2020 Field Trip Calendar Announced!
We are pleased to announce this year’s field trips. We have tried to put together an exciting mixture of great birding, unique experiences and educational offerings for beginning and more advanced birders alike. Field trips span the Chicago and surrounding region and also include a trip downstate. We look forward to seeing you in the field!
March 20-21 – Booming Prairie Chickens in Newton, IL (overnight)
Steve Bayer, leader
Few performances in the bird world are more memorable than the dawn display of Greater Prairie-Chickens at their booming ground, or lek—the traditional spot where males dance, call, and try to impress females with their vigor while drumming with their feet and producing whooping and cackling calls.
This trip will be limited to a total of 12 young birders and adults, ages 11+ only.
April 26 – Illinois Beach State Park (IBSP) City Nature Challenge
Oliver Burrus, leader
Young birder Oliver Burrus will be leading us around the varied habitats of Illinois Beach State Park as we look for birds, insects, herps, and plants as part of the City Nature Challenge 2020.
May 17 – Montrose Point
Guest Leader TBD
There’s nothing like the magic of migration along the Chicago lakefront. Join us at Montrose as we stalk the magic hedge for migrating passerines and the dunes for shorebirds. The trip may continue to other locations like Jarvis or North Pond.
June 13 – Breeding Birds of the SW Cook County Forest Preserves
Isoo O’Brien, leader
Explore the Palos area for common and uncommon warblers, sparrows, woodpeckers, owls and other breeders. Learn about birding “by ear” to identify breeding bird songs.
August 29/30 – 4th ILYB Symposium
The ILYB semi-annual conference will take place at Ryerson Conservation Area. Join us for a day of birding, education, and art. Presentations and artwork by young birders and an inspiring special guest speaker to share a passion for birds with our young birders.
September 19 – Eggers Woods, Big Marsh and Calumet-area Hotspots
Guest leader TBD
Fall Migrants of Calumet – The Calumet area of Chicago was once a rich tapestry of wetlands and important resources for migrating birds. Despite years of heavy industry, pockets of quality habitat remain vibrant with a variety of wildlife.
October 18 – Nelson Lake and Fermi Lab
Guest Leader TBD
Please join us exploring the Nelson Lake forest preserve and FermiLab’s bird-rich trails for migrating waterfowl, shorebirds and passerines. Nelson Lake offers a diverse variety of plants and animals along wetland, woodland and prairie trails, while Fermi Lab’s diverse habitats boast over 280 species and is considered one of the premier sites for unusual geese, shorebirds, grassland birds and shrikes.
November 28 – Indiana Lakefront and Jasper-Pulaski Crane Viewing
Steve Bayer, leader
Cranes, Cranes and more Cranes! Join ILYB Coordinator Steve Bayer on our annual Indiana lakefront and Crane viewing adventure. This all-day event begins at the south shores of Lake Michigan doing an early winter lake watch for ducks, rare shorebirds and gulls. The afternoon moves inland to the Jasper-Pulaski FWA to the Sandhill Crane Viewing area in hopes of seeing thousands of cranes congregating in the fields in the late afternoon sunset.
Join ILYB Today!
Illinois Young Birders (ILYB) is a birding club for kids, teens and young adults ages 9 to 18.
IL Young Birders Memberships are just $10/youth or $40/Family*
*This membership level includes all family members living at the address listed.