The Land Conservancy Hosts Fall Warblers Bird Walk in Harvard Sept. 7

The Land Conservancy of McHenry County is hosting a Fall Warblers Bird Walk at Crowley Oaks Preserve, located at 18725 Crowley Rd. in Harvard on Sunday, Sept. 7 from 7-8:30 a.m. The event is free and participants can register for the event at ConserveMC.org

Warblers are a group of small, neotropical birds that migrate from Central and South America to breed in the northern United States and Canada. These charismatic "butterflies of the bird world," are colorful and distinctively patterned, sharing a variety of songs and behaviors. They are one of the most esteemed groups of birds in the birding world, with around 30 species visiting our area for a short time each spring and fall. Warblers are important to the ecosystem as they help regulate insect populations that would otherwise be destructive to our woodlands. Many species even time their spring migration with the emergence of caterpillars across the eastern United States and Canada.

The guide for this walk, Lisa Maier, will provide some background on warblers, tips for spotting them and what to expect on the walk. She will point out bird calls and specific trees and shrubs that are popular among certain species of warblers, as well as point out key field marks to identify them. Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars if they have them; however, a few pairs will be available to borrow.

About Lisa Maier:

Lisa has been active in the local birding community for over a decade, working with several organizations on documenting and preserving bird life in McHenry County and throughout the state. She serves as President of McHenry County Audubon Society and serves on the Board of Directors of Illinois Audubon Society. Lisa conducts bird monitoring and surveys for several organizations, gives presentations and classes, helps organize and participate in various birding events and censuses throughout the year, and has been an official counter at the Fort Sheridan Hawkwatch for over five years. She also leads bird walks and trips and is a local guide for Red Hill Birding.

The Land Conservancy of McHenry County is a member-based private nonprofit dedicated to preserving natural, scenic and agricultural land.