Our Ruth Milgram speaker for this year is Olivia Gentile whose recent book “Life List” is a wonderfully nuanced portrait of the great Phoebe Snetsinger, the first person in the world to see 8,000 birds. Phoebe was certainly single-minded in her avian quest, but only someone with incredible mental strength could have accomplished what she did. Olivia had access to Phoebe’s personal papers and interviewed scores of people in writing this highly acclaimed book about an extraordinary person, whom many of us in this region had the privilege of knowing. There will be copies of “Life List” for sale which Olivia will be happy to sign.

The Illinois shoreline juts farthest into the lake at this Wilmette park making it an excellent spot to observe migrant passerines in the tall trees and wildflowers and shorebirds on the beach. This trip is cosponsored by ENSBC and Go Green Wilmette. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the top of the Wallace Bowl near the Lakeview Center. Leaders: Brian Herriott and Harry Drucker.

Reservations with the leader required. Start at Montrose to look for shorebirds and then bird on a sea of grass at local sod farms! Target birds: buff-breasted sandpiper, American golden-plover, and other “grasspipers.” Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the Magic Hedge entrance sign along Montrose Harbor Dr. From Lakeshore Dr. take Montrose Ave. east to Montrose Harbor Dr. Turn right (east) and park along the bend in the road. Leaders: David B. Johnson,

June 20, 2009 - Saturday Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. LIMITED TRIP, OPEN ONLY to the first 15 to sign up. Bird one the best places in the Chicago area to see upland sandpipers. Meet at 7:45 a.m. at the Midewin Welcome Center located at 30239 South State Rt. 53 in Wilmington, IL to organize a car pool into Midewin at 8:00 a.m. with an interpretive naturalist. Trip will last approximately 2.5 hours. Dress appropriately for ticks and weather. More info (and directions) at: http://www.fs.fed.us/mntp/visiting/tours.htm. RSVP to Jeanette Jaskula, 847-869-4671 or jmjaskula@yahoo.com.

LIMITED TRIP, OPEN ONLY to the first 8 to sign up. Canoe (or kayak) the North Shore Channel with local birder, Matthew Cvetas. Participants can launch their own canoe or rent one at Chicago River Canoe and Kayak. Rental rates are $15/hour for canoes/single kayaks or $20/hour for tandem kayaks. Meet at 7:00 a.m. at Chicago River Canoe and Kayak at 3220 Oakton St. (just east of McCormick Blvd.). Participants can canoe for 2 hours with Matthew or have the option to leave earlier. Participants are required to sign a waiver before canoeing. Reservations with the leader required. Leader: Matthew Cvetas, mcvetas@comcast.net.

LIMITED TRIP, OPEN ONLY to the first 15 to sign up. Expect later warblers, vireos, thrushes, and tanagers. Meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Grove east side of Milwaukee Ave, just south of Lake Ave. Contact leader to make reservations. Leader: Lynne Carpenter, 312-787-0093.

Monday Montrose Point.  Experience spring migration at this famous location. Reservations required. To reserve your spot, contact David B. Johnson at djohnsoda@comcast.net or 847-459-3989. Meet at 5:00 a.m. at the Magic Hedge entrance sign along Montrose Harbor Dr. From Lakeshore Dr. take Montrose Ave. east to Montrose Harbor Dr. Turn right (east) and park along the bend in the road. 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: Sue Robert and Libby Hill.

5:30 P.M. Second in a series of trips for when you don’t have much time and can’t go far from home, not to mention the price of gas. Each trip starts at a different location and the leader may choose to go to more than one park. May 12: Harbert Park: The parking lot is east of the North Shore Channel on McDaniel between Main and Dempster. Leader: Eleonora diLiscia.