CALENDAR OF EVENTS

New Birder Classes this May!

Saturdays: May 3, May 10 & May 17, 2008. 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
North Park Village Nature Center. 5801-D North Pulaski Rd.
(co-sponsored by the Chicago Audubon Society, Whole Foods, Eagle Optics and the North Park Village Nature Center)
Each New Birder Class will start at 9:00 a.m. in the Nature Center with some classroom work, to be followed by a guided birdwalk starting around 10:00 a.m., lasting until 11:00 a.m. Refreshments will be provided by Whole Foods. Those attending the classes will be made aware of the upcoming Birdathon and how they can participate. The New Birder Birdathon will take place at North Park Village on May 18th from 9:00 a.m. until noon. Questions? Contact Roger Shamley at 773-274-5362 or contact the CAS office at 773-539-6973.

CAS Dinner and Program Honoring Doris Johanson!

Thursday, May 8th. Silver Stallion Restaurant, 1275 Lee St., Des Plaines
(co-sponsored by Park Ridge Audubon)
5:45 p.m. (social time & cash bar)
6:15 p.m. (dinner honoring and thanking Doris Johanson for her decades of service to Chicago-area birders and bird organizations)
7:30 p.m. (program: Birding in Saskatchewan by Doris' son Robert, a long-time resident and field trip leader in Saskatchewan, Canada)
Cost: $20.00 for the dinner and program. The program itself is free for those who might choose to attend after dinner. Dinner choices include chicken, salmon or vegatable plate. Register by May 1st; please contact the CAS office at 773-539-6793.

Doris Johanson served on the board of the Chicago Audubon Society for over 30 years, in many capacities: Field Trip leader, Board Member, helping with Bird Seed Sale, Christmas and Spring Bird Counts, and she has helped many birders and non-birders alike running the CAS Hotline, answering thousands of bird-related questions from members and the general public; Doris also was active in the Audubon Society of Park Ridge and Northwest Cook County (Park Ridge Audubon).

Workday at Montrose Beach Dunes

The Friends of Montrose Beach Dunes will be having their next stewardship workday on Saturday, May 10, from 9:00 a.m. - noon. Activities include weeding invasive plants (there's a bumper crop of dandelions), removing trash, bird watching, and a habitat tour for those new to the site. Spring is unfolding and the dunes are filled with green shoots, budding shrubs, colorful expanses of wildflowers such as Arabis lyrata (Sand Cress), and the songs of five nesting bird species back on territory (Spotted Sandpiper, Killdeer, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, and Northern Rough-winged Swallow). Bird migration is in full swing and you're likely to see anything from shorebirds to warblers, so don't forget binoculars if you have them!

Tools and refreshments are generously provided by the Chicago Park District and the Lincoln Park Advisory Council. Please bring water, a hat, and sunscreen. Long sleeves and pants are recommended for maximum sun protection. Qustions? Contact Leslie Borns at 773-334-2281 or cakile@att.net

Directions to Montrose Beach Dunes: The dunes are located at the far east end of Montrose Beach in Cook County. Take Lake Shore Drive and exit at Montrose Avenue, travel east along the harbor as the road winds to the right. Park along the harbor and walk north (away from the harbor) where you will soon see a flagpole next to the beach house and beach (bikers, there is a lockup at the beach house). The dune habitat will be to your right, next to the concrete fishing pier. It is the only vegetated portion of Montrose Beach.

BIRDATHON!

Saturday, May 17th or Sunday, May 18th.

The 9th Annual Dr. William S. Beecher Birdathon Cup Challenge will be held during the weekend of May 17-18. Teams will be heading out to see how many species they can identify within a 24-hour period.
Here are the rules:
1) Each team must have 3 to 6 members.
(Junior or Beginning Birder teams may have more participants.)
2) Birding is to be confined to any one day: either May 17 or May 18, 2008. (competitive)
The Birdathon for New Birders will be May 18, 2008.
3) All birds must be seen or heard by at least 2 team members.
4) All birds must be seen or heard in Cook County, IL.
5) Your team must bring in at least $100.00 in pledges. (This is not required of Junior teams.)
Birdathon for New Birder teams must pledge at least $35.00.
To learn more about how you can participate in this exciting event, please contact Joe Lill, CAS Birdathon Coordinator, at (773) 631-3154 or email: trptjoe@aol.com

Spring Bird Count

Saturday, May 10th.

The coordinator for Cook County is CAS Board Member Alan Anderson (casresearch@comcast.net). Please see Urs Geiser’s website for the compiler for each county in the state of Illinois. Website: http://home.xnet.com/~ugeiser/Birds/BirdCounts.html

Lake Calumet Field Trip

Saturday, August 23rd.

Calumet Water Reclamation Plant. 400 East 130th Street in Chicago.

The MWRDGC Calumet Water Reclamation Plan in southeast Chicago is an excellent location to view migrant shorebirds, especially during the late summer and early fall. The field trip will be limited to the first 20 individuals who complete the required forms and mail them to Walter Marcisz, along with a copy of a photo ID. (Forms must be sent via U.S. Post Office. E-mail is not acceptable.)

To obtain the required forms, contact:  Walter Marcisz at: wmarcisz@att.net 

Completed forms should then be mailed to:

Walter Marcisz
13416 South Mackinaw Avenue
Chicago, Illinois  60633-1513

Please note that the forms must be approved by MWRDGC 30 days in advance of the trip; therefore, Walter must receive forms by July 1 in order to provide ample time for the MWRDGC deadline. Trip participants are permitted to bring binoculars and spotting scopes into the Plant. However, cameras will not be allowed. Walter will update approved participants with details and directions prior to the trip date. Trip leaders are Walter Marcisz at wmarcisz@att.net and Jeff Sanders at yellowstart5@yahoo.com  As noted above, group space is limited. If you are interested, please contact Walter as soon as possible. Thank you!

Skokie Lagoons Stewardship Workdays.

Every Second Saturday of the month. 10:00 a.m.
May 10, June 14, July 12, August 9, September 13, October 11, November 8, December 13.
The Chicago Audubon Society conducts regular monthly workdays at Skokie Lagoons every second Saturday of the month. Activities include buckthorn cutting, brush pile burning, and other management activities. Meet at the Tower Road parking lot, east of the lagoon bridge.
For further information, call Jerry Garden at 847-675-6628 or e-mail him at: jerrygarden@sprynet.com. Everyone is welcome!

Montrose Point Magic Hedge Stewardship Workdays.

First Saturday of each month. (Except in July, when it will be moved to the 12th to avoid the 4th of July holiday)
Volunteers are needed to help with weeding, mulching, planting native shrubs and trees. We are also establishing a prairie! Wear work clothes. To sign up and for directions, please contact David Painter, 773-383-0721, or email dvdpaint@yahoo.com. Everyone is welcome!