Techny Basin Conservation Are offers an easy paved walking/cycling path winding around the Techny Basin wetlands, providing opportunities for early landbird migrants along the trail as well as shorebirds when mudflat conditions are right. (One birder had nine shorebird species at the same time last year.) We’ll start at Techny at 4:30 pm, grab a quick dinner at Whole Foods, then head to Kent Fuller Air Station Prairie at 6:45 pm to be in place at dusk when American Woodcocks begin peenting and taking to the sky in their amazing aerial courting display.

Bring scopes if you have them for viewing the Techny Basin wetlands. Dress for possible ticks and wet conditions at Air Station Prairie (high socks, light-colored pants, boots).

 Directions: Techny Basin Conservation Area is located south of Willow Road at 2050 Claire Ct. Driving west on Willow, turn left on Ravine Way, go 0.6 mile and turn left onto Claire Ct. at the JourneyCare sign (the street sign is blocked by a tree). Follow Claire Ct. south to the turnaround at the end and park in the gravel parking lot, leaving room for other vehicles. Air Station Prairie is a few minutes away at 2400 Compass Rd.

Leader: John Leonard 847-845-5563

Please register for the Shorebirds by Day, Woodcocks by Night field trip here so that we can get a head count and contact you in the event of a date change due to weather conditions.

This underbirded migrant hotspot was Lake County’s first forest preserve, created in 1961, and features five miles of trails along oak forest and wetlands. We’ll be looking for the first wave of landbird migrants – potentially earlier than usual due to climate change.

Directions: From US 41 North, turn east on Rte. 173. Drive 0.1 miles and turn left (north) into the preserve. Park in the first parking lot on your right.

Leaders: Wanda Supanich 224-433-1675 and Susan Lamberts

Please register for the Van Patten Woods field trip here so that we can get a head count and contact you in the event of a date change due to weather conditions.