May 2008
Southern Illinois Birding Calendar

 

 

Saturday, May 3, check in 7am, walk starts 7:30am

Sunrise with Songbirds Bird Walk

Location: World Bird Sanctuary, 125 Bald Eagle Ridge Rd.Valley Park, MO. Reservations suggested call 636-225-4390 ext 0 Fee $7 adults $5 children under 12

 

Saturday, May 10

Spring Bird Count

Meet at the Marina in New Athens at 6am. Contact Tim Dever for more information. Coordinated by Kaskaskia Valley Audubon Society (KVAS) www.e-kvas.org.

 

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

Sand Bluff Bird Observatory’s 10th Annual Birdfest, in North Central Illinois

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, check in 7am, walk starts 7:30am

Sunrise with Songbirds Bird Walk

Location: World Bird Sanctuary, 125 Bald Eagle Ridge Rd.Valley Park, MO. Reservations suggested call 636-225-4390 ext 0 Fee $7 adults $5 children under 12

 

Thursday, May 15, 7pm

KVAS Program: 111 Years of Illinois Audubon Conservation Efforts

Tom Clay, Executive Director of the Illinois Audubon Society will provide us with a program 111 Years of Illinois Audubon Conservation Efforts. This will be a great opportunity to see past and current efforts of our parent organization, and to visit with Tom on conservation topics.  Tom will also give us an update on the new headquarters building project. Meeting location: Southwestern Illinois College, Red Bud Campus in the auditorium. For more information, contact: Debbie Newman at 618-684-4799 or skink@globaleyes.net. Hosted by Kaskaskia Valley Audubon Society (KVAS) www.e-kvas.org.

 

Saturday, May 24, check in 7am, walk starts 7:30am

Sunrise with Songbirds Bird Walk

Location: World Bird Sanctuary, 125 Bald Eagle Ridge Rd.Valley Park, MO. Reservations suggested call 636-225-4390 ext 0 Fee $7 adults $5 children under 12

 

Saturday, May 31, 10am - noon

Little Mary’s River Fish Collection and Identification Trip (Randolph County)

Come see up to 23 species of fish from the little Mary’s River, including such interesting species as the orangethroat darter, freckled madtom, logperch, central stoneroller, and many others. Fish will be collected by using electric backpack shocker and minnow seine. Learn how to ID some of our native stream fish species.  Located at the covered bridge historical area on Rt. 150, east of Chester, Ill. Should be adequate parking. Led by Randy Sauer and Barry Newman. Call Barry Newman, IDNR, at 618 295-2877 regarding questions. Hosted by Kaskaskia Valley Audubon Society (KVAS) www.e-kvas.org.

 

Post your organization’s events here.

Sends your information on bird walks, talks and events to IllinoisBirdCalendar@yahoo.com

 

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
Southern Illinois Birding Calendar

 

Monday through Friday, June 9 - ­June 13, 9:00AMnoon

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.

 

Monday through Friday, June 23 - June 27, 9:00AMnoon

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.

 

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.  

 

Saturday and Sunday, June 28 – June 29

Southern Illinois Birds

Keith McMullen has graciously offered to lead this fabulous trip again this year – for the seventh straight year! The trip is limited to 15 people, so sign up early. Marion, Illinois will again be headquarters for this adventure. Most of the birding will be in Jackson, Union, Alexander and Johnson Counties. Localities visited will include Pomona-Cave Creek, Atwood Ridge, Ferne Clyffe State Park, Heron Pond and Horseshoe Lake. Some of the anticipated birds are Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Mississippi Kite, Black-necked Stilt, and Least Tern. Nesting warblers should include Northern Parula, Cerulean, Prothonotary, Worm-eating, Kentucky and Hooded. Blue grosbeaks and Summer Tanagers should be singing. Last year we totaled 113 species for the weekend! E-mail or call Sigrid to get more information and to sign up. Hosted by the Chicago Ornithological Society. Leader: Keith McMullen, O’Fallon, Illinois. Information and Registration: Sigrid Schmidt 773-478-5908 or email sigmsch@comcast.net.

 

Post your organization’s events here.

Sends your information on bird walks, talks and events to IllinoisBirdCalendar@yahoo.com

 

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.

 

July 2008
Southern Illinois Birding Calendar

 

Tuesday, July 8, 9:00 AM until noon

The Illinois Raptor Center Brancher Camp for 7 and 8 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.

 

Thursday, July 10, 9:00 AM until noon

The Illinois Raptor Center Brancher Camp for 9 and 10 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.

 

Saturday, July 19, 9am

Horseshoe Lake Shorebirds (Madison County)

Each year, wetland areas are dewatered in summer at Horseshoe Lake for waterfowl management purposes.  Our trip is planned to coincide with the excellent shorebird habitat conditions this produces. Planning our trip requires some “crystal-balling” because the dewatering does not occur on a precise date. Hopefully we’ll be “in the ballpark” and see our share of shorebirds. If not, the site offers other birding opportunities. We’ll meet at the park office parking lot (located at the north end of the property) at 9 AM. Horseshoe Lake is just west off of I-55-70 at exit 6. From exit 6 travel north on Ill Rte. 111 for 2-3 miles. You’ll see the park entrance and main office on your left (west). You can also go 1 mile north of Collinsville on I-255 and take the Horseshoe Lake Road exit (clearly marked). Proceed west about 2 miles. Turn south onto Ill Rte 111 at the traffic light. Go approximatrly ½ mile south, you’ll see the park entrance and main office on your right (west). Contact: Martin Kemper at 618-327-4158. Hosted by Kaskaskia Valley Audubon Society (KVAS) www.e-kvas.org.

 

Saturday, July 26, 9am-1pm

Kaskaskia Valley Nature Festival “KAVANA”

Join us for the KAVANA at Hanft Park in New Athens, IL. Hosted by Kaskaskia Valley Audubon Society (KVAS) www.e-kvas.org.

 

Post your organization’s events here.

Sends your information on bird walks, talks and events to IllinoisBirdCalendar@yahoo.com

 

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.

 

August 2008
Southern Illinois Birding Calendar

 

 

Post your organization’s events here.

Sends your information on bird walks, talks and events to IllinoisBirdCalendar@yahoo.com

 

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.

 

September 2008
Southern Illinois Birding Calendar

 

Thursday, September 18, 7pm

KVAS Program: Smart Energy Solutions

The choices we make and the products we buy test our commitment to maintain a healthy planet. Terri Treacy, Conservation Field Representative with Sierra Club Illinois Chapter will share some Smart Energy Solutions that are simple, effective ways everyone can help in the race to reduce global warming. Meeting location: Southwestern Illinois College, Red Bud Campus in the auditorium. For more information, contact: Debbie Newman at 618-684-4799 or skink@globaleyes.net. Hosted by Kaskaskia Valley Audubon Society (KVAS) www.e-kvas.org.

 

Saturday, Sept. 20, 8am

Silver Creek Preserve Walk

Silver Creek Preserve is an approximately 500 acre “green space” owned by St. Clair Co. The site has contains reconstructed wetlands, large tree plantings, a small prairie planting, and a good representation of maturing bottomland forest. This site has picnic and restroom facilities. An approximately 1 mile loop trail is paved and an easy walk. To get there, proceed west about 1 mile on Il Rte 177 from its junction with Il Rte 4 (east side of Mascoutah). Turn south onto 10th street (there’s a silver Creek Preserve sign here also) and proceed about 2 miles south (through two bends). The right turn into the preserve is marked. The parking lot is about 1/8 mile west. We’ll meet in the parking lot.
If weather permits, we should see some wading birds and waterfowl, plenty of brush birds and with luck, some fall migrant warblers in the “big woods” and elsewhere. Again, weather permitting, we may be able to explore off the trail and take a short walk to see the adjacent Silver Creek Marsh INAI site. Contact: Martin Kemper at 618-327-4158. Hosted by Kaskaskia Valley Audubon Society (KVAS) www.e-kvas.org.

 

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

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.

 

Post your organization’s events here.

Sends your information on bird walks, talks and events to IllinoisBirdCalendar@yahoo.com

 

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.

 

October 2008
Southern Illinois Birding Calendar

 

Thursday, October 16, 7pm

KVAS Program: Upper Mississippi River Restoration

Brad Walker from Prairie Rivers Network (PRN) will speak to us on Upper Mississippi River Restoration. Brad is the UMR Restoration Coordinator for PR N, Illinois’ statewide river conservation organization. Brad will talk about the general condition of the Mississippi river environment, including some history, and will talk about the benefits of a large-scale restoration effort. Also included will be an update of the Corps of Engineers lock expansion and ecosystem restoration project, known as the Navigation and Ecological Sustainability Program which was included in the 2007 federal Water Resources Development Act. Meeting location: Southwestern Illinois College, Red Bud Campus in the auditorium. For more information, contact: Debbie Newman at 618-684-4799 or skink@globaleyes.net. Hosted by Kaskaskia Valley Audubon Society (KVAS) www.e-kvas.org.

 

Post your organization’s events here.

Sends your information on bird walks, talks and events to IllinoisBirdCalendar@yahoo.com

 

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.

 

November 2008
Southern Illinois Birding Calendar

 

Thursday, November 20, 7pm

KVAS Program: Comments on Illinois Biodiversity

Martin Kemper, our new District Natural Heritage Biologist in Southwest Illinois (and long-time KVAS member), will give us a program entitled Comments on Illinois Biodiversity. Marty has worked for 30 years as a wildlife biologist with IDNR prior to taking his new job as heritage biologist. With plenty of experience to draw on, Marty will talk about what biodiversity is, and trends in Illinois and global biodiversity. Meeting location: Southwestern Illinois College, Red Bud Campus in the auditorium. For more information, contact: Debbie Newman at 618-684-4799 or skink@globaleyes.net. Hosted by Kaskaskia Valley Audubon Society (KVAS) www.e-kvas.org.

 

Post your organization’s events here.

Sends your information on bird walks, talks and events to IllinoisBirdCalendar@yahoo.com

 

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.

 

December 2008
Southern Illinois Birding Calendar

 

Saturday, December 20

Christmas Bird Count

Contact Tim Dever for more information. Coordinated by Kaskaskia Valley Audubon Society (KVAS) www.e-kvas.org.

 

Post your organization’s events here.

Sends your information on bird walks, talks and events to IllinoisBirdCalendar@yahoo.com

 

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.