Join one of Chicagoland’s most active Christmas Bird Counts. Nearly 100 people volunteer their time on a wintery Sunday to count birds. The count circle includes a wide variety of habitats from the forests of Palos to the pine plantations of the Morton Arboretum to the open grasslands of Green Valley. The Lisle-Arboretum Count is part of the National Audubon Society’s national Christmas Count program. The day of counting birds is followed by a Countdown Dinner from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Gelsosomo’s Pizzeria in Lemont.

Bird Count

Pre-registration by e-mail is required to participate in the Lisle-Arboretum Christmas Bird Count by 8:00 pm on Wednesday, December 13 to Carl Giometti at chicagiometti@gmail.com. More info is available online at http://geoffwilliamson. info/lislecbc/

Countdown Dinner

Cost $15 per person for COS members and $20 per person for non-members
INCLUDES: appetizers, pizza, salad, soft drinks, coffee and dessert. A CASH BAR will be available during the event. 

Schedule:
5:00 pm Soft drinks and coffee will be served as you tally up your birds
5:30 pm Food, drinks and dessert will be served
6:30 pm Countdown begins 

Dinner pre-registration REQUIRED Pre-registration by e-mail is required for the Count Dinner by 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 13 to Christine Williamson at birdchris@aol.com. You may pay by cash or check at the door.

Dinner Location:
Gelsosomo’s Pizzeria is located at 206 Main Street in downtown Lemont.

Driving directions: From I-55, head south on Lemont Road, cross the Des Plaines River and adjacent canals. Just past the bridge, take the exit on the right for Illinois Street. Follow Illinois Street to Lemont Street and turn left. Turn left on Main Street. Gelsosomo’s is the last building on the left before the overpass of Lemont Road.

Parking: in the train station commuter lot on the right, just across from the restaurant.

The Gelsosomo’s Pizzeria website has contact information and a location map http://www.gelslemont.com/about.html