<html><head><style type='text/css'>p { margin: 0; }</style></head><body><div style='font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; color: #000000'><style>p { margin: 0; }</style><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Exciting Birds—Great People—Rewarding Work—Beautiful Landscapes<br>
<br>Save the date!<br>
<br>
Give Back to Birds — Field Trip and Workday<br>
Hennepin & Hopper Lakes<br>
Hennepin, Illinois<br>
October 30, 2010<br>
9:15am - 10:30am: Bird Walk<br>
10:30am: Snack<br>
10:45am - 12:45pm: Workday<br>
12:45pm: Brown Bag Lunch<br>
<br>
<br>
The Bird Conservation Network is sponsoring its fifth Give Back to the<br>
Birds—Field Trip/Workday at Hennepin and Hopper Lakes, an Illinois Important<br>
Bird Area, located in Hennepin near the bend of the<br>
Illinois River — about a 2-2½ hour drive from the Chicago area. Partners at this<br>
unique habitat restoration project on this site have turned off the drainage<br>
pumps to return floodplain farmland to wetland.<br>
We will learn about the project from a site ecologist, and enjoy the wide array<br>
of waterfowl and other wetland birds (a spotting scope would be helpful.)<br>
After the morning bird walk, we will enjoy a complimentary snack before we begin<br>
to collect seeds in the prairie. These seeds will be spread in other grasslands<br>
at the site at a later date, to create a good turf to fight invasives that<br>
degrade habitat. As our regular participants have often said, collecting seeds<br>
is very enjoyable and rewarding work.<br>
This Saturday trip/workday will take place rain or shine. People of all ages<br>
will be able to find a way to help. Dress in layers, with sturdy shoes.<br>
Bring a sack lunch if you would like to picnic after the workday. Goodies for<br>
dessert will be provided!<br>
<br>
BCN would like to know how many to plan for. Please RSVP to Joan Bruchman at<br>
<a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ILbirds/post?postID=Tdr9Sz1sjemcwRPH9T2Z1pRtqAuwEoFJ5CAbwE9YOXXjfERAIOzKIj85wrmiGIcY4uy55MLuOGts4M8" target="_blank">pjbruchman@...</a> or 847-687-3108. Also let Joan know if you would like to be<br>
part of a carpool.<br>
<br>
Directions to Hennepin and Hopper Lakes:<br>
I-80 west to I-39 south. Take I -39 south to Route 71 exit; head west. Take<br>
Route 71 west to Route 26; turn left towards Hennepin. Go approximately 2.5<br>
miles south. Turn right onto Hennepin Farms Road (paved road before the road<br>
swings up the hill.) Pass the first house on the right, then turn right onto a<br>
sand road. Follow sand road approximately 300 ft. to parking lot and Nolan<br>
Observation Tower.<br>
<br>
Give Back to Birds is a series of "work and birding" trips sponsored by the Bird<br>
Conservation Network. The purposes: Fellowship and camaraderie among our bird<br>
conservation and birding communities. Helping out some sites that have<br>
conservation needs. And seeing some great birds and beautiful places!<br>
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