participants. Meet at the second-highest point in DuPage County for grassland birds and lunch. At 11:15, we’ll gather and walk on grass around the parking lot and up to the glider hill in search of grassland birds. Bring your own lunch and a chair so we can eat together around 12 or 12:30 pm. RSVP so you can get a drink and dessert. The driveway to the overlook can be found on the west side of Greene Road, just south of the parking lot on the west side of Greene Rd. The overlook […]

Pre-registration required with the leader, limit 6 participants. We’ll start at the Greene Rd. parking lot and head east to the fluddle, and then bike south to Whalon Lake. Leader will have a scope in case we see shorebirds or waterfowl.Leader: Vicky Sroczynski, VSroczynski@comcast.net Questions? Call or text 630-297-9512.

Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 10 participants. We hope to see summer residents, waterfowl, grassland birds, and raptors. Meet at the visitor parking lot on the north side of Mack Rd., located between Winfield Rd. and Rt. 59 in Warrenville. Most of our walk will be on limestone and earthen trails. Bring bug spray. If the temperature is higher than 89F at 7 am, we will cancel the trip (it is a long, hot walk in the open fields).Leaders: Steve and Kathy Mineck, kmineck@yahoo.com, (day of: 630-254-4077)

Pre-registration required with the leader, limit 10 participants. This preserve (3S580 Naperville Rd, Wheaton, IL 60189) has open grasslands with a few ponds. We will look for grassland birds, shrubland birds, raptors, and some other possibilities in the ponds. Plan to walk 3 - 4 miles on limestone and uneven grass trails.Leader: Nancy Allured, nallured@comcast.net

Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 20 participants. This will be a walk for birders of all levels. We will walk along the Salt Creek in the lowland woods with good habitat for birds. Meet at the main parking lot on Spring Road in Oak Brook.Leaders: Andrew and Rebecca Steinmann, 708-533-6604, asteinmann@ameritech.net

Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 15 participants. A bird walk to the DuPage River confluence, where the east and west branches meet. We’ll look for summer residents in the woods, fields, and on the water, so prepare for some sun, heat, and a few bugs! New birders welcome. Trails are mostly level and are grass/dirt, with some paved. Meet at the parking lot on 336 Knoch Knolls Rd., Naperville. Google Maps link.Leader: Steve Constantelos, 630-890-8956, steve.constantelos@gmail.com

No pre-registration required. Join us for a bird walk and casual breakfast at Pratt’s Wayne Woods. Participants planning on joining the bird walk should meet at the furthest parking lot near the trailhead at 7:30 am. The breakfast will occur at the picnic shelter at 9:00 am. The club will provide fruit, bagels, donuts, juice, and coffee. You are invited to come for both the walk and breakfast or just join us for breakfast. All birders and potential birders are welcome! Pratt’s Wayne is located at Powis Road south of Stearns Road in Wayne (driving directions here). Meet at the […]

Pre-registration with the leader required, limit 12 participants. 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 St.Leader: Henry Meade kathleenreeves22@yahoo.com

Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 15 participants. Meet at the main parking lot off of Raymond Rd in Naperville. Trip is looking for summer residents and maybe an early migrant. Wear appropriate footwear and clothing and bring insect repellent.Leader: Mark Freeburg, freebs59@sbcglobal.net

Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 10 participants. Meet at Greene Road parking lot. We will walk east to the 83rd Street Fluddle to look for shorebirds, birding on the way. Scopes recommended here–leader will have one. To prepare for fall shorebird migration (that begins mid-July or so, please consider enrolling in Cornell’s Shorebirds Class, and definitely review shorebird ID with Denis Kania’s mini-tutorials: “Yellowlegs and Similar Waders” and “Peeps” on the DBC YouTube channel. Some bushwacking on overgrown grass trails or thru tall grass is necessary here so please prepare for ticks and mosquitoes.Leader: Vicky Sroczynski, vsroczynski@comcast.net or […]

Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 15 participants. Lincoln Marsh Natural Area is located just northwest of downtown Wheaton. From County Farm Road, go east on Harrison Street. Harrison ends in Lincoln Marsh’s parking lot. Two large marshes dominate the area. However, there is a large oak woodland, a small prairie, and two small ponds. A variety of birds, residents and migrants, associated with such habitats can be seen here. The trails at Lincoln Marsh are generally excellent, consisting mostly of wood chips and crushed limestone; boardwalks cross low areas, and there are two floating boardwalks and bird blinds. […]

Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 15 participants. Drive up to the overlook parking lot south of 79th Street off Greene Rd and meet the hawk watch volunteers to scan the skies for raptors. Hawk ID handouts provided and discussed. Review buteos by watching the club’s Hawk Watch talk on YouTube. Please bring layers (it can be much colder up on the hill than at ground level,) and a hat for sun (no shade.) Bring lunch, extra water, and a lawn chair.Leader Vicky Sroczynski, RSVP to vsroczynski@comcast.net or text 630-297-9512

Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 10 participants. This is a new spot! 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. We will be birding at the small picnic shelter by the Model Airplane field parking lot off Plainfield-Naperville Rd on the east side of the park. The parking lot is located on the west side of Plainfield-Naperville Road . 05 mile […]

Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 15 participants. We’ll be looking for summer residents, avian youngsters, and early migrants as we explore 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 and to answer questions. If conditions are good, we’ll do a little bonus walk at the end. The entrance is located on the south side of 79th Street, about 0.5 miles west of Greene Road. Meet in the parking lot at the south end of Thunderbird Road, aka “Greene Valley […]

Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 15 participants.We will be looking for early fall migrants, especially warblers passing through on their way to their wintering grounds. Take Winfield Rd. to Gary’s Mill Rd. west to the preserve parking lot entrance on the north side of the road. Bring boots as needed for muddy trails.Leader Joe Suchecki, DBCsec2020@gmail.com

Pre-registration with leader required, limit 15 participants.We will be searching for fall migrants. Meet at the gravel parking lot on the east side of Plainfield-Naperville Road about one-half mile south of 75th Street in Naperville.Leader: Joe Suchecki, DBCsec2020@gmail.com