News and Events

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October 1= Birdseed Sale Order Deadline!

Friday, October 1, 2021
Contact: Tim Smith, email

Click here to download the order form.
Mail form with check payable to:
Northwest Illinois Audubon Society (NIAS)
%Tim Smith
1975 Mound Hill Road
Dixon, IL 61021

Program: Photo Tour of Isle Royale National Park

Tuesday, October 5, 2021
7 p.m.
Zoom
Presenter: Don Miller

Isle Royale National Park is a remote island cluster in Lake Superior, near Michigan’s border with Canada. It’s a car-free wilderness of forests, lakes and waterways, where moose and wolves’ roam.
Join Don Miller as he takes us on a tour of this wilderness island. It is the least visited National Park, but the most revisited National Park. Don has been fortunate enough to backpack on it three times over the past decade and will share photos of the great diversity of plant life found there, as well as some wildlife and scenic shots. IRNP is also the place of the longest predator and prey research study documenting the population rise and fall of the moose and wolf numbers over five decades. It is a truly a magnificent place of wonder and awe.

Don Miller was past Director of Severson Dells Nature Center for almost 30 years. He is presently volunteering with restoration efforts with BCCD, NLI, and he assists in community science projects with SDNC and is greatly enjoying helping out where he can with NIAS. He has received the Atwood Award, the Barbara and George Fell award, the Malcom Swann award and others. He is the author of the book, Life Afloat – Stories from Notes from the Dells 1989-2009, but he most likes to tromp through prairies, rivers and woods with his grandkids.

The NIAS Board has determined that we will Zoom all programs through the January 2022 program. At that time, we will determine where we are at with covid and determine what will take place in the following months. Please email nwilaudubon@gmail.com if interested in the program and a Zoom link will be sent out a week before the program date.

Event: New Moon Campfire at Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve

Wednesday, October 6, 2021
6 p.m.
Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve, Forreston, IL (SE corner of West Grove and Freeport Rds)
Coordinator: Mary Blackmore, 815-938-3204

New Moon Campfire at our Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve. Stroll the trails at 6 p.m. to observe plants and animals; the campfire follows at 6:30. Clear skies should give us a spectacular star show, including the Milky Way. S’mores will be provided. Bring a lawn chair, flashlight and water.
The preserve is located about 3 miles southwest of Forreston in the southeast corner of West Grove and Freeport Rds. The parking lot is off of West Grove Rd. If weather is questionable call Mary at 815-938-3204.

NIAS Annual Bird Seed Sale

Thursday, October 14, 2021, to Friday, October 15, 2021
O'Mara Transport Company, 1240 S. Adams St, Freeport, IL

NIAS annual Bird Seed Sale Fundraiser:
Freeport pickups and deliveries, (Thurs. Oct. 14, noon - 4:00 p.m. and Fri. Oct. 15, 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.)
If you did not receive a Bird Seed Sale flier, call Tim at 815-835-5109 or click here to print out a copy.

NIAS Annual Bird Seed Sale

Saturday, October 16, 2021
8:30 – 11:30 a.m.
See Below

NIAS annual Bird Seed Sale Fundraiser:
Stockton (Sat. Oct. 16, 8:30 - 11:30 a.m.)
John Day residence: 815-947-3151
12987 E. Blair Hill

Forreston (Sat. Oct. 16, 8:30 - 11:30 a.m.)
Anne Straight residence: 815-938-3263
606 S. 5th Ave.

Dakota (Sat. Oct. 16, 8:30-11:30 a.m.)
Chris Kruger residence: 815-238-9259
201 W. Zimmerman St.

Davis (Sat. Oct. 16, 8:30-11:30 a.m.)
Jeremy Dixon residence: 815-821-3921
319 N. Wright St.

If you did not receive a Bird Seed Sale flier, call Tim at 815-835-5109 or click here to print out a copy.

Stewardship: Prairie Seed Collecting at Silver Creek Biodiversity Preserve

Sunday, October 17, 2021
2 – 4 p.m.
Silver Creek Biodiversity Preserve, Leaf River, IL (SE corner of Leaf River and West Grove Rds)
Coordinator: Mary Blackmore, 815-938-3204

Prairie Seed Collecting at our Silver Creek Biodiversity Preserve, 2-4 p.m. Tools, snacks and guidance provided. Bring water and insect repellent. The preserve is about 2 miles south of Leaf River in the southwest corner of the intersection of Leaf River Rd. and West Grove Rd. Parking is off of Leaf River Rd (S. Main St. crosses NWY 72 in Leaf River and becomes Leaf River Rd.) If the weather is questionable call Mary at 815-938-3204.

Field Trip: Autumn Stroll at Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve

Wednesday, October 20, 2021
9 – 11 a.m.
Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve, Forreston, IL (SE corner of West Grove and Freeport Rds)
Coordinator: Mary Blackmore, 815-938-3204
Join us for this leisurely walk as we observe the more subtle fall beauty of our preserve. We hope to see both resident and fall migrant birds as well as a few late-blooming forbs and the lovely fall color of native grasses. Bring binoculars and insect repellent. If weather is questionable, call Mary.

Field Trip: Oaktober

Saturday, October 23, 2021
9 – 10 a.m.
Oakdale Nature Preserve, 4433 S. Cranes Grove Rd., Freeport, IL
Coordinator:
Adam Moderow, 815-541-5842
Oak trees are a special part of our local ecosystem. Most of us see an oak tree every day, even if we don’t realize it. This Oaktober, our program will focus on these trees that too often go overlooked. We will take a hike and learn how to identify oak trees, (and some others,) learn about how they have adapted to and shaped our environment and discuss their role as a host species. What better place to celebrate Oaktober than Oakdale? We anticipate not needing masks but please have one with you should guidelines change. Meet by the Mogle building, just off of the parking lot.
Contact Adam Moderow at adamoderow@gmail.com or at 815-541-5842 to register in case it becomes necessary to limit the number of participants.

NIAS Newsletter Deadline

Thursday, October 28, 2021

Stewardship: Prairie Seed Processing

Thursday, October 28, 2021
1 – 4 p.m.
3350 S Mill Grove Rd, Pearl City, IL
Coordinator: Anita Nienhuis, 815-443-2401

Seed processing is easy and fun; no experience is necessary. It’s sort of like a botanical quilting bee, with lots of good conversation.

There will be a few changes this year, mostly in the form of COVID precautions:
•Everyone will need a mask, preferably close-fitting. We will provide disposable “dust masks” if needed. The masks will not only help with the virus, but also with the considerable dust that we raise while rubbing seedheads across screens.
•Weather permitting there also will be an outdoor work space. All mint species will be processed outdoors as well as other species as time allows.
•While snacks will be available, we will not have our customary potluck celebration on the last work day.
•Please call Anita at 815-443-2401 to let her know which day(s) you’ll be attending. Our plans may need to be changed if pandemic conditions worsen.
Directions to the Nienhuis home at 3350 S. Mill Grove Rd., Pearl City: Take Pearl City Rd. west from Freeport about 7 miles. Turn left (south) on Block Rd. In a little over 1 mile turn left (south) on Mill Grove Rd. The Nienhuis driveway is on your right, less than ½ mile down Mill Grove Rd. and directly across the entrance to a campground.