by NIAS | Apr 27, 2024
Thank you for making a pledge to our participating birders!
Annual Birdathon Fundraiser
This year, our chapter marks its 45th year of sponsoring a BIRDATHON fundraising event! In that time, thousands of dollars have been raised for bird conservation. Please join us in making this year’s effort our best yet!
We invite you to make a pledge to any of the birders listed on the form to the right who will be participating in our chapter’s annual BIRDATHON on May 5th. Your pledge, for instance 15¢, will be per SPECIES of bird that your selected birder(s) identifies on that day. Your birder will contact you after the count with their species total and collect your contribution.
Your money indeed goes where the birds go! All BIRDATHON proceeds are shared by organizations that do a tremendous job of:
protecting and improving bird habitat on wintering grounds, migration corridors and nesting sites,c onnecting people with nature, providing education opportunities for the public, and collecting scientific data through bird counts and birdbanding.
Those organizations are:
Northwest Illinois Audubon Society
National Audubon’s Mississippi River Initiative
Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin
Belize Audubon Society
Stewards of the Upper Mississippi
Sand Bluff Bird Observatory
THANK YOU so much for your support of birds and our BIRDATHON!
by NIAS | Jan 22, 2024
Event: Woodcock Watches
Wednesday, March 20, 7:00 pm
Happy Equinox!
Coordinator: Mary Blackmore
815-938-3204
Join us for any or all of these evening outings to watch and listen for American Woodcocks performing their amazing courtship display. Please note the earlier starting time on March 7 which occurs prior to the start of daylight saving time.
The woodcock’s “Sky Dance” itself is part ground-strutting and part zig-zagging flight, barely visible in the early evening sky. More fascinating perhaps are the sounds that go with it, the repetitious vocal “peent!” followed by the twittering and chirping sounds made when air rushes through primary flight feathers during the bird’s flight. On a quiet evening, it is pure audio magic.
In the past we have had 3-6 woodcocks performing their twilight display for about 3-4 weeks. When and if this begins is an educated guess, so be sure to call the listed leader to register in advance and to receive confirmation that the birds have returned and the weather is suitable.
The preserve is located about 3 miles southwest of Forreston in the southeast corner of West Grove and Freeport Roads. The parking lot is off of West Grove Rd.
Make time to experience this unique avian harbinger of spring. The joy will be all yours.
– Mary Blackmore
by NIAS | Jan 22, 2024
Event: Woodcock Watches
Saturday, March 16, 7:00 pm
Coordinator: Anne Straight
815-938-3263
Join us for any or all of these evening outings to watch and listen for American Woodcocks performing their amazing courtship display. Please note the earlier starting time on March 7 which occurs prior to the start of daylight saving time.
The woodcock’s “Sky Dance” itself is part ground-strutting and part zig-zagging flight, barely visible in the early evening sky. More fascinating perhaps are the sounds that go with it, the repetitious vocal “peent!” followed by the twittering and chirping sounds made when air rushes through primary flight feathers during the bird’s flight. On a quiet evening, it is pure audio magic.
In the past we have had 3-6 woodcocks performing their twilight display for about 3-4 weeks. When and if this begins is an educated guess, so be sure to call the listed leader to register in advance and to receive confirmation that the birds have returned and the weather is suitable.
The preserve is located about 3 miles southwest of Forreston in the southeast corner of West Grove and Freeport Roads. The parking lot is off of West Grove Rd.
Make time to experience this unique avian harbinger of spring. The joy will be all yours.
– Mary Blackmore
by NIAS | Jan 22, 2024
Event: Woodcock Watches
Thursday March 7, 6:00 pm
Coordinator: Mary Blackmore
815-938-3204
Join us for any or all of these evening outings to watch and listen for American Woodcocks performing their amazing courtship display. Please note the earlier starting time on March 7 which occurs prior to the start of daylight saving time.
The woodcock’s “Sky Dance” itself is part ground-strutting and part zig-zagging flight, barely visible in the early evening sky. More fascinating perhaps are the sounds that go with it, the repetitious vocal “peent!” followed by the twittering and chirping sounds made when air rushes through primary flight feathers during the bird’s flight. On a quiet evening, it is pure audio magic.
In the past we have had 3-6 woodcocks performing their twilight display for about 3-4 weeks. When and if this begins is an educated guess, so be sure to call the listed leader to register in advance and to receive confirmation that the birds have returned and the weather is suitable.
The preserve is located about 3 miles southwest of Forreston in the southeast corner of West Grove and Freeport Roads. The parking lot is off of West Grove Rd.
Make time to experience this unique avian harbinger of spring. The joy will be all yours.
– Mary Blackmore
