NCIOS Birding Events
SEPTEMBER
MeetingThursday, 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 TripSunday, 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 SupperThursday, 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 TripSaturday, 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
MeetingThursday, 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 TripSaturday, 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 CountSaturday, December 18, 2010
To participate please call Dan Williams at 815-968-4732.
Rock Cut Christmas Bird CountSunday, December 19, 2010
To participate please call Eddie Callaway at 815-323-0011.
Kishwaukee Christmas Bird CountWednesday, December 22, 2010
To participate please call Barbara Williams at 815-968-4732.
JANUARY
MeetingThursday, 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
MeetingThursday, 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 TripSaturday, 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 TripSaturday, 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
MeetingThursday, 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 TripSaturday, March, 2011
Time, date and location to be announced. We’ll see what the weather brings and then set the destination.
APRIL
MeetingThursday, 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 CountSaturday, 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 TripSaturday, 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 CountSaturday, 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.
MeetingThursday, 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 TripSaturday, 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 TripSaturday, 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 SupperThursday, 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.