Calendar of Programs and Events

MONTHLY MEETING AND SEMINAR SCHEDULE

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What the Pluck? The importance of Natural History and Citizen Science to Illuminate Animal Behavior with Henry Pollock, PhD
Thursday, October 7th at 7:00 PM

ZOOM Details:
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 859 6633 0787
Password: 223512

UPCOMING EVENTS

Join us for Wild Writings!
CCAS is proud to present a new initiative that aims to unite and connect people that enjoy nature-related literature. Our new reading group – Wild Writings – will officially start up for the fall season on October 21st! Each month, participants will read a short segment of nature-related literature and have an informal meeting (via Zoom) to discuss the reading.

If you’d like to know more about Wild Writings, or if you are interested in joining our reading group, please email our Program Chair, Alida de Flamingh, at alida.ccas@gmail.com.

 

Sunday Morning Bird Walks

Sunday, September 5th to October 31st 2021
7:30 AM – 9:00 AM – Meet at the Anita Purves Nature Center parking lot
Busey Woods and Crystal Lake Park


Walks officially last about 1 1/2 hours (though some folks stay later if the birding is good).

*PLEASE READ*
This fall we have decided not to limit sign-ups, but instead, require that all attendees wear face masks (do not attend if you feel unwell or were potentially exposed). 

Please stay up to date with our website and email notifications for any potential changes/sign-ups given changes in CDC COVID-19 guidelines. 
 
**This year we are obviously encouraging people to do things a little differently with COVID-19, however, fortunately, there are no state-imposed limits right now on outdoor activities – limit in person contact and avoid carpooling with others. Meet up at the birding site and practice social distancing and wear face masks. We also unfortunately have to discourage any post count potlucks or gatherings, particularly indoors. Please be smart and be safe to protect our volunteers. **
 
The Sunday Morning Bird Walks started in the 1940’s. Birders of all skill levels are welcome!
We begin every week at the Anita Purves Nature Center parking lot and then decide whether to walk into Crystal Lake Park or Busey Woods. These parks play host to 36 species of warblers every spring as well as large numbers of vireos, thrushes, orioles and tanagers.
Bird walks are held on Sunday mornings during the spring and fall migration seasons: March-May & September-October 
 
 

SAVE THE DATE

November 

Point Pleasant: A Paradigm of Ecological Restoration November 4th, 7pm on Zoom. Our November speaker is Peter Goodspeed, Director of Natural Resources for the Champaign County Forest Preserve District! Peter and his team are responsible for restoring and maintaining historically referenced, native ecosystems throughout the forest preserves. In this talk, Peter will discuss the history, ecological restoration, and current management of Point Pleasant, a 180-acre section of the Middle Fork River Forest Preserve and a natural gem in Champaign County.
 

Sandhill Cranes at Jasper-Pulaski
November 6th
Each year we look forward to seeing thousands of
cranes at the Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area in
Indiana during their autumn migration. This year, we
will meet around 11am on Saturday at Anita Purves
Nature Center parking lot and caravan to JasperPulaski, stopping to do some birding at a few spots
along the way. The cranes fly in at sunset, so plan
to leave Jasper Pulaski after dark.

December

My Top Ten South African Birds December 2nd, 7pm on Zoom. Our December speaker is our very own Program Chair, Alida de Flamingh! Alida came to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2015 to pursue her Ph.D. and is now a postdoctoral researcher studying ancient DNA and wildlife genetics. In this talk, she will share with us some of her favorite birds from her motherland, South Africa

 

Recurring Events

Sunday Morning Birdwalks
March-May & Sept-Oct
Sundays, 7:30 – 9 a.m.
Our most popular event! Meet at the Anita Purves Nature Center parking lot, 1505 N. Broadway, Urbana, at 7:30 a.m. Walks in the nearby Busey Woods and Crystal Lake Park officially last about 1 1/2 hours (though some intrepid birders stay later).

Programs
Feb-May & Sept-Dec
First Thursday of the month, 7 p.m.
Guest speakers present on a variety of topics throughout the year. Programs are usually located at the Urbana Free Library auditorium (no programs January, June, July, August).

Bird Counts
See Bird Count page.

Board Meetings
Third Monday of the month, 7:00pm
Champaign Public Library – Friends Conference Room
(No meetings June, July, December) 
In 2021, we will be meeting via ZOOM. If you would like details on how to join, please email mail@champaigncountyaudubon.org


For more learning opportunities, please see programs and events offered at two local park districts:
Urbana Park District
Champaign County Forest Preserve District