*Updated date from Sept 18 to Sept 19, due to 5k race scheduled on the 18th
Montrose Bird Sanctuary is a vital resting spot for thousands of birds from shorebirds to sparrows, hawks, warblers and owls on their southbound migration. The grasses in the beach dunes natural area will be high, golden and heavy with seed. Montrose Bird Sanctuary will be full of fruit, bugs and more seed for hungry southbound migrants. Monarch Butterflies also will be migrating at this time, sometimes in large numbers, along Chicago’s lakefront.
Leader: Christine Williamson; For more information, please contact Christine at birdchris@aol.com.
Bird Walk: 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Beach cleanup: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
You must RSVP in advance! Limit: 12 people. Online pre-registration is required. Please contact the trip leader or aerin tedesco at least 24 hours in advance if you cannot attend. (aerintedesco@gmail.com)
Trip tips:
You should carry water with you on the walk, dress for the weather and bring binoculars if you have them. There are some binoculars to borrow.
Beach Clean-up:
COS’ ally, Sierra Club, is sponsoring a big beach clean-up beginning at 9:00 a.m. Trip participants can keep birding or join the beach sweep. Celebrate International Coastal Clean-up Day by giving birds a clean beach to rest on during migration.
Pre-registration is not required for the Sierra Club-sponsored beach clean-up
Please read the safety instructions below CAREFULLY before signing up!!!*
Directions:
Meet on the east side of the beach house at Montrose Beach at 7:00 a.m. for the bird walk.
There is a mix of free and pay parking at Montrose Point so be sure to check what zone you are parked in. Ticketing is common at Montrose for those who don’t pay for parking.
-> For cyclists, bike racks are provided at the beach house.
-> For those who travel by bus, it is a 10 – 15-minute walk to Montrose Beach house from the bus stops at Montrose and Marine Drive.
*Safety Instructions:
- Face masks will be recommended for everyone and should cover both nose and mouth.
- If you are feeling ill and have any symptoms of COVID or have been exposed to anyone who has, we ask you to please not attend.
-The first time anyone deviates from the protocol, I will make a request for that individual to get back into compliance. If that individual can't or won't comply, or upon a second deviation from the protocol, I will ask the individual to leave the walk. If the individual will not leave, then I will end the walk.
These rules are for community safety, our safety, and for the comfort and peace of mind of those participating.