The Rockford Bird Club

The NCIOS website was created to help connect area birders with each other to increase the enjoyment of birding in Northern Illinois. Here you will find information about area birding events, recent bird sightings, facts about area birds, and ways to improve your birding skills. Read about the history of the club .

Update on Christmas Bird Counts : The National Audubon Society has waived the $5.00 fee normally collected for Christmas Bird Count participation. Donations are still welcome to reduce their management costs. From Audubon: "...to minimize the effects of the loss of fee income, American Birds will no longer be printed on paper and mailed to participants, and Audubon will move to an online delivery of the summary results of the CBC."

View our calendar of events and join us for our upcoming meetings and field trips!

A Note From the President

We are still looking for a Secretary for NCIOS. Taking minutes and typing them afterwards is not that hard. However, the Secretary also keeps track of the membership list, and sends out the Schedule of Events for the year, to most members online. Perhaps we could split these duties into a Recording Secretary, to take minutes, and a Membership Secretary, to do the computer things. I really cannot do both the President and Secretary duties, and would appreciate one or two people to step up to the plate.

Lynda Johnson (call 815-629-2781 if interested in the position)

Calendars For Sale!!

NCIOS is offering bird calendars for sale. The calendars are filled with gorgeous bird photos and make wonderful gifts. The proceeds help support the promotion of local habitat restoration and bird education. Calendars can be purchased at:

• Rock Valley Garden Center , 785 N. Bell School Rd., Rockford, IL
• Severson Dells Environmental Education Center , 8786 Montague Rd., Rockford, IL
• Wayne's Feeds, 3435 Auburn St., Rockford, IL
• Bird club meetings at Severson Dells Forest Preserve, Rockford, IL

The price is $5.00

Counts and Archives

• Most recent sightings can be found on the Blog
• Other counts are archived on the Birding page

New Winnebago County Checklist

The Winnebago County Field Checklist has been updated! You can download a copy (*updated April 2013) and print it out for your next birding trip! [PDF - 295 KB]

NCIOS meets at 7:00PM on the second Thursday of the month, except in June and September when the club meets at 6:00PM in area forest preserves and parks. NCIOS does not meet in July, August, or December. December is when the club participates in area Christmas Bird Counts.

Check out various live feeds of nesting birds including Eagles, Owls, and Falcons.

Meetings feature educational programs about birds, birding equipment, places and times to watch birds, recent area bird sightings, bird identification tips, members' birding trips, etc. NCIOS offers monthly bird watching field trips to local sites of interest, as well as opportunities to participate in trips to out of state sites and annual Christmas, Spring, and Sandhill Crane bird counts. Visitors are always welcome and car pooling is available for field trips. Classes for beginning birders are offered from time to time. Birders are perhaps the friendliest groups of people, so come join us and find out why birding is such a fun activity.

Perhaps the best way to increase the joy of birding is by becoming a member. The cost is $10.00 a year; a low price for getting to learn from some of the top birders of the midwest. If you are already a member, check out the blog to post about recent sightings and help other birders out.

Check out these bird lover supporter links