Calendar of Programs and Events

Sunday Morning Bird Walks
Sunday, September 1 – October 31st 
CANCELLED TBD
7:30 AM – 9:00 AM – Meet at the APNC Parking Lot
Busey Woods and Crystal Lake Park

121st Christmas Bird Count – Champaign-Urbana
Saturday, December 19th, 2020

Since the Christmas Bird Count began over a century ago, it has relied on the dedication and commitment of volunteers like you. The CBC was once a bird hunt, and now, acts as a bird census, acting like a snapshot in time of bird populations in our area.
Individuals are encouraged to spend some or all of the day birding along a specified route within the count circle assigned by our CCAS Compiler for the count. You will not only count the species of birds you see, but count a total of the individuals you see of each species.
Join us for the 121st year of the CBC by volunteering to bird a route of the Count Circle. To get more information and to be assigned a route in the area. please email mail@champaigncountyaudubon.org
 
You can view the count circle map here:
https://audubon.maps.arcgis.com/apps/View/index.html…
Learn more about the bird count’s history, view past years data, and browse the photo gallery:
https://www.audubon.org/cons…/science/christmas-bird-count
**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. **

 

Monthly Meeting and Seminar Schedule

Sign up for our eNews and stay tuned for upcoming virtual programs for 2020-2021

A Year in Illinois’ Natural Areas
Thursday, December 3rd, 2020 at 7PM
 
As part of our new *virtual* monthly meeting and seminar, we will be presenting via ZOOM.
Webinars will be recorded and posted to our YouTube channel after the event. 
We are excited to “see” you again! 
 
Access details: ZOOM Meeting ID is 726 750 1043 and the Password is CCAS
 
This month, we are happy to welcome Sara Johnson, CCAS Vice President and Communications Chair to reflect on:
A Year in Illinois’ Natural Areas.
 
Background: Sara Johnson is originally from Western New York, but has been living in Champaign for over 5 years. She has served as President, Vice President, Communications, and Program Chair of the CCAS Board, and is currently working as a Graduate Research Assistant in a rare plant conservation lab at the UIUC. Birding and botanizing are favorite hobbies that fortunately overlap with her work. Sara loves exploring the natural areas of wherever she is living and looks forward to sharing her photography and insights about our unique flora and fauna of Illinois.
 
Stay up to date with Sara’s photography, gardening zine, and midwest adventures by following her blog Midwest Explorer on Facebook and Twitter: @MidwestExplorer
and on Instagram: @sylvatica_midwestexplorer
 
 

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) 


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