Never birded before? We’ll loan you a pair of binoculars. Not up for a 3-mile bird walk? Grab a chair and see what you can see while hanging around a small pond at Lake Forest Open Lands’ Middlefork Farm Nature Preserve.

Co-sponsored by Lake/Cook Audubon and Lake Forest Open Lands and designed for novice and experienced birders alike, this Big Sit is an opportunity to share the camaraderie of birding, begin or advance your birding knowledge, and help the group find as many species as possible while staying in one place. Last year we spotted 52 species from warblers to finches and hawks to herons.

While viewing takes place from 7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., please feel free to join us for a short window or all day. No registration required!

Snacks and beverages will be provided. Dress in layers appropriate for the weather. Keep in mind that you won’t be moving around very much. By attending this LFOLA event or program, you are hereby agreeing to all terms and conditions listed on our policy webpage.

No registration required.

Park at Elawa Farms/Middlefork Savanna parking lot.  Cross the field/playground to the north and look for green sign to Middlefork Farm. Look for the signs directing you to the sit location.

Join Lake County Audubon for a pop-up bird walk on Friday at McDonald Woods Forest Preserve. This under-birded site offers an array of woodland, wetland, and grassland habitat, providing options for many bird species. We will look for a variety of warblers, sparrows, nuthatches and finches, among others, and keep our fingers crossed for some fall surprises. 

Meet in the main parking lot. Directions are included in the registration link below.

REGISTER for McDonald Woods

Walk Leader: Donna Kenski, 847-347-3474

Event Coordinator: Carolyn Lueck, (773) 984-2403

Birds, Brews, and Bonfire

Try evening birding with a short hike followed with a bonfire and optional adult beverages at Independence Grove. All participants must register.

Directions and parking instructions are included in registration link

Register for Independence Grove

Travel to McHenry County for a great mix of both early migratory and resident birds in woodland, prairie and wetland habitats with over 100 species on eBird for September.  

Trip Leaders: Doug Reitz & Charlotte Pavelka (847) 347-8416

Shorebird migration should be at its peak in mid August! It is fun as you never quite know what will turn up on any given day. Greater and lesser yellowlegs, least, semipalmated, spotted, solitary and pectoral sandpipers and perhaps some plovers or dowitchers are possibilities. Optional: Join us after the walk for a coffee and snack break. And then take some time to enjoy swimming at the beach, a bike ride or some paddling.

Directions and parking instructions are included in registration link

Register for IBSP

Trip leader: Carla Schmakel and Don Wilson (224) 639-3158

This is a special event designed especially for individuals with low mobility and/or other disabilities to enjoy birds and nature with others. This location has a walk that is manageable with wheelchairs or walkers and includes an overlook close to the parking lot if you choose to just sit. The leaders will discuss using Merlin sound ID to augment the birdwatching experience and also the native plant habitat. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Register for Ethel’s Woods

Trip Leader: Carla Schmakel

Trip Coordinator: Lisa Draper, (224) 305-3735

Join local butterfly monitor, Carla Schmakel, as we walk the prairie paths to learn more about butterfly ID, habitats and status. We will also keep our eyes out for breeding birds as well.

Register for Grant Woods

Trip Leader: Matt Tobin, 847-951-1483

Register for Chain O’Lakes

Trip Leader: Donna Kenski 847-347-3474

This newer preserve, in the central part of the county, is great prairie habitat for grassland birds. Join LCAS board member, Donna Kenski, to explore for resident breeding birds. Highlights are bobolinks, bluebirds, meadowlarks and sparrows. The path winds through several smaller woodlands and past ponds to check for waterfowl, flycatchers, and vireos

Parking directions are given the registration link below.

Register for Ray Lake

Trip Leader: Stephen Hurst

Trip Coordinator: Charlotte Pavelka, 847-347-8416

Stephen Hurst is an outstanding younger birder and photographer, who will lead a walk for us at his home patch. Last year, as he conducted the breeding bird survey for the forest preserve and BCN, he was able to observe 90 species! (Of course, that was up before dawn and lots of bushwhacking! And a pace that most people aren’t willing to do.)

Join Stephen as he shows you a portion of this huge, under birded preserve and the birds that raise their families there.

Parking directions are in the registration document.

Register for Lakewood

Trip Leaders: Doug Reitz & Charlotte Pavelka (847) 347-8416

Join us as we boat the Fox River Waterway and bird from a different angle. Egrets, Green & Great Blue Herons, Black Terns, Kingbirds and Flycatchers, Marsh wrens and Common Yellowthroats are all possible in this area of cattails and lily pads. Bring your own canoe/Kayak (Fox Waterway sticker required) or rent one at Gills ($30 for canoe or solo kayak for two-three hours). Don’t worry if you don’t have a canoe partner – we should have enough people to share canoes or rent a single kayak.

Registration is mandatory for this event!

Register for Canoe Trip

Trip Leader: Donna Kenski (847) 347-3474

It’s time for raising bird families!  This preserve has a great mix of small ponds, wetlands, savanna and woodlands so lots of different species call it home. At 687 acres, it is one of Lake County’s larger preserves. Several biomes including oak savannas, dry-mesic prairies, wet-mesic prairies, marshes, deciduous woodlands, and sedge meadows, as well as a portion of the North Branch of the Chicago River are all found here. A 25-acre parcel here is considered the highest quality tallgrass savanna of its kind in the nation and recognized as a globally threatened ecosystem. Middlefork provides valuable protection for many state and federally listed species. Breeding birds that nest here include cuckoos, rails, soras, sandhill cranes, and many songbirds. Even the nonnative but beautiful European goldfinches nest here.

Register for Middlefork

Leader: Donna Kenski, 847-347-3474

Reed-Turner Woodland is a remnant of a presettlement prairie grove which once occupied land along Indian and Killdeer Creeks from the current village of Long Grove to Deer Grove Forest Preserve in Cook County. All that remains today are small portions of floodplain and upland forest, and sparse remnants of savanna and prairie vegetation. The site contains an interesting wet meadow which is dominated by sedges, rushes and a few wetland forbs such as meadow rue, marsh aster, and curly dock. Over 174 species of birds have been observed in the preserve including resident populations of waterfowl and herons.

Directions and parking instructions for the walk are included in the registration link below.

Register for Reed Turner

Trip leaders: Doug Reitz & Charlotte Pavelka (847) 347-8416

Don Wilson (224) 639-3158

Birds and Brews - Evening Walk

Can’t make an early morning walk on weekdays? Join us for this evening walk from the North Point Marina south lot to one of the birdiest areas of Illinois Beach State Park just a few blocks away. Although not quite as productive as the morning, most birds tend to be fairly active in the spring in the last couple of hours before sunset. Migrating warblers, vireos, and flycatchers plus possible rails and grassland species will keep us busy. If you like, join us after the walk at the Harbor Brewing seasonal Biergarten across the street from our parking lot for beer or wine or a non-alcoholic drink and talk about the birds you have seen this spring and suggestions for birding locations.

Register for Birds and Brews

Location: Ryerson Conservation Area

Time: 7:00, 7:15 or 7:30 am. Please choose available time slot at registration.

Walk will last around 2.5 - 3 hours

Each group will be capped at 12 participants.

A waitlist will be added if needed

Trip leaders:

Doug Reitz & Charlotte Pavelka (847) 347-8416

Donna Kenski (847) 347–3474

Matt Tobin (847) 951-1483

Ryerson is a very special place with exceptional natural areas leading to its dedication as an Illinois Nature Preserve. The combination of savannas, wetlands and deep mature woodlands along the Des Plaines River attracts a high number of migratory birds (and birders) in the spring. Did you know that 34 species of warblers, 6 vireos, 5 thrushes and many more migrants have been historically recorded at this preserve? This is the place in Lake County to be in the spring to see both tropical migrants plus our resident species including red-headed and pileated woodpeckers.

Directions and parking instructions are given in the registration link.

Spotlight Link: Planning on visiting on your own? Here’s the link: Ryerson Area Description & Map

Register for Ryerson Conservation Area

Birding by Ear in Spring

Trip Leaders: Doug Reitz & Charlotte Pavelka (847) 347-8416

An under-birded preserve with easy access for most Lake County residents. Our easy two mile loop will take us past several small ponds, through savanna and then through a more wooded area.

The area has wide trails and is more open which makes viewing somewhat easier. A special focus of this walk will be Birding by Ear. We will practice using Merlin to help us recognize some of the singing species as well as discuss mnemonics and tips to make remembering these songs easier. This is particularly good habitat for vireo species. We will practice listening to the difference in their calls and then observing them high in the treetops.

Register for Greenbelt

Trip leaders: Doug Reitz & Charlotte Pavelka (847) 347-8416

Before this area became a forest preserve, it was farmed and mined for sand and gravel. Later it became a wetlands research project with the intent of providing flood control, improving water quality in the Des Plaines River, and improving wildlife habitat. The walk will begin and end at the parking area. It will be about a 3-mile walk. We will walk south on a gravel trail passing by four ponds, along the Des Plaines River, through wetlands, prairies and through an oak-hickory savanna. At Mill Creek will head east on the gravel trail along Mill Creek and cross the Des Plaines River where Mill Creek joins the river. Then we walk north through a wooded area that is often a warbler hotspot and then loop back to our vehicles.

Because of the diversity of the habitat, we may see migrating songbirds, ducks, shorebirds, and wading birds. In addition, we may see other animals such as turtles, muskrats, and beavers.

Planning on visiting on your own? Here’s the link to an area description and map.

Registration Link

CALLING ALL NEW BIRDERS! Have you been thinking that bird-watching might be a fun activity to try? This is your chance! Join us for a beginner bird walk at Independence Grove. This is a great opportunity to learn about the birds that live in our area and meet other birders who enjoy this wonderful hobby. No experience is necessary and binoculars will be available for loan to those who need them. All birders and bird lovers are welcome. Independence Grove is a picturesque preserve with a large lake, areas of reclaimed prairie and mature woodlands. It attracts a variety of waterfowl and songbirds during migration, which is just getting started.

Registration link

Leaders: Doug Reitz and Charlotte Pavelka, (847) 347-8416.

Winter thaw is on (we hope!) and the waterfowl and eagles will be the first to return! Before the boats are in the water, this is a great location for birders and birders. Ducks, American pelicans and (possible) loon are likely and as a bonus, sometimes the birds are quite close and can be seen fairly easily just with binoculars. (We will have scopes available as needed.) Beginners are always welcome at our events ... an additional LCAS representative will be on hand to help especially for those new to birding.

In the harbor, we may see ducks such as Common Goldeneye, all three of the mergansers, buffleheads and scaup. Rarities such as long-tailed Duck, harlequin duck, snow goose and red-throated loons have all been seen this winter...perhaps we will see an uncommon species as well. We will begin at the Winthrop Harbor Yacht Club parking lot and then drive to Stateline Beach and the south end parking. We will also walk to see some land birds such as woodpeckers, blue birds and sparrows.

Join us after the walk (Optional) for coffee at Honey Hill Coffee in Wauconda. All can share news about birds coming to your feeders and other locations and ask your birding questions. We will share more about upcoming Lake County Audubon events.

Register here

Come join us for a walk along the Goldfinch Trail on the Fox River as the snow moves out of the county. We hope to see Bald Eagles, American White Pelicans and Trumpeter Swans as they move through Lake County from their wintering grounds. Teals, shovelers, wigeons, scaups and ring-necked ducks and coots should also be in abundance. Red-wing blackbirds and perhaps even a rusty will also be possibilities.

Leader: Matt Tobin, (847) 951-1483

Continue the inaugural Bird Lake County year with a trip to another popular winter destination for waterfowl! Waukegan Harbor is an attractive location for waterfowl to seek refuge and find food during the cold weather, and its proximity along Lake Michigan brings in many migrating waterfowl for a stopover. Numerous gulls often pack together on the harbor structures, while raptors such as Bald Eagles and American Kestrels may be observed hunting along the lakefront. The walk around the site generally allows for very good views of waterfowl within the harbor, but some birds can be observed farther out on Lake Michigan. Binoculars are fine for most of the close birds, but a scope is useful for more distant birds.

Birders of any experience are always welcome at our walks. Loaner pairs of binoculars will be available, and there will likely be a scope or two on hand. Please dress accordingly for the weather. Depending on how the walk at Waukegan Harbor goes, there may be an add-on trip to Bowen Park or Lyons Woods Forest Preserve, about a 5-minute drive north, to look for some woodland species. After the walk, feel free to join Audubon members at Bob and Anne's Restaurant in Waukegan for coffee and conversation.

Directions and parking instructions for the walk are included in the registration link below.

If you are unable to attend the walk and would like to visit Waukegan Harbor on your own during February, a location spotlight page and bird checklist are available to provide information for your trip.

Spotlight Page

Illustrated Bird Checklist

Register for Waukegan Harbor

Kick off your year at this popular winter birding location! As inland water bodies (and sometimes even Lake Michigan) freeze up, this harbor generally continues to be a place of quiet refuge for waterfowl and gulls. And as a bonus, sometimes the birds are quite close and can be seen fairly easily just with binoculars.

Waukegan Harbor draws a surprising number of ducks and other waterfowl throughout the winter, due to its protective breakwaters and sheltering docks.  Interesting sparrows often lurk in the trees and shrubs bordering the harbor parking lots.

Pine Dunes is one of the newest forest preserves in the north central part of Lake County. Nestled in the rolling hills and savannas are several small ponds/wetland areas.

Travel to southwestern Lake County to visit this sprawling preserve with extensive wetlands and savanna to take in the fall colors. Green-winged teal, pintails, and shovelers are some of the ducks that may be found at this location in fall.

Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve, on the shore of Lake Michigan, is a great location for migrating warblers in wooded areas, sparrows in the extensive grasslands and migrating hawks soaring overhead. Sparrows are the real highlight with twenty species, including specialties like Nelson’s, Vesper and Harris being seen most years in October.

Join birdwatchers throughout the day at a scenic spot in Middlefork Savanna to count birds and enjoy some birding camaraderie. LCAS and Lake Forest Open Lands invite you to drop in and spend some time with us as we participate in the annual Big Sit sponsored by the New Haven Birding Club.

Why do we love Illinois Beach in the fall? Noisy Yellow-bellied sapsuckers and Red-headed woodpeckers, soaring northern harriers and broad-winged hawks, twittering brown creepers and red-breasted nuthatches, four thrush species, kinglets, white-crowned, white-throated, fox and Lincoln’s sparrows and late fall warblers like Tennessee and Blackpolls.

Migration should be in full swing for this walk. Daniel Wright Woods is an easy gravel trail along the Des Plaines River and through oak-hickory forest, attracting plenty of migrants passing through.