Field Trips of the DuPage Birding Club

Field trip coordinators: Jeff Smith, (630) 719-1604, , and Wendolyn Tetlow, (630) 898-3175, . Contact them if you have questions about the trips or if you would like to lead a trip. Leaders do not have to be birding experts, just familiar with the location. There is no need to register unless otherwise indicated. Visitors are always welcome.

Most of the map links (when available) point to the Forest Preserve Districts of Du Page County, Kane County, Cook County, Will County, or Lake County websites -- well, at least they used to until the DuPage County F.P.D. redesigned their website, and it has become different to link directly to a preserve. Please excuse the broken links until I have them fixed. When they work, they should open in a separate window of your web browser. If not, press the "Back" button to return to this page.

Summer is here so we can slow down our birding pace! Many trips are more social in nature. We have evening picnic trips planned, Bike & Bird, and also some dragonfly/butterfly trips. Our main focus during these months is for shorebirds, resident breeding birds, and early migrant passerines. Since shorebird habitat is so dependent on water levels, we may schedule additional trips at the last moment. Be sure to check the website often for additional trips. And don't forget sunscreen, a hat, bug spray and water, as these are usually the hottest months. Note: In an attempt to encourage carpooling, many of our long distance trips will ask you to preregister for directions rather than post them here.

• Saturday, July 11, 2009, 7:30 a.m. Cantigny Golf, Wheaton. In a special edition of our monthly Cantigny walk, we'll meet at the golf course (not the park) and focus on the thriving Purple Martin colony. Ray Feld, a Cantigny volunteer and Purple Martin expert, will be our host. He'll tell us all about these fascinating birds and crank down one of the two "hotels" so we can see some fledglings up close. The houses are situated in a birdy area where we can watch without disturbing any golfers. In fact, feel free to bring a portable chair. Enter Cantigny Golf on Mack Road and meet in the southeast corner of the parking lot. Cantigny Park website.
  Leader: Jeff Reiter, , (630) 545-1838.

• Saturday, July 11, 2009, 6:30 a.m. IOS Lowden-Miller/Nachusa. DBC members Bob Fisher and Jeff Chapman will lead this Bird and Butterfly trip for IOS. There is a $5 fee for IOS members and a $25 fee for non-members which includes a one-year IOS membership. Additional details can be viewed on the IOS webpage.

• Sunday, July 12, 2009, 10:00 a.m. Bike & Bird, McKee Marsh to St. James Farm. Take a leisurely bike ride around the marsh through Blackwell and then over to St. James Farm where we can stop and have a sack lunch. Meet at the McKee Marsh lot on Mack Rd. between IL-59 and Winfield Rd. Blackwell Website.
  Leader: Jeff Smith, , (630) 719-1604.

• Saturday, July 18, 2009, 9:30 a.m. Swainson's Hawks (Kane Co.). This trip will be to look for the Swainson's hawks that have traditionally nested in this area. Also, we will look for grassland birds such as Western Meadowlark and Dickcissel. Please pre-register with leaders for directions to meeting spot and/or car-pooling opportunities. Map of general area.
  Leaders: Bob and Karen Fisher, , (630) 985-2956.

• Sunday, July 19, 2009. Dragonfly/Butterfly Trip No.1. Place and Time TBA. Gary Moore once again will lead a series of dragonfly/butterfly trips this summer. Watch the website for more information. Waterproof footwear is suggested. Please pre-register with the leader for the meeting place and time and/or car-pooling opportunities.
  Leader: Gary Moore, , (630) 393-4279, or (630) 699-9977 (cell) on the day of the trip.

• Saturday Afternoon, July 25, 2009, time TBA. Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. This is a two-part field trip. You are welcome to do either or both parts. We will begin with a walk looking for Blue Grosbeak and Loggerhead Shrike, among other things. After a light dinner we will join the Twilight Bike Ride (7:00 - 9:30 pm) offered by the Park. There is a $3 fee for the Bike Ride. More info at on the Midewin website. Please pre-register with the leader for directions to meeting spot and/or car pooling opportunities.
  Leader: Jeff Smith, , (630) 719-1604.

• Sunday, August 2, 2009. Dragonfly/Butterfly Trip No. 2. See July 19 for more information.
  Leader: Gary Moore, , (630) 393-4279, or (630) 699-9977 (cell) on the day of the trip.

• Saturday, August 8, 2009, 7:30 a.m. Cantigny Park, Wheaton. Enter the park through the main gate on Winfield Road (just south of Roosevelt) and tell the attendant you are with the bird walk. You will not be charged for parking. We'll start our walk from the Visitors Center. Cantigny Park website.
  Leader: Jeff Reiter, , (630) 545-1838.

• Thursday evening, August 13, 2009, 6:30 p.m. Whalon Lake F.P. (Naperville, Will Co.). Whalon Lake is on the south side of Royce Road, west of IL-53 (past the Quarries) and east of Washington Blvd. Royce Rd is well south of 75th Street and north of Boughton. Meet at the picnic pavilion. Bring your own supper, and we will look for shore birds and picnic at the pavilion. Good location to use scopes. Website.
  Leader: Vicky Sroczynski, , (630) 964-8277.

• Friday - Sunday, August 14-16, 2009. IOS Chautauqua Shorebird Spectacular. IOS will once again host a workshop in the Illinois River Valley to enrich your skills in shorebird identification, and DBC members will be among the leaders. See the IOS website for additional information.

• Thursday evening, August 20, 2009, 6:30 p.m. Fermilab (Batavia). Meet at the red barn for a bring-your-own picnic supper while we watch for shorebirds. The red barn is located at the first stop sign (Sauk Circle) after entering on Batavia Rd. from IL-59. You can also enter at the Pine St. entrance off Kirk Rd. At the guard post state that you are there for bird watching. Be sure to have a photo I.D. (driver's license, etc.) as security may ask to see it. Bring a scope if you have one.
  Leader: Vicky Sroczynski, , (630) 964-8277.

• Sunday, August 23, 2009. Dragonfly/Butterfly Trip No. 33. See July 19 for more information.
  Leader: Gary Moore, , (630) 393-4279, or (630) 699-9977 (cell) on the day of the trip.

• Sunday afternoon, August 23, 2009, 3:00 p.m. Lake Calumet Area (Southeast Chicago). The Lake Calumet region is a prime area for shorebirds (if the conditions are right!) and seeing unusual wading birds such as Little Blue Heron, and Snowy Egret. We will check several spots. If the Harborside Golf Course is open to the public on this date (not booked for an event), those interested can join and eat dinner and view the shorebirds from the veranda of the club. Bring along your scope for best viewing. Please pre-register with leaders for directions to meeting spot and/or car-pooling opportunities. Map of Calumet area.
  Leaders: Bob and Karen Fisher, , (630) 985-2956.

• Sunday, August 30, 2009, 6:00 a.m. Momence Sod Farms and Nearby Sites TBA (Kankakee Co.). We will meet at the Bolingbrook Park&Ride on Old Chicago Drive east of IL-53 about 1/4 mile south of I-55. Map of meeting place. The sod farms outside Momence are a stopping point for many shorebird species during migration. We will check these fields and other surrounding agricultural fields (also looking for Western Meadowlark, Vesper Sparrow, etc.) and explore the nearby Pembroke area or Iroquois Co. Conservation Area. Bring food and drink as there is little in the way of restaurants in the area. Please register with the leader by Aug 21.
  Leader: Jeff Smith, , (630) 719-1604.

Both the Chicago Ornithological Society and the Illinois Ornithological Society welcome non-members on their field trips. Some trips may require a fee. Visit their respective web sites for more information. Trips offered by other clubs may be found on the IOS Calendar of Events.