Warm, sunny weather on February 15 guaranteed a good turnout for the annual Gull Frolic hosted by Illinois Audubon Society. DBC once again sponsored this event, held at the Winthrop Harbor Yacht Club. Most people spent time outside to enjoy looks at Glaucous, Lesser and Great Black-backed Gulls, and an Iceland/Thayer’s among other gulls and waterfowl. Inside, the food was tasty and the camaraderie was strong.
The guest speaker was Dexter Patterson, founder of BIPOC Birding (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), who is well-known for his mission to make birding known and enjoyed by all (well beyond those named by BIPOC): young, old, urban, suburban, disabled.... and he actively organizes events to make this happen!
Dexter’s book, Birds of the Great Lakes, was for sale, along with The Best of Words on Birds by Jeff Reiter and The Gull Guide by Amar Ayash. And of course, Doug Stotz shared the Field Museum’s extensive collection of gulls. All in all, it was a great way to spend a winter morning!