March is a great month to see a wide array of species, including the last of our wintering ducks, Northern Harriers, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Fox Sparrows, Eastern Phoebes, and Eastern Towhees!

CCAS Vice-President Roger Digges and his partner, Cathy Digges, have participated in the official midwinter Bald Eagle survey since 2018. Learn about their experience searching for these amazing birds along their assigned survey route by the Illinois River .

February’s bird of the month is the smallest woodpecker in North America but easily confused with its cousin the the Hairy Woodpecker.

Large quarry lakes, shrubland habitat, and bottomland forests make this property an ideal spot to see a wide array of species. February and March are particularly great for waterfowl!

Despite poor weather, 23 participants found 70 species during the 2023 Champaign County Christmas Bird Count (CBC) on December 16.

Your February 2024 newsletter is here!

You may see January’s bird of the month at your backyard feeder, although it’s not there for any of the seed, nuts, fruit, or suet you’ve provided.

Our Board voted this week to donate $250 to the Forest Preserve Friends Foundation in support of the creation of a new Dark Sky Trail at Middle Fork River Forest Preserve, Illinois’ first and only International Dark Sky Park.

Your December 2023 newsletter is here!

December’s bird of the month is one of the most iconic winter birds in North America, often found on greeting cards this time of year, beautifully contrasted with white snow .

In early November, a Broad-tailed Hummingbird visited a local backyard and was recorded as a first sighting in Champaign
County!

This park in Champaign can be worth a stop anytime, but late summer and winter are the two best periods of the year to visit to see plenty of birds.

Your November 2023 newsletter is here!

November’s bird of the month arrived to Illinois in only the 1970s and is now a common visitor to backyard feeders year-round. The species is vulnerable to an illness that affects its eyes, and we encourage you to help stop the spread.

This past Thursday, CCAS Conservation Chair Zak Sutton led a bird walk for Urbana High School’s new Outdoor Adventure Club, using the new binoculars recently purchased by CCAS for guided bird walks.

This unique Urbana park features multiple habitat types in a small area, with forest, prairie, and wetland supporting migratory birds who use the park as a crucial stopover site.

Each year, CCAS funds grants to support bird research, education, and conservation. To simplify accounting and increase flexibility, we are merging existing separate funds into a single fund.

October’s bird of the month is the most frequently sighted hawk in Champaign County, and the most common of all the 28 birds of prey that spend at least part of their lives in North America.

Join CCAS Conservation Chair Zak Sutton for a guided bird walk on the following Saturdays: September 23, October 7, and October 14, 2023.

The new Location of the Month series by CCAS President Colin Dobson features brief descriptions of birding spots within 50 miles of Champaign. Busey Woods is a great place to find migrating warblers!