Follow our grand prairie bird alliance Page on Facebook to learn about upcoming events.

Educational talks and Expert Speakers

Over the years, we have been able to bring in some wonderful speakers to share with us their studies and expertise in many different areas including conservation, environmental legislation, local projects, and world events. Join us for these complimentary programs in the fall, open to the community.  For up-to-date information, please join the Grand Prairie Bird Alliance page on Facebook.

Whip-Poor-Will Presentation, March 30

The Grand Prairie Bird Alliance and the Illinois Wesleyan University Biology Department will sponsor a public presentation about bird ecology on March 30, 2026.  The presentation will be held at 7 p.m. in room C101 at the Center for Natural Science (CNS), 201 Beecher Street, Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU), Bloomington.  Parking is available in the lot just north of the CNS on Beecher Street.

Description: Holly Coates, a doctoral candidate at the University of Illinois, will talk about “What the Whip-poor-will Teaches Us About Forest Management.”  Eastern Whip-poor-wills are nocturnal, ground-nesting birds with have a distinctive call that is sometimes repeated for hours on end by males during the breeding season.  Unfortunately, whip-poor-will populations have declined substantially over the past several years.  As Midwestern forests become denser and more uniform, they lose the open, complex structure whip-poor-wills need to forage and move. Holly’s talk highlights how forest management influences whip-poor-will abundance and persistence, showing that restoring structural diversity can help support this declining and iconic bird.

spring bird outings

Saturday, April 11 - 8:00 a.m. - S.H. West Park, (30052 E. 750 North Rd., LeRoy)  

Saturday, April 18 - 8:00 a.m. - ParkLands Foundation Moon Tract, (Inner Loop Road, Lake Bloomington) (map)

Saturday, April 25 - 8:00 a.m. - Schroeder Preserve, (16041 E 700 North Rd) (map - use the east entrance with the “Wildlife Sanctuary” sign)

Saturday, May 2 - 8:00 a.m. - Hidden Creek (100 W. Sycamore, Normal)

Sunday, May 10 - 8:00 a.m. - ParkLands Foundation Merwin Preserve North Gate on Clarksville Road (2650 N)

Sunday, May 17 - 8:00 a.m. - Queer Bird Walk - Ewing Park (1001 Ethell Parkway, Bloomington) with co-leaders Michael Retter and Ani Fox