Events

Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 15 participants. We'll be looking for spring migrants, including warblers, songbirds, and Wood Ducks that nest in the area. Trails are dirt and may be muddy, so wear appropriate footwear. Meet in parking lot off of Maple Ave. in Downers Grove.Leader: John Hebert, johnhhebert@yahoo.com

Take a leisurely stroll through Springfield Park in search of migrant songbirds, such as warblers and orioles, and waterbirds. Meet at the Springfield Park Pavilion, on 269 Springfield Dr. After the walk, join us for breakfast at a local Bloomingdale establishment.Leader: Glenn Perricone, 630-687-2921, gp_arts39@yahoo.com

Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 15 participants. This location has the designation of “Important Bird Area.” Elsen’s Hill is known for spring migrating birds and is a traditionally excellent spot for warblers. Take Winfield Rd. to Gary’s Mill Rd. Go west on Gary’s Mill Rd. to the Preserve parking lot entrance on the north side of the road. Be sure to wear appropriate clothing and boots for muddy trails.Leader: Diann Bilderback, 630-272-5746, diann.bilderback@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 early spring migrants. Wear appropriate footwear and clothing and bring insect repellent.Leader: Joe Suchecki, DuPageSBC@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 home, […]

Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 12 participants. Meet at the main parking lot, 1163 Plank Rd. We will be in search of migrants, especially warblers and other woodland birds.Leaders: Mike and Karen Warner, mwarner2543@gmail.com, 630 640-2450

Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 15 participants. Meet at the main parking lot on 83rd Street between Book Road and Route 59. The field trip is looking for grassland and marsh birds. We will likely go off-trail so bring appropriate footwear and use insect repellent for ticks and mosquitos.Leader: Joe Suchecki, DuPageSBC@gmail.com

Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 12 participants. On this field trip we will meet in the gravel parking lot at the end of Canal Bank Road. Coming off Lemont Road this turnoff is called Old Lemont Road, and is unmarked, so turn at this pin: https://www.google.com/maps/place/41°41'01.8%22N+88°00'12.8%22W/@41.6837291,-88.0040132,17z Feel free to ask questions about how to get there after you RSVP. We will be on the lookout for shorebirds and other migrants, such as the Centennial’s breeding Prothonotary Warblers.Leader: Henry Meade, Please register with Kathleenreeves22@yahoo.com, 224-319-4377

Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 8 participants. We will be concentrating on spring migrants along the Fox River. This will occur along the Fox River bike trail and a short loop trail out to the river (conditions permitting). The loop trail can be muddy. Meet at the northernmost shelter. The address of the preserve is 2S731 Lincoln Way - Rt. 31 Batavia. 54-LesArendsTRAILMAP2016.pdf (kaneforest.com) Les Arends Forest Preserve LinkLeader: Angela and Wally Levernier, wglevernier@gmail.com

Pre-registration with the leader is 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 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 WoodsLeader: Natalie McFaul natcatcher7@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. Leader: Bonnie Graham, 630-204-8750, Coye72112@gmail.com

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