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.  

Once on the Endangered Species List and extirpated in Illinois from 1961 until 1986, the Peregrine Falcon population has now passed historic levels.  Mary Hennen of the Field Museum will show us how the Peregrine population has recovered.  Mary will be accompanied by a live peregrine.

Geoff Williamson will equip us with a multifaceted approach to converting observation to identification. Identification involves more than just matching a bird to a depiction in a field guide or to a set of Internet photos. A more effective approach considers not only what the bird looks like, but also factors such as behavior, habitat, and vocalization. The warbler family provides an excellent opportunity to apply these tactics, helping you to improve your warbler – and other species – identification skills, just in time for migration.

Josh Engel: The historic literature provides a wealth of information about what Chicago-area birdlife was once like. From Robert Kennicott's time in the early 1800s to William Dreuth, who kept careful notes during his daily outings in Lincoln Park from 1928-1943, we have an abundance of data that gives us a historical baseline. Suffice it to say, times have changed! Josh will compare Chicago's birdlife today with what it was like over the last two centuries and will examine how things might continue to change in the face of climate and habitat changes that are underway right now. 

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. 

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

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, yellowstart5@yahoo.com. 847-657-6431.

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