NCIOS Birding Events
SEPTEMBER
MeetingThursday, September 10, 2009 — 7:00 p.m.
Winnebago County Forest Preserve District Headquarters, 5500 Northrock Drive, Rockford, IL Birding Milwaukee County's Wildlands. The speaker will be Brian Russart, the Natural Areas Coordinator for the University of Wisconsin & Milwaukee County Parks. Brian manages 10,000 acres of Milwaukee County's best natural areas.
Field TripSaturday, September 19, 2009 — 8:00 a.m.
Meet at Farm and Fleet on West State Street, Rockford
Birdwalk on portions of the Jane Addams Trail in Freeport. Led by Eddie Callaway at 815-323-0011
OCTOBER
MeetingThursday, October 8, 2009 — 7:00 p.m.
Winnebago County Forest Preserve District Headquarters, 5500 Northrock Drive, Rockford, IL Lee Johnson will present a slide program on the identification of local sparrows and warblers.
Field TripSaturday, October 10, 2009 — 7:00 a.m.
Meet at Menards at 173 and Forest Hills Road, Machesney Park
International Crane Foundation in Baraboo Wisconsin. We’ll see all 15 of the world’s species of cranes and the new Cranes of Africa exhibit. If you participated in the Midwest Crane count you’ll be receiving a free admission pass to the Crane Foundation. Hang onto your free pass and join us for a craney day. The leaders are Ken and Carol Frey at 815-877-5028
Cost is $7.00 for adults and $2.00 for youth/children 18 and younger.
Reservations and money must be received by Ken Frey by Wednesday, September 30th. Call 815-877-5028 for payment and reservations. Riders are expected to reimburse carpool drivers for gas expense.
NOVEMBER
MeetingThursday, November 12, 2009 — 7:00 p.m.
Winnebago County Forest Preserve District Headquarters, 5500 Northrock Drive, Rockford, IL Ann Whitney was recently in the Arctic National Wildlife refuge. She’ll show pictures and tell us about her experiences in the Alaskan far north.
Field TripSaturday, November 14, 2009 — 7:00 a.m.
Meet at Menards at 173 and Forest Hills Road, Machesney Park
Illinois Beach State Park. This park is between Waukegan and the Wisconsin border. It is a strip of land that preserves rare plant communities along the lakefront and provides safe haven for migrating birds. We’ll search for late fall migrants, waterfowl and unusual gulls. The leader is Eddie Callaway at 815-323-0011
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 CountSaturday, December 19, 2009
To participate please call Dan Williams at 815-968-4732.
Kishwaukee Christmas Bird CountSunday, December 27, 2009
To participate please call Barbara Williams at 815-968-4732.
Rock Cut Christmas Bird CountSunday, January 3, 2010
To participate please call Eddie Callaway at 815-323-0011.
JANUARY
Rock Cut Christmas Bird Count (see under DECEMBER)
MeetingThursday, January 14, 2010 — 7:00 p.m.
Winnebago County Forest Preserve District Headquarters, 5500 Northrock Drive, Rockford, IL
We’ll explore the world of owls and their food habits. Dissect an owl pellet, feel the business end of owl talons and sink your fingers into the down feathers of an owl.
Field TripSaturday, January 16, 2010 — 9:00 a.m.
Meet at the Lodge at Severson Dells Forest Preserve
Hot bird feeders in the cold weather. We’ll start at the Severson Dells feeders and then hit some other local spots. The leader will be Mary Kisamore at 815-636-8234.
FEBRUARY
MeetingThursday, February 11, 2010 — 7:00 p.m.
Winnebago County Forest Preserve District Headquarters, 5500 Northrock Drive, Rockford, IL
Jack Armstrong will present a program titled Bird Species - Prospects for the Future.
Field TripSaturday, February 13, 2010
Time and meeting place are to be announced.
Winnebago County Coldspots. We’ll visit a few of the places in the county that are the most likely to have a variety of resident birds and early migrants. The locations we visit will be determined at the last minute depending on the conditions and the progress of migration. The leader will be Jack Armstrong at 815-398-2974.
Field TripSaturday, February 20, 2010
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. The $10 registration fee includes a breakfast of muffins, doughnuts, fruit, coffee and tea, the traditional lunch of the world famous Sea Gull Stew, Vegetarian Chili, pizza, a drink, salad, and dessert. The fee will help defray facility expenses. Any surplus will go to the IOS Grant Program to benefit Illinois birds and birding. Free coffee, tea and hot chocolate will be available all day.
Please check with www.ncios.org for date and car-pooling departure time and location.
MARCH
MeetingThursday, March 11, 2010 — 7:00 p.m.
Winnebago County Forest Preserve District Headquarters, 5500 Northrock Drive, Rockford, IL
Keith Blackmore will present a program about Big Bend National Park, a spectacular stretch of desert and mountains in southwestern Texas.
Field TripSaturday, March 13, 2010
Starved Rock State Park
If it’s cold and the river is icy we’ll go to the Corps of Engineers observation deck to watch lots of Bald Eagles and search the flocks of gulls for unusual species. If the conditions aren’t good for concentrations of eagles and gulls then we’ll hike some of the trails in the park checking out the waterfalls and looking for winter woodland birds in the gullies and ravines. Leaders are Barbara and Daniel Williams at 815-968-4732.
APRIL
MeetingThursday, April 8, 2010 — 7:00 p.m.
Winnebago Forest Preserve District Headquarters, 5500 Northrock Drive, Rockford, IL
Tools for birding and identification tips. Eddie Callaway will share some of his knowledge about a variety of recording and playback equipment for birding as well as some of the pros and cons of different field guides. Identification tips will be sprinkled throughout the program.
Midwest Sandhill Crane CountSaturday, April (date to be announced) 2010 (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 in this annual census.
Field TripSaturday, April 24, 2010
Meeting place and time to be announced
Franklin Creek and vicinity. Dive into spring migration with us. We’ll be looking for wildflowers as well as birds. The leader will be Barbara Williams at 815-968-4732.
MAY
Spring Bird CountSaturday, May 8, 2010
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.
MeetingThursday, May 13, 2010 — 7:00 p.m.
Winnebago Forest Preserve District Headquarters, 5500 Northrock Drive, Rockford, IL
Members’ Best Photos and Birding Tales. Bring your best work or discoveries from the past year to share with the club. We are hoping you’ll bring all sorts of things - artwork, found objects, poems, your own stories of humor or adventure, wonderful books you’ve found, and, of course, photos. This program is not restricted to birds. Any natural history subjects are fine – people, the outdoors, wildflowers, mammals, insects, and, of course, birds. Think of this as a grown-up Show-and-Tell. Use this opportunity to share some inspiration and show us what you’ve been up to and tell us where you’ve been in the past year.
Field TripSaturday, May 22, 2010 — 7:00 a.m.
Meet at Menard’s at 173 and Forest Hills Road, Machesney Park
Horicon Marsh Boat Trip. A pontoon boat will take us out on the marsh in search of rails, herons, ducks, shorebirds, terns, gulls Yellow-headed Blackbirds and other denizens of the marsh. We’ll carpool up to Horicon to catch our boat at 9:00 a.m. The boat stays out for two hours. We’ll stop at a local restaurant for lunch, but you can pack your own if you’d like. $18.00 for adults, $10.50 for youths 12 -15 years old, and 8.50 for children 4 -11. To get a seat call Ken Frey at 815-877-5028.
JUNE
Meeting and Potluck SupperThursday, June 10, 2010 — 6:00 p.m. — Blackhawk Springs Forest Preserve shelter house
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 - if members would like to go birding at Winnebago and other area hotspots, contact Jennifer Outcalt or Eddie Callaway by emailing birdfreak@birdfreak.com
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.