April 2023

We will have help from a number of Illinois wetland experts that previously participated in a Zoom Conference regarding "Fluddles" and the upcoming release of a film of the same name. We will learn about just what is a Fluddle, why it is important, and about the film.

You may remember Bob Dolgan, a Chicago-based nature filmmaker, from a previous Peoria Audubon meeting, when he showed his earlier film "Monty and Rose," about nesting Piping Plovers on Montrose Beach in Chicago. Bob will moderate the zoom broadcast, with help from other experts. Then, Bob will show the trailer for the film "Fluddles", which is expected to be released in the Fall of 2023.

end email to peoriaaudubon@gmail.com for a link to join the performance.

We'll meet at the parking area in Moffitt Park in Chillicothe (Google Map to Parking Area) at 7:30 a.m. and hike the short distance to the adjacent 240-acre wetland nature preserve Folks should prepare for insects, potentially muddy and uneven trails and close to a mile of walking.  We should be done around 10:00 or 10:30 a.m.    

May 2023

Statewide survey of birds. This bird count is timed to be at the peak of spring migration. The Peoria Audubon Society organizes teams to participate in the Statewide count. Contact Mike Miller at (309) 681-2858, Peoria County compiler, for more information and to volunteer.

Please join us for an exciting evening at Forest Park Nature center and streamed live via Zoom with Colin Dobson. Colin is a frequent volunteer birding field guide for Illinois Ornithological Society and Champaign Audubon in addition to being a professional bird guide, author, and full time student & researcher at the University of Illinois.

September 2023

Mike Miller, former environmental supervisor of the Peoria Park District, will be talking about Land Trusts in Peoria County.  These are simple, inexpensive methods for handling the ownership of real estate in Illinois.  Mike will showcase how they are beneficial toward maintaining our environmental treasures.  

Bird Walk: Come early at 6:00 p.m. for a bird walk through Forest Park led by Pete Fenner, a local birding expert. 

October 2023

Josh Osborn, Waterbird Ecologist and Facilities Manager at the Forbes Biological Station near Havana, IL, will be sharing his knowledge on waterfowl research with us as he presents Wild Things 2023. The Forbes Biological Station is the oldest inland field research station in North America. 

November 2023

Filmmaker Bob Dolgan of Turnstone Strategies, will be providing a private screening of his latest film "Fluddles."  This even is co-sponsored by Peoria Audubon and SAFE (ICC's Student Association For the Environment)

"FLUDDLES chronicles the wildlife of agricultural wetlands of Illinois. Sometimes simply described as “big puddles,” fluddles appear in the spring and fall and provide habitat and forage for a diversity of waterfowl and shorebird species. FLUDDLES takes viewers on a journey to these secret, oft-fleeting wildernesses in a time when Illinois has lost 90% of its original wetlands."

Watch the trailer for Fluddles here.  Showing is at ICC Lecture Recital Hall 127F, One College Drive, East Peoria, IL 61635 - Parking Lot E.  We will have a Meet and Greet in the lobby at 6:30 p.m., with the film starting at 7:00 p.m.  There will be a group discussion with the filmmaker after the film. 

Click for detailed printable directions and parking information with maps (pdf)

December 2023

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

January 2024

Members and guests will  share their best photos/videos along with all the stories that go along with them.  During the meeting we will also present and discuss the results from our recent Christmas Bird Counts.  People are encouraged, though not required, to bring in snacks to share with the crowd.  This is a "come as you are" meeting that will not be streamed. All are welcome!    

February 2024

So much about birding is about "Place."  Where can you go to find birds, and which time of year is best? Where do you park and is it a safe place to be? EBird is a good resource for these questions, but often only if the place is a "hotspot."

Pete Fenner will present some ideas about other places to go to see birds in the Peoria area where some interesting birds can be seen. His presentation will mostly focus on places in Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford and Marshall counties. There will be time at the end for the audience members to discuss some of their favorite hotspots too, because we can all learn from each other!