NCIOS Birding Events

SEPTEMBER

Meeting

Thursday, September 9, 2010—7:00 p.m.

Winnebago County Forest Preserve District Headquarters, 5500 Northrock Drive, Rockford, IL The program will be presented by Vic Berardi, a superb photographer who runs the Illinois Beach State Park fall hawk watch. Vic will share some of his expertise in the area of hawk identification. Join us to brush up your skills and get ready for hawk migration.

Field Trip

Sunday, September 26, 2010—Time and exact location to be announced.

Hawk watching with Vic Berardi. We’re going to try out a hawk watch site, probably at Rock Cut State Park. Check back here for more information, or call Daniel and Barbara Williams at 815-968-4732

OCTOBER

Meeting and Potluck Supper

Thursday, October 14, 2010—6:00 p.m.

Severson Dells Forest Preserve

One of the first meetings of the fall features a potluck supper followed by the business meeting at 7:00 p.m. Bring a dish to pass, your own tableware and beverage. After the meeting we’ll stroll around the area and look for birds, insects and wildflowers. If we are lucky and the weather permits we might see some owls. Flashlights and bug repellent are a good idea.

Field Trip

Saturday, October 16, 2010—Meeting time and place to be announced.

Eddie Callaway will lead a walk in Deer Run Forest Preserve to search for fall migrants. Check back here for details or call Eddie at 815-266-1051

NOVEMBER

Meeting

Thursday, November 11, 2010—7:00 p.m.

Winnebago County Forest Preserve District Headquarters, 5500 Northrock Drive, Rockford, IL

John Longhenry will present a program on Irruptive Bird Species. Irruptive species are ones that appear outside of their normal range in great numbers at irregular intervals, but often in winter. John is a great photographer and he will use his photos of our local irruptive birds to help give us some insights into the driving forces and mechanisms of irruptive behavior.

Field Trip

Saturday, November 20, 2010—Meeting time and place to be announced.

This is the time of year that brings a variety of waterfowl to Rock Cut State Park. We’ll look over the lakes at Rock Cut first and maybe visit a few more locations to see what ducks and geese we can find. The leader will be Barbara Williams (815-968-4732)

DECEMBER

No regular meeting is held in December.

Christmas Bird Counts

Our annual winter bird censuses in Winnebago, Ogle and Boone counties improve our understanding of the populations and problems of birds locally and nationwide. Teams and area assignments will all be organized in advance of the count dates. A $5.00 fee will be collected for each count to help defray Audubon Society's data management costs. New counters and feeder watchers are welcomed.

Rockford Christmas Bird Count
Saturday, December 18, 2010

To participate please call Dan Williams at 815-968-4732.

Rock Cut Christmas Bird Count
Sunday, December 19, 2010

To participate please call Eddie Callaway at 815-323-0011.

Kishwaukee Christmas Bird Count
Wednesday, December 22, 2010

To participate please call Barbara Williams at 815-968-4732.

JANUARY

Meeting

Thursday, January 13, 2011—7:00 p.m.

Winnebago County Forest Preserve District Headquarters, 5500 Northrock Drive, Rockford, IL

Member’s Best Photos. Share a handful of your best photos and videos and see what others in the group have been up to in the past year. Don’t restrict yourself to just birds, any outdoors, travel or natural history subjects are fine.

FEBRUARY

Meeting

Thursday, February 11, 2011—7:00 p.m.

Winnebago County Forest Preserve District Headquarters, 5500 Northrock Drive, Rockford, IL

Jack Armstrong will let us tag along as he and Joyce explore and follow the arrival of fall along the Rocky Mountains on several different trips.

Field Trip

Saturday, February 2011

Time and meeting place are to be announced. This outing will depend on recent reports of birds and on the weather and snow conditions.

Field Trip

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Carpooling to the I.O.S. Gull Frolic. Join the Annual Gull Frolic at Winthrop Harbor Yacht Club at North Point Marina. (Take Sheridan Road north from Route 173, turn right on 7th Street to the Marina.) Gull experts will be available to point out field marks and answer questions. A $10 fee is charged by I.O.S. to defray facility expenses and provide a light breakfast and lunch. (Any excess monies will be donated to the IOS Research Grant Program.) Please check back here for car-pooling departure time and location.

MARCH

Meeting

Thursday, March 11, 2011—7:00 p.m.

Winnebago County Forest Preserve District Headquarters, 5500 Northrock Drive, Rockford, IL

Dr. Jeff Hoover, Avian Ecologist, Illinois Natural History Survey, Institute of Natural Resource Sustainability, University of Illinois will present a program, “What birds can tell us: insights into remarkable bird behavior and conservation success stories.” Jeff’s avian research has sometimes focused on breeding and behavior in Prothonotary Warblers and Brown-headed Cowbirds in Illinois. This is going to be a very interesting program.

Field Trip

Saturday, March, 2011

Time, date and location to be announced. We’ll see what the weather brings and then set the destination.

APRIL

Meeting

Thursday, April 14, 2011—7:00 p.m.

Winnebago Forest Preserve District Headquarters, 5500 Northrock Drive, Rockford, IL

Dave Willard will speak about the problems that result from migrating birds encountering buildings. Details of building design and lighting can mean the difference between life and death for migrating birds. Dave has worked for years with Chicago’s Field Museum and the Chicago Bird Collision Monitors documenting the hazards to birds from buildings and working to reduce bird mortality.

Midwest Sandhill Crane Count

Saturday, April 16, 2011 (two hours from 5:15 to 7:30 in the morning)

This survey helps the International Crane Foundation monitor the abundance and distribution of Sandhill Cranes. In the 1930’s there were only 25 pairs of Sandhill Cranes in the Midwest. Protection of the birds and their habitat has allowed them to stage a dramatic recovery. In 2000 the census showed 13,000 Sandhills in the Midwest. 3000 volunteers in 5 states participate. Please call Lynda Johnson at 815-629-2781 for the date and information about participating.

Field Trip

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Meeting place and time to be announced. Birding in the Sugar River and Alder Forest Preserves for early spring migrants. Check the website, www.ncios.org for information closer to the date.

MAY

Illinois Spring Bird Count

Saturday, May 7, 2011

This statewide survey gives us a better picture of spring migration and the arrival of breeding birds in Illinois. Our group tries to census birds throughout the county during the day of the count. It’s a big job, but it is the very best time of the year to be out birding. Lots of fun, lots of great birds. New counters and feeder watchers are welcomed. To participate contact Jack Armstrong at 815-398-2974 for an area assignment.

Meeting

Thursday, May 12, 2011—7:00 p.m.

Winnebago Forest Preserve District Headquarters, 5500 Northrock Drive, Rockford, IL

Steve and Jeanne Gent will present a program called : Is That Our Boat? The Joys of World Birding. They will tell us about birding adventures in the Kuril Islands, Siberia, Ethiopia, South Africa and the United Kingdom.

Field Trip

Saturday, May 21 , 2011

Time and meeting place to be announced

Spring Birding in the local area. Check back here for information closer to the date.

JUNE

Field Trip

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Time and meeting place to be announced

Breeding Birds in the local area. Check back here for information closer to the date.

Meeting and Potluck Supper

Thursday, June 9, 2011—6:00 p.m.

Atwood Homestead Forest Preserve

The last meeting of the spring features a potluck supper followed by the business meeting at 7:00 p.m. Bring a dish to pass, your own tableware and beverage. After the meeting we’ll stroll around the area and look for birds, insects and wildflowers, weather permitting. Flashlights and bug repellent are a good idea.

JULY and AUGUST

No July or August Meetings or field trips!

NOTE: PLEASE CALL THE LEADER IN ADVANCE FOR THE TIME AND PLACE TO MEET FOR THE TRIP. CAR POOLING IS ENCOURAGED FOR ALL FIELD TRIPS. RIDERS ARE EXPECTED TO REIMBURSE DRIVERS FOR EXPENSES.

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