Field Trips

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 12 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on August 1.
A late summer walk to the DuPage River confluence, where the east and west branches meet. We'll go about two miles round trip, looking for resident bird families and early migrants 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 12 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on August 1.
Kick off your Sunday in this 30-acre patch of woods, ephemeral wetland, and grass, with lots of edge habitat. New birders welcome! We’ll be looking for early migrants and summer residents (including Red-headed Woodpeckers) in this little gem of a park. Trails are a mix of dirt, grass, and pavement. Bathrooms available. Meet in the parking lot at 1163 Plank Road, Naperville.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/FJhBUMPEhnk5Bufj8
Leader: Steve Constantelos, steve.constantelos@gmail.com

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 10 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on September 1st.
Elsen's Hill is known as one of the best birding hot spots in the county. We'll walk 1 - 2 miles on grass and crushed gravel trails looking for fall migrants and warblers. Be prepared for mud if it rains prior. Wear bug spray.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/dRsg2CmvRBaTDuat7
Leader: Elena Nelson, ladylena76[at]gmail[dot]com

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 10 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on September 1.
We will be looking for migrating warblers, songbirds, and the usual year-round residents. Lyman's trails are uneven and almost always muddy regardless of weather. We will walk approximately 3 miles. If rain occurs ahead of the trip, expect areas with standing water. Be prepared with appropriate footwear.  Insect repellent is recommended. Meet at the parking lot on 31st Street.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/2U8M5fbKUujLPyNj8
Leader: Matt Crisler, crislermj@gmail.com

Registration with the leader is required.
We will meet at the trailhead. We will walk the trail, with the Des Plaines River streaming along beside us. We will be looking for waterfowl, eagles, migrants and residents. Easy walking on both paved and gravel trails. Insect repellent is recommended. Drive to the end of Canal Bank Road and park on the street, near the truck parking.  https://maps.app.goo.gl/vgpTVLG1Y4L1m8eK8
Leader: Mark Freeburg, freebs59@sbcglobal.net, (630) 661-1521

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 8 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on September 1.
We'll meet at Whalon Lake and walk down to the trout ponds, then walk along the DuPage River Greenway trail looking for warblers and other fall migrants. In total about 3 miles on mostly paved trails. Meet at the Whalon Lake Boat Parking Lot.  Wear bug spray.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/TuB4JrsySSxS8or26
Leader: Elena Nelson, ladylena76@gmail.com

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 15 participants.
This morning’s walk will take us through some prairie and woods. We’ll be looking for resident birds as well as migratory birds. We’ll be walking approximately 2 miles on mostly easy terrain. We will meet in the parking lot off of 79th St., just west of Greene Rd. (The Thunderbird Campground area)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/EbBMm3tN1Ris752Y6
Leader: Bonnie Graham, coye72112@gmail.com, (630) 204-8750

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 20 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on September 1.
Muirhead Springs Forest Preserve is fast becoming one of the most promising birding sites in Kane County. Formerly farmland, Muirhead has undergone quite a transformation in the past few years, hosting a wide range of grassland birds. Fall migrants, sparrows, waterfowl, as well as pipits, longspurs, and Snow Buntings will be the main targets of this trip. If you haven't been to Muirhead yet, this is a great opportunity to do so. New birders are always welcome to join. The parking lot entrance is on Bahr Road, off Plank Road. Please note that we may trek through tall grass, so dress appropriately. Insect Repellent is recommended.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/5mfY2Q9gU23R1yfg7
Leader: Robert Perez, robertperez787@gmail.com, (630) 724-7534

Registration with the leader is required for updates on weather conditions, and to receive hawk ID handouts.
Bring a chair, lunch, and a hat to the Greene Valley Hawkwatch, where we will quickly review how to ID hawks in flight and then join the team counting migrating raptors. Park on top of the Greene Valley Scenic Overlook and join us about 100 feet away on the grass lawn. If winds are good, we can see many migrating Broad-winged Hawks in late September. It is a good idea to bring a hoodie or jacket as it can be colder up top than at ground level. Watch the Greene Valley Hawkwatch and Hawk ID talks on the club's You Tube channel to fully prepare for this experience. *Raindate Sunday 9/27
https://maps.app.goo.gl/tAw2xRHbFJ4QFSgf7
Leader: Vicky Sroczynski, vsroczynski@comcast.net, (630) 297-9512

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 12 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on September 1.
We will be looking for fall migrants and local birds. We'll take a walk approximately 2 miles around some of the west side, including the river and Lake Marmo. (The arboretum is only open to members before 9am. If you don’t have an arboretum membership, email to let us know and we can meet up so you can enter in our car; cost is $10.) Meet at Thornhill parking lot, P21.  https://maps.app.goo.gl/Aqd17HJdJ4yPP3Jc8
Leader: Mike and Karen Warner, mwarner2543@gmail.com, (630) 640-2450

Registration with the leader is required. Limit 10 participants. Registration for nonmembers opens on September 1.
DuPage Birding Club will be partnering with the Conservation Foundation to lead a bird walk as part of the Take a Hike! Challenge. The walk will be held at St. James Farm Forest Preserve in Warrenville: https://maps.app.goo.gl/NvDRYmk3qqBPoUHh8. We will meet in the parking lot off Winfield Road and will traverse St. James Farm’s limestone trails at a leisurely pace, taking our time to identify tricky fall migrants. The walk will cover a couple miles over relatively flat terrain. Our targets will include fall warblers and other migrant species. New and experienced birders are always welcome.
The Conservation Foundation and Endeavor Health have partnered to create the Take a Hike! Challenge. For eight weeks, from Sept. 2 to Oct. 28, people of all ages are encouraged to rediscover the health benefits of being active and spending time outdoors.
People interested in participating in this free challenge can follow the directions below to sign up.
1) Sign up online at theconservationfoundation.org/take-a-hike/
2) Get out and hike from Sept. 2 to Oct. 28!
3) Turn in the Take a Hike! Tracker with 6 completed hikes to earn the Take a Hike! Trail Blaze Award* (commemorative pin or medallion. First time participants can earn a hiking stick + medallion).
*Must register individually to be eligible. Supplies are limited. Offer is valid while supplies last.
To learn more and sign up, visit theconservationfoundation.org/take-a-hike/.
Leader: Robert Perez, robertperez787@gmail.com, (630) 724-7534