by NIAS | Nov 26, 2024
Open Land Birding
Saturday, January 11, 9:00 am to noon
Coordinator: Mary Blackmore 815-938-3204
Carpool from the Harbor-Freight lot in Freeport at 9:00 a.m.
We will carpool and cruise country roads in local areas that were historically prairie. Viewing will be done predominantly from the vehicles, using the cars as blinds, and communicating by radio. Typically, we’ll see several species – notably Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur and Horned Lark – on roadsides or in fields, often in abundance if there is adequate snow cover. Snowy Owls have been spotted in past years and last year
we were fortunate to observe a Northern Shrike. Other species we’ll search for include Rough-Legged Hawk and Merlin. Of course we’ll enjoy any bird we see, including our many year-round residents.
Please call Mary to confirm your attendance.
by NIAS | Nov 26, 2024
Open Land Birding
Thursday, January 30, 9:00 am to noon
Coordinator: Mary Blackmore 815-938-3204
Carpool from the Harbor-Freight lot in Freeport at 9:00 a.m.
We will carpool and cruise country roads in local areas that were historically prairie. Viewing will be done predominantly from the vehicles, using the cars as blinds, and communicating by radio. Typically, we’ll see several species – notably Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur and Horned Lark – on roadsides or in fields, often in abundance if there is adequate snow cover. Snowy Owls have been spotted in past years and last year
we were fortunate to observe a Northern Shrike. Other species we’ll search for include Rough-Legged Hawk and Merlin. Of course we’ll enjoy any bird we see, including our many year-round residents.
Please call Mary to confirm your attendance.
by NIAS | Apr 28, 2024
An Evening of Birding at Lost Mound
Friday, May 31, 5:30-9:30 p.m.
Coordinator: Mary Blackmore 815-938-3204
Carpool from the Forreston municipal lot on the south side of the village library along HWY 26 at 5:30 or meet the group in the parking area of the Fish and Wildlife office building (see directions below) at 6:30 p.m.
Join us as we travel along side sand prairies and sand savannas near the mighty Mississippi in search of birds in the Lost Mound Unit of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge just north of Savanna. Of primary interest will be the awesome courtship display of the Common Nighthawk, as well as vocalizations of both Eastern Whip-poor-wills and American Woodcocks. There will be enough time to observe many of the grassland species of songbirds as well.
Directions for meeting at Lost Mound: Turn left to enter the refuge off of HWY 84, about 9 miles north of Savanna. After crossing railroad tracks, drive up the hill to the intersection and turn right. Drive about .5 mile and turn left into the parking area. There is a restroom in the parking area.
We’ll car-caravan from the parking lot traveling the paved roads and do little or no walking. The timing sequence will be songbirds, Common Nighthawk, American Woodcock and at the end, Whip-poor-wills. If you want to leave the caravan for an earlier departure you may do so.
If the weather is questionable, call Mary.
by NIAS | Apr 28, 2024
Spring Prairie Blooms at Elkhorn Creek
Tuesday, May 21, 10 a.m. – noon
Coordinator: Mary Blackmore 815-938-3204
Carpool from the Harbor Freight lot in Freeport at 9:30 a.m.
Enjoy the beauty of blooming spring prairie species at our Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve. We’ll stroll the trails looking for anything in bloom, but especially Cream Wild Indigo and Violet Wood Sorrel. There also should be plenty of birds to observe, perhaps even some late migrants. Trails can be steep with some uneven ground.
If weather is questionable, call Mary.
by NIAS | Apr 28, 2024
Field Trip – Spring Bird Walk
May 29 – Bird Walk, 8-11 a.m.
Leader: Mary Blackmore (815-938-3204)
NIAS Silver Creek Biodiversity Preserve and the Bald Hill Prairie, rural Leaf River. We’ll walk the mowed trails (uneven ground in some places) of Silver Creek’s woodlands and grasslands. For the last hour we will visit the nearby Bald Hill Prairie where we should be treated to displaying Bobolinks. Carpool at 7:15 a.m.
