News and Events

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
				1	2	3
4	5	6	7	8	9	10
11	12	13	14	15	16	17
18	19	20	21	22	23	24
25	26	27	28	29	30

Zoom Program: Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail with Greer Black

Tuesday, April 6, 2021
7 p.m.
Virtual via Zoom
Presenter: Greer Black

Walking over 2,100 miles of the Appalachian Trail and finding that wasn’t enough for Greer Black, he then a few years later walked over 2,600 miles of the Pacific Coast Trail. The trail starts in Mexico and goes to Canada through California, Oregon, and Washington. The Pacific Crest Trail webpage describes the trail as “revealing the beauty of the desert, unfolds the glaciated expanses of the Sierra Nevada, travels deep forests, and provides commanding vistas of volcanic peaks in the Cascade Range. The trail symbolizes everything there is to love—and protect—in the Western United States.” Zoom in to listen to the adventure and lessons learned on Greer’s amazing journey. Greer currently lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He expects to receive his J.D. from Marquette University in May 2021. He still enjoys backpacking, and his most recent trip was 175 miles on the Ozark Highlands Trail in Arkansas.

For all individuals who want to join the program, please email nwilaudubon@gmail.com to receive the link to join this Zoom program. This program will begin at 7:00 pm, first with any chapter announcements from the president and board members, followed by our presenter. There will be time for questions and discussions at the end. This program is open to the public!

Bird Walk: Wetland Areas of eastern Stephenson County

Wednesday, April 7, 2021
8 – 11 a.m.
Nieman's Pond, Freeport, IL
Coordinator: Mary Blackmore, 815-938-3204

Wetland areas of Eastern Stephenson County. Meet at Nieman’s Pond just east of Freeport. Take Hwy. 20 east out of Freeport and turn left (north) on Springfield Rd. and drive about a mile to the pond. Coordinator: Mary Blackmore (815-938-3204).

COVID Precautions: There will be no car-pooling, sharing of equipment, or group lunch out following the walks. Please bring your mask for times when physical distancing is not possible.

Field Trip: Pasque Flowers @ Freeport Prairie

Friday, April 9, 2021
3 – 4 p.m.
Freeport Prairie, Walnut Rd, Freeport, IL (SW corner Walnut and Meadows Dr)
Leader: Leader: Mary Blackmore, 815-938-3204

Blooming Pasque Flowers at the Freeport Prairie

COVID Precautions: There will be no car-pooling or sharing of equipment. Please bring your mask for times when physical distancing is not possible.

Join us as we admire one of the prairie’s harbingers of spring, the Pasque Flower. Unlike the crocus it resembles, a Pasque Flower, Anemone patens, is a member of the buttercup family. In early spring the plant sends up a flower stalk in advance of leaves so what you see are delicate pale violet blooms nestled in the muted tan tangle of last year’s prairie grasses. Come and see how Pasque Flower blooms actually move to track the sun. Please contact Mary if you plan to attend. This trip will only happen if the flowers are blooming.

We’ll meet in the prairie’s parking lot just off of Walnut Rd, after the Crane Count -- approximately 3:00 PM.

Virtual Screening of Racing Extinction - receive link and watch film at home

Sunday, April 11, 2021, to Thursday, April 22, 2021
Virtual via Zoom
Watch at home anytime between April 11 and April 22

Then join us for a discussion of the film via Zoom on Thursday, April 22 at 7:00 p.m.

Synopsis: This is a 2015 documentary from Oscar® -winning director Louie Psihoyos (The Cove) that follows a team of artists and activists on an undercover operation to expose the hidden world of endangered species and the race to protect them against mass extinction. Spanning the globe to infiltrate the world’s most dangerous black markets and using high tech tactics to document the link between carbon emissions and species extinction, Racing Extinction reveals stunning, neverbefore seen images that truly change the way we see the world.

To view the film – click this link to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/149484767965 

You will then be emailed the link to the film and you can then watch on your own time between the dates above. When you receive the link to the film, you will also receive the Zoom link to join the optional film discussion. If you have any questions, contact us at nwilaudubon@gmail.com

Bird Walk: Duck's Misery and south Jane Addams Trail

Tuesday, April 13, 2021
8 – 11 a.m.
Leader: Laura Dufford 815-947-2720,

Duck’s Misery and the southern Jane Addams Trail. Take Hwy. 26 north out of Freeport. Shortly after the Willow Lake subdivision, turn left (west) on Winneshiek Rd. Drive about 2 ½ miles (the road will curve at times, but bear west). Just past the intersection with the Jane Addams we will park along the road. Leader: Laura Dufford (815-947-2720).

COVID Precautions: There will be no car-pooling, sharing of equipment, or group lunch out following the walks. Please bring your mask for times when physical distancing is not possible.

Annual Crane Count

Saturday, April 17, 2021
5:30 – 7:30 a.m.

Mark your calendar now for Saturday, April 17 when we’ll once again be counting Sandhill Cranes in Stephenson County. No experience with crane counting is necessary! If you are new to the Crane Count you will have a veteran counting partner to help you learn more about cranes.

To participate call Teresa Smith at 815-238-3963 before April 2nd. The count is early, brief and rewarding. Counters are on site from 5:30-7:30 a.m. on count day to listen and watch for cranes.

Bird Walk: N. Jane Addams Trail and Orangeville Wetlands

Thursday, April 22, 2021
8 – 11 a.m.
Leader: Somer Elgin 815-275-0719

Happy Earth Day! Northern Jane Addams Trail and the Orangeville wetlands. Meet at the trailhead in Orangeville, just east of the BP gas station off of Hwy. 26. Leader: Somer Elgin (815-275-0719).

COVID Precautions: There will be no car-pooling, sharing of equipment, or group lunch out following the walks. Please bring your mask for times when physical distancing is not possible.

NIAS Newsletter Deadline

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Bird Walk: Newell Tract, Oakdale Nature Preserve

Wednesday, April 28, 2021
8 – 11 a.m.
Oakdale Nature Preserve, 4433 S. Cranes Grove Rd., Freeport, IL
Leader: Anne Straight 815-938-3263

Newell Tract, Oakdale Nature Preserve, Freeport. Meet in the parking area of the Newell Tract (the part of Oakdale on the west side of Crane’s Grove Rd.). Leader: Anne Straight (815-938-3263).

COVID Precautions: There will be no car-pooling, sharing of equipment, or group lunch out following the walks. Please bring your mask for times when physical distancing is not possible.