COME JOIN US FOR MIGRATION TIME TO SEE MANY BIRDS AND WALK THROUGH THE BEAUTIFUL SPRING WOODS SURROUNDING THE NATURE CENTER. ALL LEVELS OF BIRDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND. THE WALK LEADERS ALWAYS WELCOME QUESTIONS. FOR INFORMATION OR IF YOU NEED DIRECTIONS, CALL THE CHICAGO AUDUBON OFFICE AT (773) 539-6793. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A MEMBER OF CHICAGO AUDUBON TO JOIN US. EVERYONE IS WELCOME!

These walks continue throughout the year, weather permitting. Bring binoculars, field guides, and dress for the weather. Many species are seen. Meet at Clarence Darrow Bridge, just south of the Museum of Science & Industry. You do not need to be a member of Chicago Audubon to participate. For details and directions, contact Pat Durkin at [email protected]. Everyone is welcome!

See how many birds you can see without moving from a central spot between 6:00 a.m. and noon. River Trail Nature Center is located at 3120 Milwaukee Ave, Northbrook. For more information, contact the River Trail Nature Center (847-824-9360).

Look for migrant songbirds, especially warblers, vireos, flycatchers, thrushes and sparrows, plus resident woodland birds. Meet at Bemis Woods North, Wolf Road between 31st and Ogden, Westchester. Park at easternmost part of parking area, just west of Wolf Road.  Leader: Doug Stotz ([email protected]).   

It should be the height of migration! Meet at Willow Road at I-94 (Erickson Woods Parking Lot).  Walk leader:  Dave Willard ([email protected]).

IF YOU WISH TO DONATE TO BIRDATHON! 2017, CLICK HERE.

For the past eighteen years, the Chicago Audubon Society has held the Annual Dr. William S. Beecher Birdathon Cup Challenge as one of our fundraising events. Dr. Beecher was Director Emeritus of the Chicago Academy of Sciences and one of the pioneering birders of the Chicago area. Some years ago, he honored Chicago Audubon by consenting to allow us to use his name for our annual fundraising event. The Cup challenge involves teams of people competing to see how many different species of birds they can identify within a specified time limit.

Here is how this works:  Birdathon teams comb Cook, Lake, McHenry, DuPage, Kane or Will counties on a specified date. This year those dates are Saturday, May 13 or Sunday, May 14 (or both if you have the energy). The teams identify as many species as they can within one day within the county of their choosing. The team that identifies the most species in the designated time period will have its name added to the Beecher Cup which is on display in the Bird Division at The Field Museum. Last year, six teams identified 172 species, with the winning team finding 156. Anyone interested in participating on either day, whether part of a team or individually, should contact Dave Willard as soon as possible ([email protected]). New birders are encouraged to participate—this is much more about fun than competition!

There are a number of ways to donate or pledge. You may donate a flat amount (as many have done in the past), or you may pledge an amount per total species identified by your favorite team, or you can pledge an amount based on the total species count of all teams. If you wish to donate or pledge by credit card, please click here. If you prefer, you can call our office to use your card over the phone (733-539-6793). All donations and pledges are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. All funds raised through Birdathon go toward Chicago Audubon programs. More than ever before, your support is essential and greatly appreciated! For a description of how the teams work, click Read more ...

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These workdays are sponsored by Chicago Audubon. Activities include buckthorn cutting, brush pile burning and other management endeavors. Meet at the Tower Road parking lot, east of the lagoon bridge, in Winnetka. For further information, please call Dave Kosnik at 847-456-6368. Everyone is welcome!

Explore riparian woodlands and shrublands at this rarely visited site. Meet in last section of parking lot, south side of Lake Ave and just east of the river, Glenview. Walk leader:  John Elliott (708-567-4363).

LOCATION:  NORTH PARK VILLAGE NATURE CENTER, BUILDING D, 5801 N PULASKI ROAD, CHICAGO.

TIME:  FROM 10:00 A.M. TO 3:00 P.M.

We'll look for migrants and active residents on center trails. Walk begins at River Trail Nature Center, 3120 Milwaukee Ave, Northbrook. Walk Leader: Chicago Audubon representative, John Elliott (708-567-4363). The Nature Center invites birders to stay after the walk for their Restoration Work Day which begins at10:00 a.m. (for questions about the Work Day, call the River Trail Nature Center at 847-824-8360).

We'll be searching for sparrows, late migrant waterfowl, and early warblers. Wear hiking boots (we'll be walking on paved and unpaved paths), and bring binoculars. The walk will last about 2 hours. Meet in the parking lot of the Boathouse at the far end of the Busse Woods Boating Center entrance.

Look for migrant sparrows, woodpeckers, early warblers, and resident woodland birds. Bemis Woods North, Wolf Road, between 31st and Ogden, Westchester. Park at Bemis Woods North, easternmost part of parking area, just west of Wolf Road. Walk leader: Doug Stotz ([email protected]).

In anticipation of the flood of birds to come, we'll look for early sparrows, kinglets, and warblers. Meet at Erickson Woods Parking Lot, Willow Road at I-94, Winnetka. Walk leader:  Dave Willard ([email protected]).

In a recent informal poll of birders taken through the listserv called IBET (Illinois Birders Exchanging Thoughts), Jackson Park was ranked as the sixth best birding spot in the entire state of Illinois. Field Museum Conservation Ecologist and local birding guru, Dr. Doug Stotz, will give an illustrated, data-filled talk demonstrating the extremely high value for migratory birds of the habitats in Jackson Park. Don't miss this informative and inspirational program. Light refreshments at 7:00 p.m.

THIS PROGRAM RESCHEDULED TO THURSDAY, APRIL 13.