Please note that you must complete a second registration (separate from your meeting registration) to sign up for field trips. For details, see Registration & Merch.
Illinois River Valley Shorebird Trip
Monday, July 29
Depart Peoria Civic Center at 7am, return by 5pm
Cost: $10
Full-day field trip led by the Peoria Audubon Society. The focus of this trip will be spending the day seeking out migrating shorebirds. Exact locations to be determined based on where good shorebird habitat is that day, but will likely visit several of the following sites: Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area, The Emiquon Preserve, Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge, Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge, Spring Lake State Fish and Wildlife Management Area.
Transportation is provided in 15 passenger vans. Bring your own food, or plan to get fast food for lunch when the group stops for lunch in Havana Illinois (Hardees, Subway, McDonalds).
Peoria Zoo
Monday, July 29
Depart Peoria Civic Center at 1:30pm, return by 4:30pm
Cost: $10
Visit the Peoria Zoo, receive a tour of the zoo, and hear about the zoo’s participation in conservation work here in Illinois. After the tour you’ll have a chance to explore the zoo on your own. Zoo admission is included in field trip cost.
Morning Field Trips
These field trips will run Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings. All will depart from the Peoria Civic Center at 6am and return by 8:30am. Transportation is provided in 15 passenger vans; no food or drink is provided. All three trips are led by Peoria Audubon Society.
Cost: $5 each
Detweiller Riverside Field Trip: Morning field trip through the beginning of a grassland restoration at Detweiller Park.
Forest Park Nature Center Trails Field Trip: Morning field trip hiking some of the trails around the nature center to see forest species.
Mendenhall Park Field Trip: Morning field trip to a wetland site with wooded and emergent wetland habitats.
Illinois River Valley Wetlands and Cultural Resources Field Trip
Friday, August 2
Depart Peoria Civic Center at 7:30am, return by 4pm
Cost: $10
Daylong field trip hosted by the Emiquon Partnership, with stops at several wetland sites along the Illinois River near Havana, Illinois, as well as Forbes Biological Station and the Dickson Mounds State Museum. Wetland stops will include time for birdwatching as well as short presentations from local organizations that manage these wetlands. Field trip will end with a visit to the Dickson Mounds State Museum to learn about the human history of the Illinois River Valley. The Emiquon Partnership is made up of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Illinois River Biological Station, Forbes Biological Station, Dickson Mounds State Museum, Therkildsen Field Station at Emiquon, and The Nature Conservancy.
Transportation is provided in 15 passenger vans. Bring your own food, or plan to get fast food for lunch when the group stops for lunch in Havana Illinois (Hardees, Subway, McDonalds).
Forbes Biological Station Open House
Friday, August 2
Free, no transportation provided
Forbes Biological Station is celebrating its 130th anniversary in 2024. Come visit the station anytime on August 2nd from 11am to 4pm and get a tour to learn about the history of the station, learn about our ongoing research, and possibly see some Eurasian Tree Sparrows.