All Events

From guided bird walks to interactive learning sessions and meetings, the Champaign County Audubon Society offers a variety of regular events throughout the year (although we typically take off the summer!).

Sep
4

Monthly Program: How to Help Songbirds by Restoring Fragmented Forests

  • Robeson Pavillion C, Champaign Public Library (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Dr. Jeff Hoover, Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois

Overview:

Dr. Jeff Hoover, University of Illinois, will provide an overview of how efforts to restore fragmented bottomland forests led to increased nest survival and decreased cowbird parasitism for birds nesting in the Cache River watershed (in Illinois). Nest survival was most affected by percentage landcover in agriculture within 1 km, whereas for cowbird parasitism it was percentage of agriculture within 5 km. These results represent the merging of scientific research with conservation in action in an effort to evaluate the success of conservation efforts. In the end, these efforts provided tangible benefits to birds breeding in bottomland forests.

About our speaker:

Dr. Hoover has been studying the ecology, behavior and conservation of birds for three decades, focusing primarily on bird communities in upland and bottomland forests. He conducts a blend of basic and applied research, with an emphasis on studying behavioral ecology in birds and the response of bird communities to restoration and conservation efforts. Some areas of interest include brood parasite-host interactions, natal dispersal, and decision rules associated with breeding dispersal in adult birds. He currently holds the position of Avian Ecologist at the Illinois Natural History Survey of the Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois.

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Sep
12

Bats at the Bridge

Learn about bats, their ecological importance, and what recent studies have shown about these local mammals. After a presentation indoors at the museum, walk to the covered bridge to look for roosting bats. Reps from the Illinois Bat Conservation Program will be there with special technology to detect and identify bats by their calls.

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Sep
13

Weaver Park Bird Walk (Copy)

Join CCAS at the best wetland habitat in Urbana!  We will try to find lots of fun Fall migrants. We may stop before 9:30 AM if it is no longer birdy.  If it is birdy, we may go a bit longer.

You must RSVP in advance! Limit: 10 people.  Use this link to sign up: https://forms.gle/F775tAKvpnFUNez48

Leader: Mariska Harshbarger 

Please dress for the weather and wear rubber boots or shoes that can get very wet!

Please bring binoculars if you have them.  We will have some pairs to loan.

The meeting spot will be emailed to participants.  

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Sep
14

Sunday Morning Bird Walk

Our Sunday Morning Bird Walks are our most popular events! Meet at the Anita Purves Nature Center parking lot at 7:30 AM for a free guided bird walk through either Busey Woods or Crystal Lake Park (decided on the day). All skill levels and ages are welcome (under 15 with adult).

Learn more about our Sunday Morning Bird Walks.

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Sep
15

Board Meeting

The Champaign County Audubon Board meets at 7:00 PM on the third Monday of each month January – May and August – November (no meetings in June, July, and December) to discuss CCAS business and planning.

All CCAS members are welcome to attend board meetings; if you are interested in how to join, please email mail@champaigncountyaudubon.org.

Board meetings were historically held at the Champaign Public Library’s Friends Conference Room and are currently held online via Zoom.

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Sep
20

CCAS Table at Urbana's Market at the Square

Find our table at Urbana’s Market at the Square to learn about birds, the natural areas in Champaign County and surrounding area, upcoming events, and opportunities to get involved!

(And pick up some cool bird-themed coloring pages and bookmarks!)

Want to volunteer at the CCAS table? Please email CCAS Vice-President Roger Digges at rogerdigges49@gmail.com.

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Sep
21

Sunday Morning Bird Walk

Our Sunday Morning Bird Walks are our most popular events! Meet at the Anita Purves Nature Center parking lot at 7:30 AM for a free guided bird walk through either Busey Woods or Crystal Lake Park (decided on the day). All skill levels and ages are welcome (under 15 with adult).

Learn more about our Sunday Morning Bird Walks.

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Sep
28

Sunday Morning Bird Walk

Our Sunday Morning Bird Walks are our most popular events! Meet at the Anita Purves Nature Center parking lot at 7:30 AM for a free guided bird walk through either Busey Woods or Crystal Lake Park (decided on the day). All skill levels and ages are welcome (under 15 with adult).

Learn more about our Sunday Morning Bird Walks.

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Oct
2

Where the Whip-poor-wills Still Sing: What Shapes Habitat Use

Holly Coates, PhD student at the University of Illinois.

Overview:

Holly Coates, University of Illinois, will talk about the iconic Eastern Whip-poor-will, its loss of habitat, and effects of forest management on this bird. Join us for this CCAS monthly program.

About our speaker:

Holly Coates is a PhD student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, researching the effects of forest management on Eastern Whip-poor-wills (co-advised by Dr. Mike Ward and Dr. T. J. Benson). Originally from Pasadena, California, she completed her BS degree in wildlife, fish, and conservation biology at University of California—Davis (2016). Before starting graduate school, Holly happily spent seven years working across the US on bird conservation, including studying Wood Duck personality development in California, tracking Dusky and Greater Sage-Grouse in Nevada, and monitoring wading bird colonies in the Everglades. She is an avid birder.

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Oct
18

CCAS Table at Urbana's Market at the Square

Find our table at Urbana’s Market at the Square to learn about birds, the natural areas in Champaign County and surrounding area, upcoming events, and opportunities to get involved!

(And pick up some cool bird-themed coloring pages and bookmarks!)

Want to volunteer at the CCAS table? Please email CCAS Vice-President Roger Digges at rogerdigges49@gmail.com.

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Oct
20

Board Meeting

The Champaign County Audubon Board meets at 7:00 PM on the third Monday of each month January – May and August – November (no meetings in June, July, and December) to discuss CCAS business and planning.

All CCAS members are welcome to attend board meetings; if you are interested in how to join, please email mail@champaigncountyaudubon.org.

Board meetings were historically held at the Champaign Public Library’s Friends Conference Room and are currently held online via Zoom.

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Nov
17

Board Meeting

The Champaign County Audubon Board meets at 7:00 PM on the third Monday of each month January – May and August – November (no meetings in June, July, and December) to discuss CCAS business and planning.

All CCAS members are welcome to attend board meetings; if you are interested in how to join, please email mail@champaigncountyaudubon.org.

Board meetings were historically held at the Champaign Public Library’s Friends Conference Room and are currently held online via Zoom.

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Aug
21

CCAS Insect Collection Tour

Take a tour of the Illinois Natural History Survey’s insect collection, led by Michelle Kohler. This visit will last between 30 and 60 minutes. 

Insects are not just part of our natural environment. They play a key role in the lives of birds we enjoy. Did you know that 96% of all terrestrial birds are dependent on eating insects at least some point in their lives? Or that the population of insects is falling far faster than that of birds, whose decline is concerning enough? 

Roger Digges, CCAS Bird of the Month blogger, has arranged this tour for CCAS. Come join us in learning more about the lives and variety of these small animals that play such an important part of our native habitats.

Leaders: Michelle Kohler and Roger Digges

You must RSVP in advance! Limit: 15 people.  https://forms.gle/TGAoFb8v9aeDGsW78

The meeting spot will be emailed to participants. 

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Aug
18

Board Meeting

The Champaign County Audubon Board meets at 7:00 PM on the third Monday of each month January – May and August – November (no meetings in June, July, and December) to discuss CCAS business and planning.

All CCAS members are welcome to attend board meetings; if you are interested in how to join, please email mail@champaigncountyaudubon.org.

Board meetings were historically held at the Champaign Public Library’s Friends Conference Room and are currently held online via Zoom.

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Perkins Road Marsh Bird Walk
Aug
17

Perkins Road Marsh Bird Walk

This is a great opportunity to explore this excellent birding spot that is not currently open to the public!  

Please watch the weather and bring water with you, even if you don't think it will be that hot. 

Leader: Mariska Harshbarger

You must RSVP in advance! Limit: 15 people.  https://forms.gle/iMs7PW6rWCqqD8Nv9

The meeting spot will be emailed to participants.  

Please bring binoculars if you have them.  We will have some pairs to loan.

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Aug
16

CCAS Table at Urbana's Market at the Square

Find our table at Urbana’s Market at the Square to learn about birds, the natural areas in Champaign County and surrounding area, upcoming events, and opportunities to get involved!

(And pick up some cool bird-themed coloring pages and bookmarks!)

Want to volunteer at the CCAS table? Please email CCAS Vice-President Roger Digges at rogerdigges49@gmail.com.

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Perkins Road Marsh  Bird Walk
Jul
19

Perkins Road Marsh Bird Walk

This is a great opportunity to explore this excellent birding spot that is not currently open to the public!  

Please watch the weather and bring water with you, even if you don't think it will be that hot. 

Leader: Mariska Harshbarger

You must RSVP in advance! Limit: 15 people.  https://forms.gle/iMs7PW6rWCqqD8Nv9

The meeting spot will be emailed to participants.  

Please bring binoculars if you have them.  We will have some pairs to loan.

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Jul
12

CCAS Table at Urbana's Market at the Square

Find our table at Urbana’s Market at the Square to learn about birds, the natural areas in Champaign County and surrounding area, upcoming events, and opportunities to get involved!

(And pick up some cool bird-themed coloring pages and bookmarks!)

Want to volunteer at the CCAS table? Please email CCAS Vice-President Roger Digges at rogerdigges49@gmail.com.

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Jun
14

CCAS Table at Urbana's Market at the Square

Find our table at Urbana’s Market at the Square to learn about birds, the natural areas in Champaign County and surrounding area, upcoming events, and opportunities to get involved!

(And pick up some cool bird-themed coloring pages and bookmarks!)

Want to volunteer at the CCAS table? Please email CCAS Vice-President Roger Digges at rogerdigges49@gmail.com.

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May
31

CCAS Field Trip to Lake Renwick

Join us as we take a field trip to Lake Renwick Preserve during their Migratory Birds Viewing event! There we will view one of the largest heron rookeries in Illinois, and according to the Illinois Audubon Society, it is "by far the most valuable rookery in all of Illinois"! Nesting great blue herons, double crested cormorants, and great egrets, different species of gulls, herons, and ducks, and different species of warblers are just some of the birds we will be able to see during the field trip! We will meet at the Anita Purves Nature Center at 7:30 where we will carpool to the Lake Renwick Nature Center. It is about two hours away from the Nature Center. One spotting scope will be provided, but please feel free to bring your own scope as well!

Please click this link to sign up: https://forms.gle/M1HoerBnbcTGDLc39

Due to us visiting an active nesting site, the Lake Renwick Forest Preserve has requested that you not bring any dogs or bicycles during the event. 

Anita Purves Nature Center is located at 1505 N Broadway Ave, Urbana, IL 61801.

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May
19

Board Meeting

The Champaign County Audubon Board meets at 7:00 PM on the third Monday of each month January – May and August – November (no meetings in June, July, and December) to discuss CCAS business and planning.

All CCAS members are welcome to attend board meetings; if you are interested in how to join, please email mail@champaigncountyaudubon.org.

Board meetings were historically held at the Champaign Public Library’s Friends Conference Room and are currently held online via Zoom.

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May
18

Homer Lake Bird Walk

Join us for this walk at the Homer Lake Forest Preserve and participate in the CCAS Spring Bird-a-thon! This event helps raise money for CCAS and helps the Champaign County Forest Preserve District take inventory of the bird species occurring at their sites.  Migration will be in full swing and we should see plenty of songbirds, raptors, waders, and other fun surprises at this excellent CCFPD hotspot near Homer, IL  in southeast Champaign County!

You must RSVP in advance! Limit: 10 people.  Use this link to sign up:  https://forms.gle/8AhHpyQaym1eLUos6

Leader: Brock Price and Mariska Harshbarger; Please contact Mariska with any questions - mariskaharshbarger@gmail.com

The meeting spot will be emailed to participants.  We will carpool between areas we want to bird. 

This trip can be a bit muddy at times and we will be walking primarily on wood chip and grass paths.  Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear.  

Please bring binoculars if you have them.  We will have some pairs to loan.

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May
17

Heritage Park/Kaufman Lake Bird Walk

Join us for a walk at Heritage Park and Kaufman Lake, adjoining parks in the city of Champaign, and participate in the CCAS Spring Bird-a-thon! This event helps raise money for CCAS and helps the parks departments take inventory of the bird species occurring at their sites.  Migration will be in full swing and we should see plenty of songbirds, raptors, waders, and other fun surprises at these two excellent Champaign Park District hotspots!

You must RSVP in advance! Limit: 10 people.  Use this link to sign up: https://forms.gle/8NZpg9dWENLsJVyi9

Leader: aerin tedesco; please email aerin at aerintedesco@gmail.com if you have questions, or have signed up but cannot make it after all.

We will mainly be on paved paths but may need to walk on gravel paths or grass at some point.  

Please bring binoculars if you have them.  We will have some pairs to loan.

The meeting spot will be emailed to participants. 

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May
17

CCAS Table at Urbana's Market at the Square

Find our table at Urbana’s Market at the Square to learn about birds, the natural areas in Champaign County and surrounding area, upcoming events, and opportunities to get involved!

(And pick up some cool bird-themed coloring pages and bookmarks!)

Want to volunteer at the CCAS table? Please email CCAS Vice-President Roger Digges at rogerdigges49@gmail.com.

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May
8

Monthly Program: West Nile Virus and American Robins

2024 Kendeigh Research Grant recipient Moshood Ayinde

Join us on Zoom
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/5739591018?pwd=T3UwUmYvbU1sNUlqS2JCRUVVT1A4dz09&omn=83470107381
Meeting ID:
573 959 1018
Passcode:
812899

Overview

American Robins are a common host for West Nile Virus (WNV). Our speaker will describe WNV dynamics within American Robin populations in Illinois, comparing infection rates between urban and rural environments. The question of how urbanization affects West Nile Virus transmission will be discussed. Results indicate higher WNV prevalence in urban robins, offering insights into the role of urbanization in WNV transmission and potential implications for public health management and highlighting the need for further research on urban WNV ecology.

About Our Speaker

Moshood Ayinde is a Master's student in biology at Western Illinois University, specializing in the ecology of vector-borne diseases. His research focuses on West Nile Virus dynamics, particularly in American Robin populations. He combines ecological insights with public health approaches to mitigate disease risks.

About Our Monthly Programs

Guest speakers present on a variety of topics throughout the year. Programs are typically held in the Urbana Free Library auditorium on the first Thursday of the month (no programs in January, June, July, or August).

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Apr
26

Middle Fork Field Trip

Join CCAS’s Field Trip Chair aerin tedesco at this absolute gem of a birding hot spot in Champaign County!  Middle Fork River Forest Preserve includes Point Pleasant Wetland as well as two excellent waterfowl and shorebird viewing areas.  We'll also see plenty of songbirds, waders and raptors.  

This trip can be a bit muddy at times.  Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear. Please bring binoculars and a scope if you have one.

Leader: aerin tedesco. Please email aerin at aerintedesco@gmail.com if you have questions or cannot make it after signing up.

You must RSVP in advance! Limit: 10 people.  Use this link to sign up:
https://forms.gle/ANsHpNZBzJ96nveE7

Middle Fork River Forest Preserve is located in Penfield in the northeast corner of Champaign County. 

The meeting spot will be emailed to participants.  We will carpool between areas we want to bird. 

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Apr
21

Board Meeting

The Champaign County Audubon Board meets at 7:00 PM on the third Monday of each month January – May and August – November (no meetings in June, July, and December) to discuss CCAS business and planning.

All CCAS members are welcome to attend board meetings; if you are interested in how to join, please email mail@champaigncountyaudubon.org.

Board meetings were historically held at the Champaign Public Library’s Friends Conference Room and are currently held online via Zoom.

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Apr
16

International Dark Sky Celebration 2025

  • Dark Sky Trail, Middle Fork River Forest Preserve (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Join CCFPD on Saturday, April 26, at Middle Fork River Forest Preserve for a special event celebrating International Dark Sky Week!

Enjoy a public observing session in collaboration with the Champaign-Urbana Astronomical Society, where members will share their telescopes with the public after discussing the importance of dark skies and minimizing light pollution.

Arrive at 7:30 PM if you want to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony unveiling CCFPD’s new Dark Sky Trails, featuring an observatory, hammock stands, and concrete spaces for telescopes.

If you have any questions, feel free to email Chelsea at cprahl@ccfpd.org.

Details, including about parking: https://www.champaignforests.org/events/details/international-dark-sky-celebration-2025

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Apr
12

Annual Midwest Crane Count

Saturday, April 12 is the Annual Midwest Crane Count, and Stephenson County has over 12 sites that are monitored each year as part of the Crane Count.

Participants are on site from 5:30 to 7:30 AM to listen and watch for cranes. It is a great way to participate in a citizen science project and enjoy the early morning sights and sounds. Experienced and blossoming birders are encouraged to participate. No experience with crane counting is necessary! If you are new to the Crane Count, you will be partnered with an experienced counter who can help you to learn more about cranes.

Notify Teresa Smith at 815-238-3963 by April 3 if you are interested in participating in this event.

Details: https://nwilbirdnaturealliance.org/events/annual-midwest-crane-count-784/

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Apr
3

Monthly Program: Winter Ecology and Migration of Eastern Whip-poor-wills in Florida

2024 Kendeigh Research Grant recipient Dave Edlund

Overview

The Eastern Whip-poor-will (Antrostomus vociferus), like other species of aerial insectivores, has experienced drastic population declines. Many studies focus on the species’ breeding season, but few investigate overwintering, likely due to the difficulty of conducting research in Central America. Whip-poor-wills also overwinter in Florida; however, no research has been done in the state. To bridge this knowledge gap, I am conducting point-counts, fecal collection, habitat surveys, and insect monitoring to better understand the Whip-poor-will’s overwintering ecology in Florida. Furthermore, these birds will be tagged with archival GPS tags, allowing us to track their migration and breeding locations.

About Our Speaker

Dave Edlund is an MS student advised by Dr. Michael Ward at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). He received a BS in natural resources and environmental science at UIUC in 2022. For his master’s research, he is investigating the wintering ecology and migration of Eastern Whip-poor-wills in Florida. Dave is broadly interested in wildlife conservation and management. In his spare time, Dave likes to photograph wildlife (mostly birds) and spend time with his cat Jasmine.

About Our Monthly Programs

Guest speakers present on a variety of topics throughout the year. Programs are typically held in the Urbana Free Library auditorium on the first Thursday of the month (no programs in January, June, July, or August).

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Ongoing CCAS Events

  • A group of birders with binoculars look into the trees along a boardwalk. Photo by Rachel Vinsel.

    Sunday Morning Bird Walks

    Guided bird walks are held on Sunday mornings during the spring and fall migration seasons: March through May and September through October.

  • A group of birders with binoculars look up into the trees. Photo by Jen Redwood.

    Spring Bird-a-Thon

    Held each year in May, the Bird-a-Thon is our annual fundraiser. It starts the Sunday after the Illinois Spring Bird Count and lasts one week.

  • American Tree Sparrow perches on a branch in winter. Photo by Rob Kanter.

    Christmas Bird Count

    The National Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count (CBC) provides a rich dataset that scientists have used to learn about trends in bird populations since 1900!