The Evanston North Shore Bird Club

Field Trips

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Field trips sponsored by the Evanston North Shore Bird Club are open to everyone.  Beginners are encouraged on all ENSBC field trips. What's more, all local field trips are FREE! Car pooling is encouraged on all field trips. Always check the website for possible changes in dates, times, locations, leaders, etc. Contact the individual leader or the Field Trip Chairman if you need more details on specific trips, or are looking for someone to carpool with -- numbers are listed in the membership directory pages.

Most local trips are two-hours long and require no reservations.  For trips that might be half-day, all day or even over a weekend. reservations with the leader are required. If you have an idea for a possible future trip, or would like to lead a future trip, please contact the Field Trip Chair.

Most of the locations of field trips are on level, well drained ground, but a few take you to some muddy areas, or it may have recently rained and the trails may be waterlogged. A successful birding trip is a well planned trip; please bring along boots and rain gear as necessary, as well as snacks and water or something to drink to make every outing an enjoyable one. A final tip to good Chicagoland birding: a reliable local map is indispensable, whether an actual map or on your iphone.

Carpooling is strongly recommended on ENSBC field trips.

BIG MONTH BIRD WALK AT PERKINS

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Be part of the Perkins Prairie School Warblers for the Forest Preserve's BIG MONTH. Meet at the corner of Grant and Ewing at 7:30 a.m. Leader:  Gerry Ginsburg

BIG MONTH BIRD WALK AT PERKINS

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Be part of the Perkins Prairie School Warblers for the Forest Preserve's BIG MONTH. Meet at the corner of Grant and Ewing at 7:30 a.m. Leader:  John Bates

BIG MONTH BIRD WALK AT PERKINS

Saturday, October 28, 2017

Be part of the Perkins Prairie School Warblers for the Forest Preserve's BIG MONTH. Meet at the corner of Grant and Ewing at 8:30 a.m. Leader:  Sarah Flax

FIELD TRIP: Jeff Sanders’ Fall Specialty Trip! North Shore Lakefront

Sunday, November 19, 2017

48th Annual Jeff Sanders’ Fall Specialty Trip. North Shore lakefront – Northwestern, Gillson Park, Maple Park, Tower Road Park, Park Ave., Rose Beach in Highland Park, and other areas as time permits. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at Gillson Park Beach House in Wilmette, off of Sheridan Road. We will carpool from there. Bring scopes and dress for cold lake wind. Leader: Jeff Sanders, yellowstart@yahoo.com. 847-657-6431.

Christmas Count: 52nd Chicago Urban Count

Sunday, December 17, 2017

To participate, contact compiler:  Jeffrey Sanders, 847-657-6431 

Christmas Bird Count: Chicago Lakefront Christmas Count

Monday, December 25, 2017

To participate, contact Compiler: Joel Greenberg, 630-725-9416 

Christmas Bird Count: Chicago-North Shore Christmas Count

Saturday, December 30, 2017

56th  Chicago-North Shore Count and ENSBC Post-Count Potluck dinner at Libby Hill’s house, 2715 Woodland Rd, Evanston.  Arrive any time after 4 pm. 847-475-2096 or libbyhill@comcast.net.  To participate contact Compiler: Tim Wallace, 847-548-2654. 

Christmas Bird Count: Waukegan Christmas Count

Monday, January 1, 2018

To participate, contact compiler: Joel Greenberg, 630-725-9416

FIELD TRIP: Air Station Prairie and North Techny Basin

Saturday, April 14, 2018

Look for early migrating passerines and perhaps Woodcocks. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at Air Station Prairie/Tyner Center, 2400 Compass Drive, Glenview in the parking lot across the street. Leader: Mark Vaughan.

FIELD TRIP: PERKINS WOODS

Thursday, May 3, 2018

Look for warblers and other migrants (and also a great display of spring wildflowers.).  Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the corner of Ewing Avenue and Grant Streets. Park along Ewing Avenue.  Leader: John Bates or Josh Engel.

FIELD TRIP: Skokie Lagoons

Friday, May 4, 2018

These Friday trips pack a great list of warbler species during spring migration. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at Erickson Woods Forest Preserve parking lot. Turn north into the parking lot from Willow Rd. just east of the Edens Expressway. Leader: Lynne Carpenter.  

FIELD TRIP:Northwestern University Campus

Saturday, May 5, 2018

This area is a stopover for migrants of all kinds heading north. Park on the lake side of the upper deck of the south parking lot off of Sheridan Rd. and Clark St., north of Clark St. beach, at 8:30 a.m. Leaders: Libby Hill and Nancy Halliday.

FIELD TRIP: Gillson Park

Sunday, May 6, 2018

Bird Walks in GillsonPark are sponsored by our partners Go Green Wilmette. Meet at 8 a.m. at the top of the Wallace Bowl amphitheater. Street parking. For more information, contact kglennemeier@gmail.com.

FIELD TRIP: The Grove

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

Expect warblers and other passerines. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at The Grove: east side of Milwaukee Ave., just south of Lake Ave., in the second parking lot that leads to the Interpretive Center.  Leader: Nancy Halliday.

FIELD TRIP: Perkins Woods

Thursday, May 10, 2018

 Look for warblers and other migrants (and also a great display of spring wildflowers.).  Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the corner of Ewing Avenue and Grant Streets.  Park along Ewing Avenue. Leader: John Bates or Josh Engel.

FIELD TRIP: Skokie Lagoons

Friday, May 11, 2018

These Friday trips pack a great list of warbler species during spring migration. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at Erickson Woods Forest Preserve parking lot. Turn north into the parking lot from Willow Rd. just east of the Edens Expressway. Leader: Lynne Carpenter.  

 

FIELD TRIP: Northwestern University Campus

Saturday, May 12, 2018

This area is a stopover for migrants of all kinds heading north. Park on the lake side of the upper deck of the south parking lot off of Sheridan Rd. and Clark St., north of Clark St. beach, at 8:30 a.m. Leaders: Libby Hill and TBA.

FIELD TRIP: Gillson Park

Sunday, May 13, 2018

Bird Walks in Gillson Park are sponsored by our partners Go Green Wilmette. Meet at 8 a.m. at the top of the Wallace Bowl amphitheater. Street parking. For more information, contact kglennemeier@gmail.com.

 

FIELD TRIP: Jackson Park and Lakefront; Wooded Isle

Sunday, May 13, 2018

We will be looking for migrating passerines at this park. Meet at 7:00 a.m. Park south of the Museum of Science and Industry after driving on the east side of the building. Leader: Dick Young.

FIELD TRIP: Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary

Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Join us for a spring morning at Montrose. Meet at 8:30 a.m. by the handicapped parking at the entrance to the sanctuary on W. Montrose Harbor Drive. Leader: Wayne Svoboda

 

FIELD TRIP: Perkins Woods

Thursday, May 17, 2018

Look for warblers and other migrants (and also a great display of spring wildflowers.). Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the corner of Ewing Avenue and Grant Streets. Park along Ewing Avenue. Leader: John Bates or Josh Engel.

 

FIELD TRIP: Skokie Lagoons

Friday, May 18, 2018

These Friday trips pack a great list of warbler species during spring migration. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at Erickson Woods Forest Preserve parking lot. Turn north into the parking lot from Willow Rd. just east of the Edens Expressway. Leader: Lynne Carpenter.

FIELD TRIP: Northwestern University Campus

Saturday, May 19, 2018

The NU campus has long been a stopover for migrants of all kinds headed south. Park on the lakeside of the upper deck of the south parking lot off of Sheridan Rd. and Clark St., north of Clark St. beach, at 8:30 a.m. Evanston. Leaders: Libby Hill and Isoo O’Brien.  

 

FIELD TRIP: Willow Slough and Kankakee Sands, Indiana

Sunday, May 20, 2018

Willow Slough and Kankakee Sands.  Near Morocco, Indiana, this 8,000-acre prairie and wetland restoration was originally part of the 500,000-acre Grand Marsh of the Kankakee River.  The site is owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy, which describes it as a “birders paradise” with over 200 species recorded since restoration began in 2001. Last year we spotted 62 different species on the trip.The destination is a two-hour drive from Evanston and carpooling is recommended and may be arranged through the trip leader. Details TBA.  RSVP to Leader: Mark Vaughan, markvaughan60201@gmail.com    

 

 

Plum Creek Forest Preserve, 5th Annual Trip

Saturday, June 16, 2018

Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the forest reserve parking lot on the east side of Burnham Rd., about 1 mile south of Sauk Trail.  Leader.  Josh Engel.  Limit of 10, RSVP to Josh at jengel2@fieldmuseum.org.