Saturday, February 17, 2024
Start Time – 9:30 a.m.
The Gull Frolic is a unique winter event at Illinois’ premier gull-watching hotspot, North Point Marina. Bring your binoculars, scope and cold weather gear, and join birders outside of the yacht club to enjoy a close study of some of our harder-to-find winter species, including Iceland (Thayer’s and Kumlien’s), Glaucous, Great Black-backed, and Lesser Black-backed Gulls! A variety of waterfowl typically make an appearance too (scoters and other diving ducks), along with the occasional raptor, owl, or winter finch. Birders wearing bright orange hats will be available to help answer questions along the “boardwalk”.
Whenever you need a break from the cold, retreat indoors to the Winthrop Harbor Yacht Club that’s just a few feet away from the shore. Birders from all corners of our state come to mingle, relax and drive away the winter doldrums. Coffee, tea and hot-chocolate will be available all day to help us warm up. There will be a presentation in the conference room that’s offered twice (Session A & Session B).
Speaker: Geoffrey Williamson, Third Coast Birding will be presenting “Changes in Illinois’s Avifauna: a Records Committee Perspective”.
Presentation summary
The status and distribution of birdlife in Illinois is always shifting, though generally quite slowly. In the last several decades, however, birders have seen instances of very rapid changes. We’ll look at some of what is going on from the viewpoint of the Illinois Ornithological Records Committee, or IORC, by focusing on rarities. IORC maintains a “Review List” of species sufficiently rare to warrant evaluation of observational evidence of their occurrence. The stories behind movement of species on and off the Review List provide insight into how their status and distribution – or the nature of the birding community – is changing.
Speaker Bio
For decades Geoff Williamson has been active in local, state, and national birding organizations. Currently he heads the Illinois Ornithological Records Committee of the Illinois Ornithological Society and is co-compiler of the Illinois-Indiana region’s seasonal reports for North American Birds, the journal of ornithological record published by the American Birding Association. He is a recipient of the American Birding Association’s Ludlow Griscom Award, given for outstanding contributions in regional ornithology. He founded Third Coast Birding to foster an appreciation for and connection to the birds of the Great Lakes region and beyond.
REGISTRATION:
The $35 registration fee / $25 for IOS members: includes a continental breakfast, lunch, and more. Any surplus raised will go to the IOS Grant Program, which provides money to local researchers and projects that benefit Illinois birds and birding.
Tickets Now on Sale to the general public
Click Here for 22nd Annual Gull Frolic Registration
SPONSORS: The Gull Frolic is hosted by the Illinois Ornithological Society, with sponsorship help from many local bird clubs, organizations and individuals. If your organization or club is interested in sponsoring, please contact Amar. There are a limited number of information tables for sponsoring organizations.
DIRECTIONS: To reach the Winthrop Harbor Yacht Club take the I-94 toll road north toward Milwaukee. Exit east (turn right) at Route 173. Continue east and turn left on Sheridan Road (Rt. 137). Proceed north and turn right on 7th Street. Follow the North Point Marina signs to the yacht club. There is plenty of parking and parking is always free!
Registration fills fast, so don’t delay. All are invited. We look forward to seeing you at this fun and enjoyable annual event!