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.

Field Trip: Evanston and Wilmette Winter Birding Highlights

Saturday, February 9, 2019

 Please join us for a joint trip with the Illinois Young Birders and the Evanston North-Shore Bird Club. We will start at the Northwestern University campus, where we will look for ducks and gulls, including the Canvasback that is spending the winter, as well as Black-crowned Night-Herons that sometimes winter here. We will end our visit chumming for gulls, hoping for an Iceland or Glaucous Gull to join the Herring and Ring-billed Gulls. We'll continue on to other nearby spots, including Lighthouse Beach and the Bahai Temple (where there was a Merlin on the recent Christmas Bird Count), before ending at Gillson Park around mid-day. Meet at 8:30 a.m. in the parking lot.

Map of meeting location 

Directions: From Sheridan Rd. and Lincoln Ave. in Evanston, go east on Lincoln. Follow it as it curves to the south and turns into Campus Dr., around a parking garage, and curves back east and dead ends in a parking lot on the lake. 

Leaders: Josh Engel and Steve Bayer 

 

FIELD TRIP: Looney Trip 100th Birthday event!

Saturday, April 6, 2019

Back by popular demand.  Meet at 8:00 a.m. at east side of Diamond Lake. Consolidated carpooling from the Gale Street Restaurant parking lot, 935 Diamond Lake Rd. Mundelein. RSVP with leader David B. Johnson: djohnsoda@comcast.net. Space limited to 8-9 cars. Trip will end at approx. 2:30 p.m. Lunch at El Puerto, Fox Lake.

Air Station Prairie Woodcocks.

Saturday, April 13, 2019

Come out to see the spectacular aerial displays of the American Woodcock at dusk! The Air Station Prairie in Glenview is a great location for these displays and we may even spot a woodcock on the ground. Meet on the deck of the interpretive center at 6:45 p.m. Dress for the weather.  Leader: Jeff Sanders. 

FIELD TRIP: Perkins Woods

Thursday, May 2, 2019

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 Ave. and Grant St. Park along Ewing Ave.  Leader: John Bates or Josh Engel. 

FIELD TRIP: Fridays at Skokie Lagoons

Friday, May 3, 2019

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 4, 2019

This area is a stopover for migrants of all kinds heading north in spring.  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 5, 2019

Bird Walks in Gillson Park are sponsored by our partner Go Green Wilmette, Meet at 8 a.m. at the beach by the dog park. Parking is available for non-residents of Wilmette through May. For more information, contact kglennemeier@gmail.com.

FIELD TRIP: Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary

Tuesday, May 7, 2019

Join us for a morning at Montrose.  Meet at 8:00 a.m. at handicapped parking. Leader: Wayne Svoboda

FIELD TRIP: The Grove

Wednesday, May 8, 2019

 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.

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FIELD TRIP: Perkins Woods

Thursday, May 9, 2019

 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 Ave. and Grant St. Park along Ewing Ave.  Leader: John Bates or Josh Engel. 

FIELD TRIP: Fridays at Skokie Lagoons

Friday, May 10, 2019

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 11, 2019

This area is a stopover for migrants of all kinds heading north in spring.  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: Jackson Park and Lakefront – Wooded Isle

Sunday, May 12, 2019

Despite the controversy surrounding this historic park, 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: Gillson Park

Sunday, May 12, 2019

Bird Walks in Gillson Park are sponsored by our partner Go Green Wilmette, Meet at 8 a.m. at the beach by the dog park. Parking is available for non-residents of Wilmette through May. For more information, contact kglennemeier@gmail.com.

FIELD TRIP: Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary

Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Join us for a morning at Montrose.  Meet at 8:00 a.m. at handicapped parking. Leader: Wayne Svoboda

FIELD TRIP: Perkins Woods

Thursday, May 16, 2019

 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 Ave. and Grant St. Park along Ewing Ave.  Leader: John Bates or Josh Engel. 

FIELD TRIP: Fridays at Skokie Lagoons

Friday, May 17, 2019

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 18, 2019

This area is a stopover for migrants of all kinds heading north in spring.  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 19, 2019

Bird Walks in Gillson Park are sponsored by our partner Go Green Wilmette, Meet at 8 a.m. at the beach by the dog park. Parking is available for non-residents of Wilmette through May. For more information, contact kglennemeier@gmail.com.

 

FIELD TRIP: Kankakee Sands, Morocco, Indiana

Sunday, May 19, 2019

3rd trip 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. 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. 

 

FIELD TRIP: Perkins Woods

Thursday, May 23, 2019

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 Ave. and Grant St. Park along Ewing Ave.  Leader: John Bates or Josh Engel. 

FIELD TRIP: Fridays at Skokie Lagoons

Friday, May 24, 2019

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:Wayne Svoboda

 

FIELD TRIP: Gillson Park

Sunday, May 26, 2019

Bird Walks in Gillson Park are sponsored by our partner Go Green Wilmette, Meet at 8 a.m. at the beach by the dog park. Parking is available for non-residents of Wilmette through May. For more information, contact kglennemeier@gmail.com.

FIELD TRIP: Perkins Woods

Thursday, May 30, 2019

 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 Ave. and Grant St. Park along Ewing Ave.  Leader: John Bates or Josh Engel. 

FIELD TRIP: Plum Creek Forest Preserve

Saturday, June 15, 2019

6th Annual trip! Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the forest preserve parking lot on the east side of Burnham Rd., about 1 mile south of Sauk Trail. We'll spend the morning at Josh's favorite local summer birding spot, looking especially for grassland and shrubland birds that are otherwise rare so close to Chicago. Henslow's and Grasshopper Sparrows, Dickcissel, Yellow-breasted Chat, and White-eyed Vireo all breed there. Leader: Josh Engel. Limit of 10, RSVP to Josh at josh@redhillbirding.com.

FIELD TRIP: Calumet Sewage Ponds

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Don’t miss this opportunity to visit the region’s premier shorebird site. Combined trip with Chicago Ornithological Society. Meet at Sewage Ponds at 7:30 a.m., Trip ends at 11 a.m. Limit: 25 people. 

Advance sign-up for this trip is required. Registration forms available from Walter Marcisz, wmarcisz@att.net or 773-646-3034 or 312-206-9889 (cell). Completed form must be turned in by July 10.  Send forms by snail mail to Walter Marcisz,

13416 S. Mackinaw Ave, Chicago, IL 60633. 

No cameras but  scopes and binoculars OK.  Directions will be provided by Walter Marcisz.