Next Field Trips
Join us on our next bird watching field trip. Unless otherwise noted, there is no charge for participation. Some trips may require prior registration or are prioritized for Lake Cook Audubon members. This will be noted in the field trip description.
The arrival of spring waterfowl is the first sign of spring for local birders as loons, pelicans and multiple duck species drop into Lake County lakes on the way north to their breeding grounds. Lake/Cook’s annual multi-stop spring waterfowl trip begins at Diamond Lake in Mundelein, with additional stops and directions provided at Diamond Lake based on leaders’ scouting to find the most productive sites. Dress warm, bring scopes if you have them, and get ready to greet what is usually dozens of Common Loons and American White Pelicans at one of our favorite inland waterways.
Directions: Meet at Gale Street Inn parking lot, 935 N. Diamond Lake Rd., Mundelein.
Leader: Jeff Sanders 847-675-7172 (landline)
Contact day of trip: Rena Cohen 847-971-1107
Register here.
Texas Hill Country and Big Bend Led by Red Hill Birding
Texas Hill Country and Big Bend National Park are must-visit U.S. destinations for avid birders. Highlights include Golden-cheeked Warbler and Black-capped Vireo, two endangered migratory songbirds that breed exclusively in south central Texas; Colima Warbler, a montane species found nowhere else in the U.S.; and stunners like Painted Bunting, Painted Redstart, Lucifer Hummingbird, Greater Roadrunner and many more – plus the spectacle of millions of Mexican Free-tailed Bats leaving their roosting cave in a small town 90 minutes west of San Antonio in the evening.
Red Hill’s last trip here tallied 181 species, including the Elf Owl that was voted #1 bird of the trip. The lodge at Big Bend is scheduled to close for renovations at the end of the season, so this will be the last opportunity to make the trip for several years.
Email renabird3@gmail.com for a detailed itinerary and pricing. Space is limited; Lake/Cook members have priority.
Next Programs
Our programs are open to the public and free. Most are offered at Heller Nature Center in Highland Park. Some may be presented on Zoom. This will be noted in the program description. Many past-programs can now be viewed on YouTube here.
Our program year 2024-2025 is in development and programs are being published when set up.
Do you struggle to distinguish Alder Flycatchers from Acadians, or Tree Swallows from Rough-winged? Have trouble deciding if you’re looking at a Willow Flycatcher or an Eastern Wood-Pewee, or ID’ing Cliff and Cave Swallows on the wing (which is how you usually see them)? With spring migration beginning, join us to get tips and tricks for identifying these aerial insectivores using field marks like tail and wingtip length as well as song mnemonics (fitz-bew!). In this interactive multimedia presentation, Matt Hayes, an avian biologist and Illinois Audubon Society’s Assistant Director, will also discuss why birds that catch their food in flight face population declines and what we can do to help save them.
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Who We Are
We are a gathering of people who enjoy bird watching and studying birds and wildlife. We welcome people of all ages and skills to join us on our field trips, programs and other events. Most of our monthly programs are bird-oriented, but we also address environmental and natural history topics.
The Illinois Audubon Society is the state’s oldest conservation organization that functions as a land trust to protect and enhance Illinois’ unique habitats and to educate the public about them. Organized in 1897, Illinois Audubon is not affiliated with the National Audubon Society.