Field Trips - May 2009
Saturday, May 02, 2009 - 07:00 AM
Montrose Harbor, Magic Hedge and Jarvis
Leader: Dave Antieau dkantieau [at] sbcglobal [dot] net
Explore Chicago’s famous Magic Hedge and surrounding areas. Bird this world class location in search of shorebirds, sparrows, warblers and other spring migrants.
Directions: Exit Lakeshore Drive at Montrose east towards the lake, turn right at the bait shop and park along the harbor, near the signs for the Magic Hedge. We will meet at the sign near the Montrose volunteer parking area.
Sunday, May 03, 2009 - 07:00 AM
Miller Meadow and Jewish Cemeteries
Leader: Greg Neise 708-484-5613 gregneise [at] ilbirds [dot] com
Expand your horizons! Join us as we explore Miller Meadow, the Jewish Cemeteries and nearby sites along the Des Plaines River if time permits. We will search for spring warblers, sparrows, and other migrants. At Miller Meadow there may be an opportunity to walk into the beaver pond, which had several Prothonotary Warblers at this time last year. It requires a little bit of bushwhacking, and the trail may be partially under water, so we will assess the situation on the day of the trip. The cemeteries are also very good for warblers, sparrows and other migrants. Last year there were two Worm-eating Warblers at the Jewish Cemetery during the first week of May.
Directions: Meet at the north end of the Miller Meadow parking lot which is located on the east side of 1st Avenue about 1/2 mile south of Roosevelt Rd (just south of 15th St., opposite Loyola Medical Center). Once in the parking lot, turn left and continue as far north as possible and park. Bring walkie-talkies if you have them.
Saturday, May 16, 2009 - 06:30 AM
Chicago's Underbirded Parks - Humboldt Park
Leader: Sam Burckhardt and Sigrid Schmidt rawsbb [at] mac [dot] com or sigmsch [at] comcast [dot] net, 773-914-8608 cell
COS continues its series of Underbirded Chicago Parks field trips. Join Sam and Sigrid at Humboldt Park in search of spring migrants. This large park has a variety of habitats including ponds, prairies, and woods. If time permits, we will also go to Douglas Park.
Directions: Meet at the parking lot at the fieldhouse which is on the west side of Humboldt Park Blvd, south of North Avenue, and north of Division.
Sunday, May 17, 2009 - 07:00 AM
Northerly Island
Leader: Tom Kelly tkelly_1 [at] hotmail [dot] com
Northerly Island is a hot destination for birders. It’s a wonderful site because it juts out into the lake. In fact, at Northerly, there’s water on three sides, with Burnham Harbor as its western border. The location of this preserve attracts many common and rare migrant birds to its weedy, grassy fields and especially to the scrubby area right along the water’s edge.
Directions: Meet by the old terminal building at 7:00 a.m. From Lake Shore Drive, exit on 18th Street and head east following the signs for the museum campus (Field, Shedd and Adler). After the road turns to the north, continue north after the stop sign at McFetridge Drive. Turn right/east when the road bends just before the Shedd Aquarium. Continue east to the second stop sign. Turn right/south. Continue past the concert venue on the left and the small yacht club on the right until you see the old Meigs Field terminal building on the left.
Saturday, May 23, 2009 - 07:00 AM
Bartel Grasslands
Leader: Dick Riner dickriner [at] gmail [dot] com
Bartel Grassland ground-nesting-bird field trip and tour of the Wetland Expansion north, northeast and east of Bartel. [actually the tour will only be the north part of the project] Bring waterproof footwear, preferably boots. You will hopefully see Bobolinks, Meadowlarks, and Henslow Sparrows as well as other breeding and migrating birds.
Directions: From I-57, exit at Vollmer Rd and head west. Turn right (north) at Central Ave, then left (west) on Flossmoor Rd. Parking is on the south side of Flossmoor Road just west of Central Avenue in a new lot with a sign for Bartel Grassland. Meet Dick at the parking area.