Events

Sometime between late February and early March, Snow Geese can be present at Chautauqua, in 10's, even 100's of thousands - a true wildlife spectacular! If that happens, DBC will organize a trip on short notice, so watch your email...

Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 12 participants.On this field trip our main targets will be early returning spring migrants. Northern Shovelers and Redheads, along with a large array of waterfowl are all possible. We will also be on the lookout for songbirds such as Rusty Blackbirds, Eastern Towhees, and many more, on the wooded side of the trail. 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, and is unmarked, so turn at this pin: 41,683840, -88.003541. Google Map link. […]

Canceled due to rain. Rescheduled for Thursday March 21st.

Pre-registration suggested so you can be contacted if the trip is canceled due to bad weather.Beginning birders welcome. We’ll explore the woodlands along Salt Creek on pretty easy, level trails, as well as the feeders around the visitor’s center and other buildings. Meet in the main parking lot at 3609 Spring Road. If conditions are good, we might do a quick side-trip at the end to nearby Dean Nature Sanctuary. More info here: https://www.dupageforest.org/places-to-go/forest-preserves/fullersburg-woodsLeader: Steve Constantelos, steve.constantelos@gmail.com, 630-890-8956

Registration not required.This site remains one of DuPage County’s premier birding spots. Walk around the marsh with us to check out winter and incoming spring birds. Most of our walk will be on preserve 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.Leader: Kyle Wiktor, cell: 708-506-5186

Pre-registration is required (please email), limit 8 participants.Please note that Fermilab is a government research facility and has strict access requirements: All participants aged 18 and over must have a REAL-ID compliant state ID or passport to enter the site. When on site, you must remain in public areas at all times, have a visitor’s tag visible, and leave the same way they came in. When arriving at Fermilab, present your ID and let the security guard know you are here for bird watching, they will provide a visitors tag for you to wear. Full details on public access to […]

Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 12 participants.We will meet at Thornhill parking lot, P21, and take a long walk around much of the west side, including the river and Lake Marmo, but excluding the prairie. *Please note that a timed-reservation entry is required for all NON-members. Timed entry tickets can be obtained at the following link below. https://mortonarb.org/visit-the-arboretum/. If you don’t have an arboretum membership, let us know and you can follow us in. It will cost $5.00.Leader: Mike and Karen Warner, mwarner2543@gmail.com, 630 640-2450

Pre-registration suggested so you can be contacted in the case of bad weather.Our 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 just like a less vigorous birding experience but still share the comradery of fellow birders. Bring your folding lawn chairs, binoculars, and field guides and join us at Whalon Lake Preserve. If you have a scope it can be helpful for spotting birds on the lake. We will meet and sit as a group and look for early spring migrants, […]

Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 15 participantsThis location is an Audubon “Important Bird Area.” Loons, grebes, and other waterfowl are targeted on this trip. Meet at McGinnis Slough, on the west side of LaGrange Rd. (US45), approximately 1⁄2 mile south of 131st St. Finding waterfowl is associated with open water conditions. Bob will monitor conditions and may change the starting location in order to see more birds. This trip might extend past the noon hour. Wear appropriate clothing.Leader: Bob Fisher, 630-985-2956, bfisher928@aol.com

Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 12 participants.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 will be visited to search for Western Meadowlark and Northern Mockingbird. Please contact the leader for meeting time and location. We will caravan from the western suburbs.Leader: Jeff Chapman, jeffchapman948@gmail.com

Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 12 participants.Danada is located at 3S507 Naperville Road, south of Butterfield Road and north of I-88 on the east side of Naperville Road. Meet in the parking lot by the horse corrals. We will walk the woods looking for passerines and scan the lake for waterfowl.Leaders: Karen and Mike Warner, mwarner2543@gmail.com 630-640-2450

No registration required.Greene Valley Forest Preserve is known for its Woodcock displays, which begin shortly after sunset. Join us this spring on one of our walks. Meet at the west entrance parking lot: west on 79th St. from Greene Rd, then Thunderbird Rd. south, approx. 1⁄2 mile to the campground entrance. The walk will NOT be canceled due to weather.Leader: Jeff Smith, 331-481-3362, mrqmagoo13@gmail.com

Pre-Registration with the leader is required, limit 15 participants.This is a trip to look for wetland birds and early grassland and spring migrants. Meet at the Model Airplane Field Parking Lot on Plainfield-Naperville Road about 0.5 miles south of 75th  St. Wear appropriate footwear and bring insect repellent since we will likely go off trail. Leader: Joe Suchecki,  dbcsec2020@gmail.com

Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 12 participants.This 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 the parking lot off Army Trail Road. Leader: Henry Meade. Please register with kathleenreeves22@yahoo.com

No registration required.Greene Valley Forest Preserve is known for its Woodcock displays, which begin shortly after sunset. Join us this spring on one of our walks. Meet at the west entrance parking lot: west on 79th St. from Greene Rd, then Thunderbird Rd. south, approx. 1⁄2 mile to the campground entrance. The walk will NOT be canceled due to weather.Leader: Jeff Smith, 331-481-3362, mrqmagoo13@gmail.com

Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 15 participants.The DuPage Greenway Trail is a paved trail in Bolingbrook that runs alongside the East Branch of the DuPage River. The trailhead is on Royce Rd just west of Rt 53. Looking for early migrants and returning residents, maybe a warbler or two. We will walk to Whalon Lake and see if anything is on the water and maybe spot a bald eagle. Leader: Mark Freeburg, freebs59@sbcglobal.net or call or text 630-661-1521

No registration required.Join us at this new location to look for early spring migrants. 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 meet in the parking lot off 31st Street and sit near the Nature Center. Lyman Woods is located at 901 31st St. Downers Grove, about one block east of Highland Ave. Lyman Wood Website Dress for the weather, […]

Pre-Registration with the leader is required, limit 15 participants.This is a trip to look for wetland and grassland birds. Meet at the Main Parking Lot on 83rd  Street west of Book Road. Wear appropriate footwear and bring insect repellent since we will likely go off trail.Leader: Joe Suchecki,  dbcsec2020@gmail.com

Pre-registration with the leader is required.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 early migratory birds.  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.Leader: Bonnie Graham, 630-204-8750, coye72112@gmail.com

Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 10 participants.We'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 15 participants.This morning trip will be oriented toward early spring migration. We will be at a leisurely pace to provide as much time as desired to look at each bird and to answer questions for any new birders. Meet in the parking lot in front of Lyman Woods Interpretive Center, located one block east of Highland Avenue on 31st Street. Boots are HIGHLY recommended. Leaders: Steve and Kathy Mineck, (day of, 630-254-4077), kmineck@yahoo.com

Pre-Registration with the leader is required, limit 15 participants.Fieldtrip to look for early spring migrants.  Meet at the main parking lot on Raymond Road just south of Diehl Road. Leader: Joe Suchecki,  dbcsec2020@gmail.com

Registration not required.This site remains one of DuPage County’s premier birding spots. Walk around the marsh with us to check out resident species and spring migrants. Most of our walk will be on preserve 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.Leader: Kyle Wiktor, cell: 708-506-5186

No registration required.Beginning birders and seasoned birders welcome! This is a shorter field trip lasting from an hour to an hour and a half and covering a shorter distance. We will be looking for early spring migrants. Meet at the Herrick Road Parking lot located on the East side of Herrick road about a quarter mile south of Butterfield Rd. Herrick Lake FP Dress for the weather, bring bug spray, and drinking water.Leader: Natalie McFaul, natcatcher7@gmail.com

Registration required, limit 10 people.  Call or text only to register.On this trip, we will visit multiple birding hotspots in Northeastern DuPage County. We will cover several kinds of habitats, and spring migration is upon us, so many species are possible. Contact trip leader for the meeting location and expect to drive from point to point on this trip. This trip will last a few hours, and the option to meet for lunch afterwards is optional; but participants can always leave early if necessary.Leader: Kyle Wiktor, cell: 708-506-5186

Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 10 participants.This 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

A hundred or more birders will fan out across DuPage County to identify all the bird species they can find. 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 […]

Pre-registration not required. This morning trip will be oriented toward spring migration and resident birds. Lyman has a variety of habitats to explore for these birds. Meet in the parking lot in front of Lyman Woods Interpretive Center, located one block east of Highland Avenue on 31st Street. Boots are HIGHLY recommended as trails are often muddy. Contact leader if you have questions. Leader: Matt Hejna,  mhejna@gmail.com

Pre-registration not required, but text any questions. 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