DuPage Birding Club

Springbrook Prairie, Naperville
2021-09-26 07:30 - 10:00 (America/Chicago)
Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 15 participants. This is a morning field trip. Meet at the Model Airplane Field Parking Lot on Plainfield- Naperville Rd. south of 75th St. in Naperville. The trip will focus on fall migrants in the grassland and wetland habitats of Springbrook with special emphasis on locating Sharp- tailed Sparrows. Springbrook is among the best sites to find Sharp-tailed Sparrows in the fall, and we have been able to find them on previous trips to this location. Wear waterproof boots since the area around the marsh and early morning vegetation is likely to be wet.Leader: Joe Suchecki, 630-369-5570, jsuchecki@dupagebirding.org

York Woods, Oak Brook
2021-09-24 07:30 - 09:30
Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 10 participants. York Woods is a small site with good paths. Meet at the main entrance parking lot. There will be the usual suspects plus migrants. Beginning birders are always welcome. Directions: From York Rd, south of Roosevelt, take the I-88 exit, then turn right for the parking lot. Anyone driving north on York Rd will need to drive north to Butterfield Rd and turn around. (Just after driving over Roosevelt Rd, turn left into the health center, turn around in the parking lot, and go back south on York Rd. There is an exit for I-88 on the right, which has a right turn-off for the York Woods main parking lot.)Leader: Kathy Mineck, cell: 630-254-4077, kmineck@dupagebirding.org

Bird the Park: Blackwell Forest Preserve, Warrenville
2021-09-21 07:00 - 10:00
This is a leaderless birding experience, you do not need to sign up with the leader. You will bird on your own between the hours of 7 am and 10 am. The idea is you will “bump” into fellow birders as you make your way along the trail loop, chat a little about what you are seeing, then move on and hopefully run into another birder further along the trail. You can start at 7 or sleep in and start at 8 or even 9! The route we will bird is as follows: starting from the first parking lot off the main entrance on Butterfield road follow the West Branch limestone trail west around White Pine Lake to the 0.6 mile Cenacle loop to Batavia Road then back track the same route back to the parking lot. Map The main entrance to Blackwell Forest Preserve is on the north side of Butterfield 0.25 miles west of Winfield. Blackwell Forest Preserve website Dress for the weather, and bring bug spray and water.Organizer: Natalie McFaul, natcatcher7@gmail.com

McDowell Grove Forest Preserve, Naperville
2021-09-16 07:30 - 10:00
Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 15 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 stop light.Leader: Joe Suchecki, 630-369-5570, jsuchecki@dupagebirding.org

Bird Sit at Warrenville Grove, Warrenville
2021-09-14 07:30 - 09:30
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 be birding at Warrenville Grove along the west branch of the DuPage River. Meet in the parking lot on Batavia Rd. Warrenville Grove is located on Batavia Road a ½ mile south of Butterfield Rd (Rt 56). Warrenville Grove website. Dress for the weather and bring bug spray (sitting, we are easy targets for mosquitoes!) and drinking water.Leader: Natalie McFaul, natcatcher7@gmail.com

Elsen’s Hill/West DuPage Woods, Winfield
2021-09-12 07:30 - 10:00
Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 20 participants. Elsen’s Hill is another great site for 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: Diann Bilderback, diann.bilderback@yahoo.com

Churchill Woods, Glen Ellyn
2021-09-12 07:30 - 09:30
Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 20 participants.We will look for residents and hopefully early fall migrants at the riverside and wooded area, then open woods and prairie to the north, walking primarily preserve limestone, also gravel or grass trails. Meet at easternmost (picnic shelter) parking lot, just west of I-355, on the south side of St. Charles Rd., between old Rt. 53 and Swift Rd. If time allows we can check out the Monk Parakeet nests very nearby. Wear appropriate shoes and clothing.Leader: Carolyn Wolthusen, 630-677-7189, birdsongpix@gmail.com

St. James Farm Forest Preserve, Warrenville
2021-09-11 08:00 - 10:00
Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 20 participants.This morning’s walk will take us through some prairie and woods. We’ll be looking for resident birds as well as early migratory birds. We’ll be walking around 2 miles on mostly easy terrain. We will meet in the parking lot off on Winfield Rd, just north of Butterfield Rd.Leader: Bonnie Graham, 630-204-8750, coye72112@gmail.com

Elsen’s Hill/West DuPage Woods, Winfield
2021-09-10 07:30 - 10:00
Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 15 participants.Elsen’s Hill is a great site for 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, 630-369-5570, jsuchecki@dupagebirding.org

McDowell Grove Forest Preserve, Naperville
2021-09-09 07:30 - 10:00
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 stop light.Leader: Denis Kania, djkan36@gmail.com

McDowell Grove Forest Preserve, Naperville
2021-09-05 07:30 - 10:00
Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 10 participants.This walk will be geared towards new birders. This morning trip will focus on woodland migrants passing through our area. McDowell 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 stop light.Leader: Denis Kania, djkan36@gmail.com

Know Your Neighborhood: Wood Dale/Itasca
2021-08-27 17:00 - 19:00
Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 15 participants. Enjoy a walk around the Wood Dale Reservoir and through the Salt Creek Marsh Forest Preserve in search of shorebirds and other early migrants. A spotting scope is recommended for long-distance viewing. Meet at the parking lot on School St., off Wood Dale Rd., north of Irving Park Rd. Most of our walk will be on a paved trail; wear appropriate shoes and clothing and don’t forget to bring insect repellent. Dinner afterwards!Leader: Glenn Perricone, 630-687-2921, gp_arts39@yahoo.com

Greene Valley Forest Preserve, Naperville/Woodridge
2021-08-26 07:30 - 09:30
Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 15 participants. This morning trip is oriented towards summer residents as we explore the fields and woods along the Thunderbird Trail. Most of the walk will be on grass, gravel, or mulch paths. As always, new birders are welcome as we will take a fairly leisurely pace to provide time to see (and listen to) the birds and to answer questions. 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. Greene Valley map.Leader: Steve Constantelos, 630-890-8956, register by emailing: steve.constantelos@gmail.com

Bird Sit at McDowell Grove, Naperville
2021-08-24 07:30 - 09:30
Pre-registration with the leader required, limit 10. 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 McDowell Grove and looking at any birds that come our way! Dress for the weather and bring bug spray (sitting, we are easy targets for mosquitoes!) and drinking water.

Leader: Natalie McFaul, natcatcher7@gmail.com

Bemis Woods South Forest Preserve (near Western Springs)
2021-08-22 07:30 - 10:30
Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 10 participants. The Bemis South Forest Preserve address is Ogden Ave, west of Wolf Rd in Cook County, IL 60558. Directions: From the East or West the entrance is on Ogden Avenue. Turn into the Forest Preserve between I-294 and Wolf Rd. Make the turn and drive to end near where the cul-du-sac is and park nearby. We will start the walk from the parking lot meeting in the open area on the right by the trail which leads to the bridge. Bring your own water and snacks. We will walk mostly on natural trails, so hiking boots with solid treads are advised. Jeans or long pants are recommended to minimize any bug exposure. We can expect to see Woodpeckers, Chickadees, Nuthatches, Wood-Pewees and other Flycatchers, Buntings, Vireos, and other resident species; possibly we will get lucky with an early migrant. Mother Nature provides no guarantees. August is not as plentiful as peak spring and fall migration but we anticipate feathered locals strutting their stuff so we can enjoy a birdiful day communing with nature. The walk will be approximately 2 ½ to 3 hours.Leader: Alan Seelye-James, for questions and time-sensitive matters, call: 954-708-4804, less urgent, email: alan_seelyejames@yahoo.com (note the underscore ( _ ) between alan and seelyejames@yahoo.com.

Lincoln Marsh, Wheaton
2021-08-21 07:45 - 10:00
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. A fuller description of the site can be found here.Leader: John Cebula, 630-640-2721, joceb2005@sbcglobal.net

McKee Marsh, Warrenville
2021-08-14 15:00 - 17:00
Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 20 participants. Join an afternoon walk around the marsh in search of the local nesting birds and possibly a few early fall migrants. Bring a spotting scope if you have one. Meet at the visitor parking lot on the north side of Mack Rd., located between Winfield Rd. and Rt. 59. McKee Marsh map. Most of our walk will be on Preserve limestone and earthen trails; wear appropriate shoes and clothing.Leader: Kyle Wiktor, 708-506-5186, kylewiktor@msn.com

Birding and Breakfast!
2021-08-14 07:30 - 10:30
No pre-registration required. Join us for a bird walk and casual breakfast at Pratt’s Wayne Woods. We will begin at 7:30 am with a short bird walk. Then at 9:00 am, breakfast will be served in the picnic shelter. The club will provide bananas, bagels, donuts, juice, and coffee. 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 picnic shelter.Organizers: Natalie McFaul natcatcher7@gmail.com and Jane Barnett jane.barnett333@gmail.com

Bird the Park: Greene Valley Forest Preserve, Naperville
2021-08-10 07:00 - 10:00
This is a leaderless birding experience. You do not need to register. Bird on your own between the hours of 7 am and 10 am. The idea is you will bump into fellow birders as you make your way along the trail loop, chat a little about what you are seeing, then move on and hopefully run into another birder further along the trail. We will be focused on birding the grassland and woods of the White Oak Trail: park at the Thunderbird lot; the trail begins just east of the parking lot. You can hike the loop in either direction, heading east or north. Greene Valley map. The entrance is located on the south side of 79th Street, about 0.25 miles west of Greene Road.Organizer: Steve Constantelos, steve.constantelos@gmail.com

Bird the Park: McDowell Grove, Naperville
2021-07-29 07:00 - 10:00
This is a leaderless birding experience, you do not need to sign up with the leader. You will bird on your own between the hours of 7 AM and 10 AM. The idea is you will “bump” into fellow birders as you make your way along the trail loop, chat a little about what you are seeing, then move on and hopefully run into another birder further along the trail. You can start at 7 or sleep in and start at 8 or even 9! The route we will bird is as follows: from the parking lot follow the West Branch trail south to the 1.2 mile loop trail head north on the 1.2 mile loop and follow it around and back to the parking lot (Map). As always you can hike the loop in either direction. McDowell Grove is on the east side of Raymond Drive, south of Interstate 88. The main entrance is south of Diehl Road, approximately 1 mile north of Ogden Avenue (Route 34). McDowell Grove website. Dress for the weather, bring bug spray and water.Organizer: Natalie McFaul, natcatcher7@gmail.com

Bird Sit at Fullersburg Woods, Oak Brook
2021-07-27 07:30 - 09:30
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 be birding at Fullersburg Woods near the Nature Education Center. We will meet in the main parking lot (NOT the lot for Graue Mill). Birders of all levels are welcome. The main entrance is at 3609 Spring Road, 1 mile south of 31st Street and 0.25 mile north of Ogden Avenue. Fullersburg Woods website. Dress for the weather and bring bug spray (sitting, we are easy targets for mosquitoes!) and drinking water.Leader: Natalie McFaul, natcatcher7@gmail.com

Greene Valley, Woodridge
2021-07-22 08:00 - 10:00
Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 20 participants. This morning trip is oriented towards our summer residents. Most of the walk will be on gravel or mulch paths. Wear appropriate shoes and bring bug spray. Don’t forget to bring some water to stay hydrated. As always, new birders are welcome as we will take a leisurely pace to provide as much time as desired to look at each bird and to answer questions on equipment or bird identification. Meet at the Thunderbird Youth Camp Parking Lot. Go west on 79th St. about 1/2 mile; the entrance is south of 79th St., west of Greene Rd. in Naperville/Woodridge.Leader: Bonnie Graham, coye72112@gmail.com , 630 204-8750

Danada Forest Preserve (East), Wheaton
2021-07-13 07:00 - 09:00
Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 10 participants. This morning we will look for grassland birds, and check out the lake and the wooded areas. Meet at the parking lot east of Naperville Rd. in Wheaton.Leader: Nancy Allured, nallured@comcast.net

Pratt’s Wayne Woods, Wayne
2021-07-11 07:00 - 09:00
Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 20 participants. Designated as an Audubon Important Bird Area, this is the largest forest preserve in DuPage County. We will be looking for summer residents, including wrens, sparrows and marsh birds. Meet at the Pickerel Lake parking lot off Powis Rd.

Leader: Diann Bilderback, diann.bilderback@yahoo.com

Swainson’s Hawks, Kane County
2021-07-10 09:00 - 11:00
Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 15 participants. This trip will be to look for the Swainson’s Hawks that have traditionally nested in this area. Also, we will check out some nearby grassland locations for grassland birds such as Western Meadowlark. Pre-register for directions to meeting spot and/or car-pooling opportunities.Leader: Bob Fisher, 630-985-2956, bfisher928@aol.com

Bemis Woods South, Western Springs
2021-06-26 07:00 - 09:00
Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 10 participants. Join us at Bemis Woods South for a morning of birding. This will be a walk for new birders. We will walk slowly and allow time for all to look at the birds. We will check out resident and nesting birds. Meet by the “Go Ape” course. The entrance is off Ogden Ave. between I 294 and Wolf Rd. The trails can be muddy so wear appropriate shoes and use insect repellant.

Leader: Lesa Hipes, 630-689-7463, lhipes@dupagebirding.org

Bird the Park: Hidden Lake, Downers Grove
2021-06-22 07:00 - 10:00
This is a leaderless birding experience, you do not need to sign up with the organizer. You will bird on your own between the hours of 7 am and 10 am. The idea is you will “bump” into fellow birders as you make your way along the trail loop, chat a little about what you are seeing, then move on and hopefully run into another birder further along the trail. You can start at 7 or sleep in and start at 8 or even 9! Dress for the weather, bring bug spray and water. The route we will bird is as follows: starting at the North parking lot follow the Round Meadow Lake trail to the Eagle Trail loop. Complete the Eagle Trail loop then return back to the Round Lake Trail, complete it back to the parking lot. As always you can hike the loop in either direction. Hidden Lake is located on the east side of Route 53 0.25 mile south of Butterfield Road. Hidden Lake Website

Organizer: Natalie McFaul, natcatcher7@gmail.com

James Pate Philip State Park and nearby areas, Bartlett
2021-06-21 07:30 - 11:30
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 when we’re done. Depending on time, and scouting results, we could visit parts of Pratt’s Wayne Woods, especially the nearby wetland areas, and check out the newly improved Dunham Woods Forest Preserve afterwards.

Leader: Vicky Sroczynski, 630-297-9512, RSVP to VSroczynski@comcast.net

Greene Valley, Woodridge
2021-06-17 08:00 - 10:00
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 south side of 79th Street, west of Greene Road in Naperville/Woodridge.Leader: Bonnie Graham, 630-204-8750, coye72112@gmail.com

Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve, Naperville
2021-06-15 07:00 - 09:00
Pre-registration with the leader is required, limit 10 participants. This trip will focus on finding and identifying the grassland birds that nest at Springbrook Prairie including such species as Henslow’s, Savannah and Grasshopper Sparrows, Bobolinks, Sedge Wren, and Dickcissel. Some shrubland birds such as Yellow-breasted Chat, Bell’s Vireo, and marsh-nesting birds are also possible. Meet the leader at the main parking lot for Springbrook Prairie on 83rd St. west of Book Rd. The main lot is across from the Springbrook Golf Course. The trip will go off-trail and the vegetation may be wet, so pleasewear appropriate footwear. Ticks are an issue, so please bring and use insect repellent.

Leader: Joe Suchecki, 630-369-5570 (home), jsuchecki@dupagebirding.org
