September 2009
Guided Bird Hike
Saturday, September 5, 8:00 am
Join volunteer naturalist Phil Schwab as he leads a hike to look for late summer and early fall migrants. We hope to see great crested flycatchers, veeries, and a variety of vireos and warblers. Severson Dells Forest Preserve is a great place to spot numerous bird species. The hike will be easy in difficulty and will begin at the Nature Center. No fee. 1-815-335-2915
Parade of Prairies - The Sunset Tours
Wednesday, September 16 - Searls Prairie
Wednesday, September 23 - Wilson Prairie
Wednesday, September 30 - Harlem Hills Prairie
Autumn is a great time to visit the northern Illinois area prairiescapes. These tours on Wednesday evenings will be easy to moderate hiking and will focus on the flora found on the prairie. Come out with Severson Dells staff person, Don Miller, to discover your natural heritage on these unique properties. Make plans to be there whether it is for a causal stroll just to enjoy the evening or to become an “aster master.” (If 5:30 pm is too early, come later and on most prairies you will still be able to find us.) Call for reservations, meeting places, or for more information.1-815-335-2915.
Scott Russell Sanders and “A Conservationist Manifesto”
Friday, September 18, 7:00-8:00 pm
Scott R. Sanders returns to Severson Dells to read and discuss the thoughts and words from his most recent book A Conservationist Manifesto. Will Rogers, President, of The Trust for Public Land says of Sanders’ new book, “Sanders’ A Conservationist Manifesto is a book to be savored - for its language, its stories, its sense of place, and for how it reminds us of the profound relationships with nature and each other that can inspire us to change how we live on this planet.”
Sanders is the author of over twenty books of fiction and nonfiction, including Hunting for Hope, Writing from the Center, and A Private History of Awe. He is winner of the Lannan Literary Award, John Burroughs Essay Award for Natural History, AWP Award in Creative Nonfiction, and the 2009 Mark Twain Award. Fee: $5/members of “Friends of Severson Dells,” $7.50/non-members. Call to reserve a seat: 1-815-335-2915.
October 2009
Guided Bird Hike
Saturday, October 3, 8:00 am
Join volunteer naturalist Phil Schwab as he leads a hike to look for late fall migrants and the “regulars” of Severson Dells Forest Preserve. Special sightings might be wood thrush, eastern wood-pewee, kinglets, towhees, and warblers. Severson Dells Forest Preserve is a great place to spot numerous bird species. The hike will be easy in difficulty and will begin at the Nature Center. No fee. 1-815-335-2915
Severson Dells/Pheasants Forever Work Day
Saturday, October 10, 9:30 am
Severson Dells is partnering with three local Pheasants Forever Chapters, for a restoration work day. The work day will start at 9:30 am with safety, rules and how the day will be run. At 10:00 am the group will split into two (2). Group A will work on restoring an area that is becoming overrun by honeysuckle, while group B will start seed collecting in one of Severson Dells’ prairies. At 11:00 am the groups will meet up and flip flop activities for another hour of work. 12:00 to 1:00 we will break for lunch. After a lunch break, the groups will join together to go on a hike on the Severson Dells property, along with a tour of the nature center. Some prizes will be awarded at this event, along with some other activities at lunch time. Winnebago Chapter, Kishwaukee Chapter, and McHenry County Chapters of Pheasants Forever are inviting youth under the age of 18 and their families to come out and partake in this event. Gloves, glasses and tools will be provided. Hope to see you there. Call 1-815-335-2915 to register and for more
information.
Short History of the Study of Butterflies and Moths in Illinois
Thursday, October 15, 7:00-8:30 pm
Jim Wiker will present this program that takes a look at some of our favorite species. Butterflies and moths have been fascinating many people for a long time. Come hear what studies have been done, why and by whom. View pictures, specimens and a great presentation on the history of these amazing insects.
Jim is a self-taught expert in the study of butterflies, moths, and other areas of natural history and has established himself as the leading lepidopterist in Illinois. Mr. Wiker was mentored by Dr. Tim Cashatt, Illinois State Museum. He has acquired, through his intensive study of butterflies and moths, a deep and full knowledge of the flora and fauna of Illinois as well as the state’s geography, its flowing waters and hundreds of natural areas.
He has had the extremely rare honor, in the field of natural history, of having a species named after him. It is a rare moth that he helped discover in the floodplain forests of deep southern Illinois.
Mr. Wiker is co-author of Field Guide to the Skipper Butterflies of Illinois, Illinois Natural History Survey-Manual 11, Bouseman, Sternberg, Wiker-Champaign, Illinois, 2006. He has served for many years as a research associate for the Illinois State Museum and is an Associate Research Scientist with the Illinois Natural History Survey and has been a co-instructor of INHS sponsored classes since 2002. No fee, but call to reserve a seat for this great program: 1-815-335-2915
November 2009
Family Night Hike
Friday, November 6, 7:00-8:30 pm
Join Severson Dells naturalist Don Miller on this family night hike to listen for owls and other night sounds. Listen to see if we can discover what goes bump in the night. All ages welcome. Free to members of Friends of Severson Dells;” $3 per family non-members. Call 1-815-335-2915 to register.
Sinnissippi Audubon Society at Severson Dells Nature Center
Tuesday, November 17, 7:00 pm
Program: Cahokia Mounds State Historical Site
Free and open to the public.
Speaker: William Iseminger, the assistant director of the visitor center at Cahokia Mounds State Historical Site - one of the largest and most sophisticated pre-historic Indian civilizations north of Mexico that was first inhabited around 700 AD and grew to a population of 20,000 by 1100 AD. Call 1-815-335-2915 to save your seat.
Winter Bird Feeding Workshop
Saturday, November 21, 9:00-10:30 am
Bill and Pat Hoople, owners of Wayne’s Feed Store on Auburn Street in Rockford, will be instructing this annual birdfeeding workshop. The workshop will benefit beginners as well as long time feeders. Registration is required, call 1-815-335-2915
Feeder Watching Basics
Saturday, November 21, 10:45-11:45 am
What are those feathered critters visiting your feeders? Severson Dells staff educator Richard Benning will cover ways to learn about those birds. Selecting bird identification guides and binoculars will also be discussed. Call for reservations. 1-815-335-2915
