Field Trips - June 2008
Sunday, June 08, 2008 - 07:00 AM
Songs and Calls of Breeding Woodland Birds at Deer Grove Forest Preserve
Leader: Carolyn Fields - c7echoes [at] aol [dot] com
Deer Grove was the first land acquired by the Cook County Forest Preserve District and the western component is among the larger tracts of unbroken forest left in the state. We will be focusing on listening for breeding woodland birds of the preserve and on the characteristics that differentiate their songs and calls. Birds that have nested regularly at this location in past years include most of the common woodland birds plus Cooper’s Hawk, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Veery, Ovenbird, Great Crested Flycatcher, Scarlet Tanager, Yellow-throated Vireo, and sometimes we are surprised with a couple less common species. This will give you good practice with woodland breeding bird songs and calls of the area especially if you are planning to do bird monitoring in a similar habitat. This trip is co-sponsored by Prairie Woods Audubon.
Directions: We will meet at the entrance to Deer Grove west on Dundee Road about a mile or so west of Quentin Road and just east of the exit to Rte. 14 Northwest Highway. Turn into the preserve entrance across from Palatine Stables and meet at the north end of the parking lot at 7 am.
Saturday, June 14, 2008 - 07:30 AM
Rollins Savanna
Leader: Donnie Dann - donniebird [at] yahoo [dot] com or (847) 486-9200
Rollins Savanna is one of Lake County’s largest Forest Preserves with 1,225 uninterrupted acres. Scattered groves of majestic oaks, wide-open prairies teeming with wildflowers and native grasses, and abundant wetlands offer the perfect setting for grassland birds – meadowlarks, bobolinks, henslow’s sparrows, dicksissels, and wetland birds – yellow-headed blackbirds. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Washington St. parking lot entrance to Rollins Savanna.
Directions: Rollins Savanna is located in Grayslake off of Washington St. in Lake County just west of Hwy. 45. From the South: go north on Route 41 or I-294 and turn west on Route 120. Go west to Route 45 and then turn north for about a mile to Washington, then left, or west again about 3/4 mile to the entrance on the right.
Sunday, June 22, 2008 - 08:00 AM
Nachusa Grasslands
Leader: Ann Haverstock - abhaver [at] sbcglobal [dot] net
This premier grassland gives one a feel for early Illinois. The prairies, fens and savannas create a base for a fine morning of birding. This place is truly one of the Nature Conservancy’s great saves. Bring a lunch and we will go to Lowden Miller State Park to eat and maybe pick up some of those woodland species. Meet at the Visitor Entrance on Lowden Rd.
Read more about Nachusa and its grassland birds here
Directions: From Chicago and points east:
- Take I-88 West (East-West Tollway)
- Exit at Route 251 North (Rochelle) to Route 38 West (To get on 38 West in Rochelle, you need to follow a few signs due to one-way streets.)
- Travel through Ashton and into Franklin Grove (approx. 16.5 miles), go two blocks past Casey’s gas station and turn right (north) at Daysville Road/1700E (sign: Franklin Creek State Park)
- Travel 1.5 miles north to Naylor Road/1950 North, then turn left (west) and go 2.2 miles to Lowden Road/1500 East
- Turn right (north) and go one mile to entrance on left.
From the South
- Take I-39 to Route 38 West
- Then, follow previous directions. (Route 38 makes a few turns in Rochelle so follow signs.)
From the North (I-39):
- Take I-39, and exit at Route 64
- Go west towards Oregon, Illinois for 16 miles to Daysville Road/1700 East, which is just before Oregon
- Go left (south) on Daysville for 2.5 miles to Lowden Road/1500 East (just past LaVigna Restaurant)
- Turn right and continue southwards on Lowden Road for eight miles (you will pass Flagg and Stonebarn Roads) to entrance, on the west (right) side of the road.
June 28 & 29, 2008
Southern Illinois Birds
Leader: Keith McMullen, O’Fallon, IL (Sigrid Schmidt 773/478-5908 sigmsch [at] comcast [dot] net)
Keith McMullen has graciously offered to lead this fabulous trip again this year – for the seventh straight year! The trip is limited to 15 people, so sign up early. Marion, Illinois will again be headquarters for this adventure. Most of the birding will be in Jackson, Union, Alexander and Johnson Counties. Localities visited will include Pomona-Cave Creek, Atwood Ridge, Ferne Clyffe State Park, Heron Pond and Horseshoe Lake. Some of the anticipated birds are Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Mississippi Kite, Black-necked Stilt, and Least Tern. Nesting warblers should include Northern Parula, Cerulean, Prothonotary, Worm-eating, Kentucky and Hooded. Blue grosbeaks and Summer Tanagers should be singing. Last year we totaled 113 species for the weekend! E-mail or call Sigrid to get more information and to sign up.