Field Trips

This event has been canceled Registration with the leader is required. Limit 12 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on June 1. An early summer walk to the DuPage River confluence, where the east and west branches meet. We'll go about two miles round-trip, looking for budding bird families in the water, fields, and woods. Trails are flat, with a mix of grass, dirt, and pavement. Meet at the parking lot on 336 Knoch Knolls Rd., Naperville. Bathrooms available at trail head. https://maps.app.goo.gl/4Cb5LjmxwvbzZG6T6 Leader: Steve Constantelos, steve.constantelos@gmail.com

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 15 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on June 1.
Meet at the parking lot on 31st street. We'll conclude the trip with some dusk birding looking for the resident owls. A red flashlight or headlamp is recommended. Lyman's trails can be muddy if we get rain - be prepared with appropriate footwear. Insect repellent is highly recommended.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/zoFesHtQumFeXrKCA
Leader: Matt Crisler, crislermj@gmail.com

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 10 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on June 1.
Join me for a short, leisurely, 1/2 mile loop around this wooded area to check in on the summer residents. Beginner birders are welcome. This is a crushed limestone trail with some slight elevation changes. Note this is the same patch of land as Elsen's Hill, but on the west side. The entrance to park is off of Rt. 59. in West Chicago, just south of Forest Ave. https://maps.app.goo.gl/m6Sr6DQNNDtBTj6f6
Leader: Stephanie Cullerton, stephcullert@yahoo.com

Registration with the leader is required (see email below). Limit 15 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on July 1.
Meet at Burlington Prairie Forest Preserve where we will carpool to nearby Chapman Rd. in search of our local Swainson's Hawks. We'll also spend some time exploring the grassland birds at Burlington FP and may venture to Muirhead Springs FP dependent on the conditions. Insect repellent and sunscreen are recommended. There are bathroom facilities at Burlington FP. Meet up location: Take Engle Rd. Go west on Burlington Prairie Forest Preserve Drive (located between Plank Rd. and L'enschow Rd) and follow to the end.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Parking+lot,+Burlington+Township,+IL
Leader: Bob Fisher, bfisher926@aol.com

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 12 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on July 1.
This will be a leisurely walk though quality prairie habitat (wildflowers are part of the experience) which is mostly flat with one short hill. Typical birds during breeding season include Dickcissels (lots of them seen and heard this June), Bobolinks, Henslow's and Grasshopper Sparrows, Common Yellowthroat, and Sedge Wrens. The preserve is separated into a prairie side and a forested marsh side, so if we have enough time, we could walk over to the marsh too. We will meet in the parking lot off of Main St. on the north side of the preserve. Unfortunately, the bathrooms are located on the east side off of Nelson Lake Rd. if you want to stop en route. We'll likely cancel in the event of rain.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/zyeaxvk4PmKraZsj8
Leader: Vince Sherwin, vince1230@comcast.net

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 12 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on July 1.
A mile walk at a charming nature sanctuary along Salt Creek. New birders welcome! We’ll peek into the creek and then continue looking for summer residents (including young birds!) in pond, savanna, wetland, and some woods. Trails are basically level and are grass/dirt, with some gravel/pavement. Meet at the parking lot on 115 Canterberry Lane, Oak Brook.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/F93jCgHbqXjggU6B7
Leader: Steve Constantelos, steve.constantelos@gmail.com

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 8 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on July 1.
We'll take a leisurely walk in the shady forest on crushed gravel and dirt trails looking for summer woodland residents like Indigo Bunting, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Baltimore Oriole, Eastern Wood-Pewee, and all the woodpeckers. Enter from Wolf Road between Ogden and 31st Street.  Park in the lot near the Kayak Launch.  Meet by the bridge over Salt Creek. Wear bug spray.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/vqoPZE8mKBFZpsZu7
Leader: Elena Nelson, ladylena76[at]gmail[dot]com

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 12 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on July 1.
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 Street.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZfkBcqu6p8jo9c869?g_st=ic
Leader: Henry Meade, meadehenry21@gmail.com

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 12 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on July 1.
We’ll be looking for summer residents (kingbirds, thrashers, etc.) and avian youngsters as we explore the western part of Greene Valley: 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. If conditions are good, there will be a little bonus walk at the end. Meet at the Thunderbird Youth-Group Campground parking lot aka "West Entrance." From Greene Road, go west on 79th about 1/2 mile, the entrance is on the south side of 79th Street.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Greene+Valley+Forest+Preserve+West+entrance
Leader: Steve Constantelos, steve.constantelos@gmail.com

Please RSVP here: https://forms.gle/sRGRUmeJf684z67x5
Join us for a bird walk and casual breakfast on Saturday, August 22nd at Blackwell Forest Preserve. All birders and potential birders are welcome! This is a wonderful time to get together and relive highlights of your summer birding experiences with others who share your interest in birding and the outdoors.  
The bird walk starts at 7:00 a.m. at the West Shelter located on the left side of the Main Drive south of the Mount Hoy Parking lot. Breakfast will follow at 9:00 a.m. and will consist of fresh fruit, bagels, donuts, juice, coffee, and more. You are welcome to come just for the walk or just for breakfast. Clean up is from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and, as usual, your help is always appreciated.
Blackwell Forest Preserve has a variety of habitats so you might just be able to pick up one more bird for your summer list, spot a new dragonfly or see a butterfly or two. The forest preserve is located on the north side of Butterfield Road, a quarter mile west of Winfield Road. 
Link to parking near West Shelter: https://maps.app.goo.gl/TyeiVNrJWZus1UgJ6
Please RSVP here: https://forms.gle/sRGRUmeJf684z67x5
Any questions? Please contact Jim Mateski at jamesmateski@gmail.com