Chris Anchor, Wildlife Biologist with the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, will present a program on the return of keystone predators in Northern Illinois. These will include timber wolf, cougar, black bear and a special emphasis on the Cook County Urban Coyote Project. The program is going into its 13th year, and has marked over 650 coyotes making it the largest coyote project of its kind.

Expect fall passerine migrants, particularly warblers, vireos and thrushes, plus anything else we can find. Meet at 7:00 a.m. at Starbucks, 243 N Skokie Blvd just south of Lake Cook Rd, east side of Skokie Blvd near Nordstroms & Marshalls, to carpool with participants who are members of Botanic Gardens. Leader: David Johnson

June 23, 2013 – Sunday. Meet at 7:30am 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.

This unique trip will allow you a great chance to see Whip-poor-wills, a bird in serious decline, after hours in the South Unit of the State Park. Meet at 7:00 pm at the Nature Center parking lot to bird the area for local nesters prior to looking for the Whip-poor-wills. The Nature Center entrance is just west of the Illinois Beach Resort in the South Unit. Leader: Joel Greenberg.

May 24-25, Friday and Saturday. Watch for details in Bird Calls and on the web. Leader: David B. Johnson

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.

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

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

Check out the spring migrants and returning breeders at this beautiful Lake County forest preserve. Meet at 7:00 a.m. at the Brushwood parking lot. Ryerson Woods is on Riverwoods Rd, northwest of Deerfield. Leader: Gary Hantsbarger.