Middlefork Audubon Society

10/04/2026

Another great morning birding at the boardwalk on Saturday, October 3! Migration continues and here is a rundown of what we saw at both Heron Park Tower and Lake Vermilion County Park (south of the boat club).
*Special note : we were treated to delightful views of an Eastern Bluebird family on the railing of the tower and boardwalk! If you go, look for the adult male in bright blue but also keep an eye out for young first-years hanging around with their parents. *photos courtesy of Bob Schifo - bright blue male; and Melissa Rome - female with bug*

Canada Goose
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Rufus-sided Towhee
Carolina Wren
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Great Egret
Song Sparrow
Blue Jay
Sandhill Crane
Palm Warbler
American Goldfinch
Bald Eagle
Eastern Bluebird
Wood Duck
Green Winged Teal
Turkey Vulture
Great Blue Heron
Red-shouldered Hawk
Swamp Sparrow
Chimney Swift
Black-Throated Green Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Kingfisher
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Winter Wren
Phoebe
Killdeer
Marsh Wren
Carolina Chickadee
Tree Swallow
Myrtle Warbler
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
White-breasted Nuthatch
Cedar Waxwing
Red-tailed Hawk
White-Throated Sparrow

09/28/2026

Migration is in full swing! Middlefork Audubon enjoyed a great morning birding around Lake Vermilion on Saturday, September 26. Birding at the Heron Park Boardwalk will continue for the next few Saturdays. Hope you can join us - we meet at 8am in the parking lot! Check back here for any cancellations.
Here is the birding list from this past Saturday!
Boardwalk Sightings ::
Gray Catbird
White-Throated Sparrow
Blue Jay
Canada Geese
Red-winged Blackbirds
Carolina Chickadee
Northern Cardinal
Killdeer
Indigo Bunting
Common Yellowthroat
White-eyed Vireo
Red-headed Woodpecker
Great Egret
Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Turkey Vulture

Lake Vermilion Park (south of boat club) ::
Chimney Swift
Double-crested Cormorant
Cedar Waxwing
Myrtle Warbler
White-breasted Nuthatch
Downy Woodpecker
Yellow-throated Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Palm Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Tennessee Warbler

*all photo credit - Tom Marriage*

09/15/2026

Happening this Sunday, September 20 at Kennekuk County Park!

Have you ever seen a hawk or an owl face-to-face? Come out to Kennekuk County Park on Sunday, September 20 at 2pm for your chance! The Illinois Raptor Center will be bringing four of their feathered friends for an up-close opportunity to learn more about their behaviors and important role in our ecosystems. The program is open to all ages, free, with no pre-registration required and will be held at Kennekuk County Park's White Oak Barn. The program has been made possible by the Middlefork Audubon Society.

05/03/2026

Nature never disappoints! Despite a chilly day on Saturday, May 2, the sun was out - and so were the birds! We had a great time at the boardwalk and we saw -

Baltimore Oriole
Orchard Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Great Blue Heron
Northern Yellow Warbler
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Mourning Dove
Northern Cardinal
Song Sparrow
Canada Goose
Sandhill Crane
Northern Flicker
Eastern Bluebird
Cowbird
Turkey Vulture
White-Crowned Sparrow
Red-Tailed Hawk
Woodduck
Great Egret
Spotted Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Solitary Sandpiper
Sora
Yellowthroat
Chimney Swift
Catbird
Black-Throated Green Warbler
Warbling Vareo
Blue-Grey Gnatcatcher
Kingfisher
Towhee
Field Sparrow
Red-Bellied Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
American Robin
Carolina Wren
White-Throated Sparrow
Red-Shouldered Hawk
Blue-Winged Warbler
Downy Woodpecker
Carolina Chickadee
White-Breasted Nuthatch

04/19/2026

Reminder!
Next week our bird outing is on SUNDAY, April 26, at Kennekuk Education Center, 8AM. Matt Hayes from Illinois Audubon Society will guide us in a Spring Bird Identification workshop, including a presentation and then a hike! Hope you can join us!

Send a message to learn more

04/19/2026

It was a chilly boardwalk outing on Saturday, the 18th; but we had a great time and here is what we saw!

American Robin
Eastern Bluebird
Red-winged Blackbird
Grackle
Tree Swallow
Pectoral Sandpiper
Sora Rail
Marsh Wren
House Finch
Song Sparrow
Canada Goose
Blue-winged Teal
Wood Duck
Sandhill Crane
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Yellow Warbler
American Goldfinch
Northern Cardinal
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Red-headed Woodpecker
Turkey Vulture
Carolina Wren
Mourning Dove
Brown Thrasher
Mute Swan
Red-shouldered Hawk
Lesser Yellowlegs
Gulls

*Photo of Blue-winged Teal by Tom Marriage*

04/12/2026

Our first boardwalk outing at Heron Park Boardwalk on Saturday, April 11, was a lovely day with quite the display from the birds! The Turkey Vultures and White Pelicans performed a beautiful dance in the sky while we were out and we also saw:
American Goldfinch
American Robin
American Wigeon
Bald Eagle
Blue Jay
Blue-winged Teal
Brown-headed Cowbird
Brown Thrasher
Canada Goose
Carolina Chickadee
Carolina Wren
Double-breasted Cormorant (over 70!)
Downy Woodpecker
Eastern Bluebird
Eastern Towhee
European Starling
Field Sparrow
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
House Finch
Lesser Yellowlegs
Mourning Dove
Mute Swan
Myrtle Warbler
Northern Cardinal
Northern Flicker
Osprey
Pied-billed Grebe
Pileated Woodpecker
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-winged Blackbird
Ring-necked Pheasant
Sandhill Crane
Shoveler
Song Sparrow
Sora Rail
Swamp Sparrow
Tree Sparrow
Tufted Titmouse
Turkey Vulture
White Pelican (over 50!)
Wood Duck

04/10/2026

This Saturday!

April 11, 18 and May 2, 8:00 AM

Heron County Park:

Join the Middlefork Chapter of the Illinois Audubon society for free, family-friendly birdwatching.
No experience necessary.

Bring your binocs if you have them. We’ll meet at Heron County park at 8:00 but may relocate elsewhere, depending on bird movements.