September 2025

Kirsten Hill, Program Manager from the Smithsonian Institution, will enlighten us the on benefits of their Bird Friendly Coffee Program.  And, how drinking coffee that is certified by the Smithsonian Institution as Bird Friendly has major benefits to conservation and migrating birds as well as tasting great! 

Send email to peoriaaudubon@gmail.com for link to the event! 

Several Peoria Audubon members, in association with the American Birding Association, purchased a limited supply of Bird Friendly Coffee for FREE tasting at Forest Park Nature Center in Peoria Heights.  We will be brewing coffee for people to come as you are and have a taste on us.  Simply stop in the FPNC building and have a taste to experience the benefits and flavour.  We will start brewing at 9:00 AM, when FPNC opens.   

October 2025

Join us in-person at FPNC for an evening with Thad Cook, Site Supervisor of several local lakes and birding hotspots.  Thad is with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).  Thad will discuss recent developments and will answer your questions abour our local IDNR resources. 

Send email to peoriaaudubon@gmail.com for link to the event! 

November 2025

Wed. Nov. 12 7:00 p.m. Live at FPNC and Streamed via Zoom

Join us in-person for an evening at FPNC with Mike Miller as he enlightens us with the current projects and benefits of working with peoriawilds.org - a local organization of land stewards dedicated to conservation and restoring natural habitat. 

Send email to peoriaaudubon@gmail.com for link to the event! 

December 2025

Wed., Dec. 10,

7:00 p.m.   

Live at Forest Park and streamed via Zoom

Join us,  as Ashley Maybanks and Tarik Shazad from the Nature Conservancy in Illinois, summarize current events in Illinois state government that affect birds and nature. 

Time permitting, Tarik will discuss his 2024 record Birding 'Big Year in Cook County.   He broke the previous record number of species seen in Cook county in a single year, logging 294.  That's a significant birding achievement!

Send email to peoriaaudubon@gmail.com for link to the event! 

Contact Mike Miller 309.273.7312 for more information and to participate in the Peoria Christmas Bird Count

Contact Rick Fox 309.369.5330 to participate in the Chautauqua Christmas Bird Count.  Note, the 15-mile diameter count circle for Chautauqua is centered on the Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge on the Illinois River in Fulton County

Contact Tracy Fox 309.369.5331 for more information and to participate in the Chillicothe Christmas Bird Count

Wed., Jan. 14

 7:00 PM

 Live at Forest Park

This is Peoria Audubon's traditional BYO opportunity to share your nature  photos, videos, and stories with all your friends.  Also, bring your snacks to share among friends. 

Wed., Feb. 11

7:00 p.m.

Live at Forest Park and streamed via Zoom

Peoria Audubon's Steve Zehner will review getting started and using Merlin and eBird apps, in addition to ebird.org from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.  There will be opportunity to ask questions and share good practices. 

Wed., Mar. 4

5:40 p.m. CST

Arrive just before dusk at Tawny Oaks

Woodcock Watch at Tawny Oaks Field Station

Pete Fenner and Mike Miller will lead a Woodcock Watch at the Peoria Park District property: Tawny Oaks Field Station.  Dress warm for a walk around the prairie property at Tawny Oaks to listen, and hopefully watch American Woodcock perform their annual spring courtship displays.  

Arrive before dusk as the Woodcocks will be active around, and just after sunset, which is "officially" according to timeanddate.com, at 5:53 p.m. CDT. (Note: Daylight Saving Time is scheduled to occur on Mar. 8) In the evening at Tawny Oaks, restroom facilities are scheduled to be closed.