Christmas Count
WHEN: The 70th Lisle-Arboretum Christmas Bird Count (CBC) takes place on Sunday, 16 December 2018.
WHAT: We will count all the birds, by species, that are in our "count circle" on the count day.
WHERE: The Lisle Arboretum Count Circle is the 15 mile diameter area centered on the intersection of Cass Avenue and 75th Street in Darien (Du Page County). For more information about what areas are in the count circle, and also a map of the circle, click here.
WHO: You! We welcome birders of all skill levels. If you have a pair of binoculars suitable for bird watching and can identify by sight the most common birds in our area, you are welcome to join in. You don't have to be an expert. We will match up people who have never done a CBC before with participants who have.
HOW DO I SIGNUP? Send email to Carl Giometti and provide your name, address, telephone number and email address. You'll hear back shortly from either Carl or from one of the Area Coordinators. Please sign up no later than Wednesday, December 12th!
COST: Participating in the count is free: no cost. There is a cost to attend the Countdown Dinner; see below for details. Please note, however, that since 1900 the National Audubon Society has been orchestrating the Christmas Bird Count and today bears the costs of organizing it and other citizen science efforts. Please consider donating to National Audubon Society in support of the CBC by following this link: https://give.audubon.org/giving/Page/62/1/62.
Countdown Dinner
At the end of our count day, many of us gather together for drinks, dinner, camaraderie, and to swap tales of the day's birding. This year the dinner is held at Gelsosomo's Pizzeria in Lemont. After dinner we have "the countdown": we total up the bird counts by species to see how we did. Those special code 4 birds are saved for last, with the day's best finds revealed one by one.
Dinner pre-registration REQUIRED
Email Christine Williamson by 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 12 at birdchris@aol.com.
Cost
$15 per person for COS members and $20 per person for non-members INCLUDES: appetizers, pizza, salad, soft drinks, coffee and dessert.
A CASH BAR will be available during the event.
You may pay by cash or check at the door.
Schedule
5:00 pm Soft drinks and coffee will be served as you tally up your birds
5:30 pm Food, drinks and dessert will be served
6:30 pm Countdown begins
Count Dinner Location:
Gelsosomo’s Pizzeria is located at 206 Main Street in downtown Lemont.
Driving directions: From I-55, head south on Lemont Road, cross the Des Plaines River and adjacent canals. Just past the bridge, take the exit on the right for Illinois Street. Follow Illinois Street to Lemont Street and turn left. Turn left on Main Street. Gelsosomo’s is the last building on the left before the overpass of Lemont Road.
Parking: in the train station commuter lot on the right, just across from the restaurant.
The Gelsosomo’s Pizzeria website has contact information: http://www.gelslemont.com/
Follow the link below for additional information about the count:
http://geoffwilliamson.info/lislecbc/lisle_files/participants.htm
70th LISLE ARBORETUM CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT is part of the National Audubon Society's 119th CBC season and sponsored by the Chicago Ornithological Society