Species make up your life list, your year list and your field guides, but they are also key units of evolution and units of conservation and scientists do not always agree on what is and what is not a species (and sometimes they even flip flop).  John Bates, Associate Curator of Birds at the Field Museum will discuss the issues, challenges and value of defining species (or not) with examples from around the world.

The rusty- patched bumblebee, Bombus affinis, has become the poster child for our dangerously declining wild native bees. Why it was chosen, how it became endangered, and what can be done about it are the topics of Terry Miesle's beautifully illustrated talk. Citizen Scientists can help by sending observations to reporting agencies, and Terry will provide information to help you identify and photograph these bees.  Terry has been formally monitoring insects, focusing on bees, at Fermilab Natural Areas since 2014 and has photographed numerous prairies throughout the Chicago region.  He's involved with the Native Bee Awareness Initiative and reports data to Beespotter and other data collection agencies.

Join us for our final walk of this migration season at 7:30 a.m. Look for warblers, thrushes and other migrants.  Meet at the corner of Grant and Ewing.

Cuba is a land of beautiful landscapes, endemic birds, wonderful people, incredible cars, and constant music. Led by our own Josh Engel with a wonderful local guide, an ENSBC group traveled from the hills west of Havana to the barrier islands to the east and to the swamps in the country’s south. We covered a lot of ground and found nearly all of the endemic birds, including the spectacular Cuban Trogon, the remarkable Bee Hummingbird, and the rare Zapata Wren. Despite Cuba's being something of a "forbidden land" for Americans, we found the traveling to be easy, the people to be welcoming, and the birds to be fabulous. Libby returned to Cuba, birding her way with a different group to different locations.

The NU campus has long been a stopover for migrants of all kinds headed south in fall. 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. Leaders: Libby Hill and Sarah Flax.

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. Leaders: Libby Hill and Nancy Halliday. 

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 signup-for this trip is required.  Registration forms are available from Walter Marcisz, wmarcisz@att.net or 773-646-3034 or 312-206-9889 (cell). Completed forms must be turned in by July 17.  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.

Gillson Park, Wilmette. 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.

Gillson Park, Wilmette. 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.