Northwest Illinois Birding Calendar

May 2008
Northwest Illinois Birding Calendar

Saturday, May 3, 7:00am

Franklin Creek State Natural Area and Surrounding Areas

Meet at Alpine Village, Alpine & Harrison Roads, Rockford, IL. Bring a lunch. Trip will end around 2:00 PM. There should be plenty of migrants and wonderful wildflowers. Call Kevin Kaltenbach, 815-229-1160, for information. Check www.ncios.org for updates. Hosted by the North Central Illinois Ornithological Society.

Thursday, May 8, 6:30pm

NCIOS Monthly Meeting - Special Program: Spring Bird Count Primer

IMPORTANT - Meeting will be held at Rock Cut State Park, 7318 Harlem Road Meet at the West Lake parking lot south of the dam for a birding "refresher" prior to the Spring Count. Please bring binoculars. Check www.ncios.org for updates. Hosted by the North Central Illinois Ornithological Society.

Saturday, May 10, all or Part of the Day

Spring Bird Count - Winnebago County

To participate all or part of the day, contact Jack Armstrong, 815-398-2974, for an area assignment. New counters and feeder watchers/counters are welcomed. Hosted by the North Central Illinois Ornithological Society.

Saturday, May 10, 8am-4pm and
Sunday, May 11, 8am-3pm

Sand Bluff Bird Observatory’s 10th Annual Birdfest for Mother’s Day Weekend

It’s a fabulous family activity, combining the opportunity to hike, picnic, and enjoy nature. Birdfest is scheduled during peak migration times, and is a great opportunity to engage with our diverse bird populations up-close as birds are collected, identified, banded and released. Location: Colored Sands Forest Preserve, 10 miles west of Rockton, Illinois, 4 miles northwest of Shirland. Map to Colored Sands Forest Preserve Directions: go north out of Shirland on Boswell Rd.; left on Yale Bridge Rd.; right on Hauley; left on Haas Rd. & go to the end to Colored Sands Forest Preserve. Admission is $2.50 for adults, 50 cents for children ages 4-12, and free for children three and under. Admission includes bird banding and raptor demonstrations, nature/prairie hikes, children’s activities and more. There will be vendors, exhibitors, a silent auction and a food stand. Call Mike Eickman at 815.247.8451 for more details. All proceeds benefit SBBO. The event is wheelchair accessible. Rain or shine.

Sunday, May 11, 8:00 AM - Open

Volo Bog State Natural Area Bird Walk

Along with the rest of the thrushes, warblers are a highlight of the May woodlands as the oaks bud out. Until the leaves get too big, these woodland birds are still easy to see. Novice and experienced birders alike will enjoy the great variety of birds attracted by the divese landscape of Volo Bog State Natural Area. Please make reservations at dnr.volobog@illinois.gov or 815-344-1294. Dress for the weather; bring binoculars and field guides or borrow ours. Walk time varies from 1 - 3+ hours with weather & luck in birding! Ages 7-Adult. Meet at the Volo Bog Parking Lot. Co-sponsored by McHenry County Audubon and led by MCA members Randy Schietzelt and Joel Orlinsky.

We attempt to get all information correct in this listing. Check with the trip leader or the host club’s website for last minute changes or cancellations. Please send updates to IllinoisBirdCalendar@yahoo.com.

June 2008
Northwest Illinois Birding Calendar

Sunday June 1, 7:30AM

McHenry Dam, McHenry

Prothonotary Warblers nest here, along with many other species. Get a jump on your summer birding! Second stop at adjacent Moraine Hills State Park if time permits. From I-294, exit Rt. 176 and go west about 10 miles to River Road. Turn north on River Rd., drive 2.5 miles to the McHenry Dam entrance, and meet at the south end of the parking lot. Leader: Cyndi Lubecke 847-255-3772. Hosted by the Lake Cook Audubon Society.

Monday through Friday, June 9 - June 13, 9:00AM – noon

The Illinois Raptor Center Youth Raptor Camp

Youth Raptor Camps for ages 11 thru 14. The cost is $100 per child. Participants must register no later than 1 week prior to the event. Seating is limited for most events. For details on these programs or to register visit http://irc-events.org/, click "Public Events" on the IRC website at www.illinoisraptorcenter.org, or phone 217-963-6909. The Illinois Raptor Center is located at 5695 W. Hill Road in Decatur, IL.

Thursday, June 12, 6:00pm

NCIOS Monthly Meeting & Potluck Supper

NCIOS Monthly Meeting& Potluck Supper will be held at Kieselburg Forest Preserve located at 5801 Swanson Rd. Bring a dish to pass, a beverage, and your own table service. Following the potluck supper we will hold our annual meeting and bird the area until dusk. Hosted by the North Central Illinois Ornithological Society.

Saturday, June 14, Time to Be Announced

Deer Run and Oak Ridge Forest Preserves

Jack Armstrong will lead this field trip to locate grassland birds. Some of the target birds are Henslow's, Grasshopper, Savannah, Lark, and Vesper Sparrows as well as Dickcissels. At Oak Ridge we expect to find Red-headed Woodpeckers and others. Deer Run is located at 5691 River Road. Please call 815-398-2974 for information. Check www.ncios.org for updates. Hosted by the North Central Illinois Ornithological Society.

Monday through Friday, June 23 - June 27, 9:00AM – noon

The Illinois Raptor Center Youth Raptor Camp

Saturday, June 28th from 9:00 AM until noon

The Illinois Raptor Center Nature Photo Workshop

Nature Photo Workshop for Springfield area participants will be held from 9am until noon. The cost is $25.00 per person or $35.00 per couples or families. Participants must register no later than 1 week prior to the event. Seating is limited for most events. For details on these programs or to register visit http://irc-events.org/, click "Public Events" on the IRC website at www.illinoisraptorcenter.org, or phone 217-963-6909. The Illinois Raptor Center is located at 5695 W. Hill Road in Decatur, IL.

Saturday, June 28th from 1:00 PM until 4:00 PM

The Illinois Raptor Center Nature Photo Workshop

Nature Photo Workshop for Decatur area participants will be held from 1pm until 4pm. The costs is $25.00 per person or $35.00 per couples or families. Participants must register no later than 1 week prior to the event. Seating is limited for most events. For details on these programs or to register visit http://irc-events.org/, click "Public Events" on the IRC website at www.illinoisraptorcenter.org, or phone 217-963-6909. The Illinois Raptor Center is located at 5695 W. Hill Road in Decatur, IL.

Monday, June 30, 9:00 AM until noon

The Illinois Raptor Center Brancher Camp for 6 and 7 year olds

The cost for all Brancher Camps is $25.00 per child. Participants must register no later than 1 week prior to the event. Seating is limited for most events. For details on these programs or to register visit http://irc-events.org/, click "Public Events" on the IRC website at www.illinoisraptorcenter.org, or phone 217-963-6909. The Illinois Raptor Center is located at 5695 W. Hill Road in Decatur, IL.

July 2008
Northwest Illinois Birding Calendar

Tuesday, July 8, 9:00 AM until noon

The Illinois Raptor Center Brancher Camp for 7 and 8 year olds

Thursday, July 10, 9:00 AM until noon

The Illinois Raptor Center Brancher Camp for 9 and 10 year olds

August 2008
Northwest Illinois Birding Calendar

September 2008
Northwest Illinois Birding Calendar

Saturday, September 20, 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM

The Illinois Raptor Center Adult Raptor Camp

The cost is $100 per person. Participants must register no later than 1 week prior to the event. Seating is limited for most events. For details on these programs or to register visit http://irc-events.org/, click "Public Events" on the IRC website at www.illinoisraptorcenter.org, or phone 217-963-6909. The Illinois Raptor Center is located at 5695 W. Hill Road in Decatur, IL.

Saturday, September 27, 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM

The Illinois Raptor Center Adult Raptor Camp