2022 Spring Gathering & Field Trips

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Allerton Park & Retreat Center is named one of the 7 Wonders of Illinois by visitors, guests, and the Illinois Bureau of Tourism.  Allerton offers 1,500 acres of beautiful, outdoor surroundings, including extensive formal gardens with more than 100 outdoor sculptures and garden ornaments. Originally the estate of Robert Allerton, it now holds a National Natural Landmark and National Register of Historic Places designation. Enjoy a slow-paced, guided tour of the house.

Allerton Park & Retreat Center is named one of the 7 Wonders of Illinois by visitors, guests, and the Illinois Bureau of Tourism.  Allerton offers 1,500 acres of beautiful, outdoor surroundings, including extensive formal gardens with more than 100 outdoor sculptures and garden ornaments. Originally the estate of Robert Allerton, it now holds a National Natural Landmark and National Register of Historic Places designation. Enjoy a slow-paced, guided walking tour of the grounds.

While the various museums that make up the Smithsonian Institution wear the well-deserved moniker of “the nation’s attic,” the biological collections housed at the Illinois Natural History Survey represent something far different—the "collective biological memory" for the state of Illinois. When visitors walk into the various collection rooms, no great trumpeting elephants startle them with their presence. Visitors, however, are struck by the very “unattic-like” sense of impeccable organization—a place for everything and everything in its place. No lions, or tigers, or bears here; but, oh my, so much more.” Join Sue Post and several of the Survey’s scientists as they lead you on a tour of four of the less-well-known Survey collections—mussels, herbarium, birds and mammals, and paleontology. Interaction with the scientists will take place around noon. Please purchase a lunch with registration. (Maximum 25)

Champaign County has many locations for great birding. Exact locations will be determined as the date gets closer so we can get the maximum amount of bird watching enjoyment. Locations may include: Busey Woods, Meadowbrook Park, River Bend, Lake of the Woods and Crystal Lake Park. Most locations are located within 2 to 3 miles of Champaign. Participants will caravan round-trip from Allerton Park & Retreat Center. Please purchase lunch with registration or bring your own. (Maximum 24)

Join Mary Ann Hoeffliger on a birding and botany tour of wetlands, woodlands and prairies of Vermilion County. Sites visited will be decided closer to trip time, and will depend on birds being seen and site conditions. Potential sites are Heron Park boardwalk, Forest Glen Preserve, Kennekuk Cove Park, Homer Lake Park, and private lands. Expect walking at each site. Group will carpool round-trip from Allerton Park & Retreat Center. Please purchase lunch with registration or bring your own. (Maximum 24)

Visit with Grand Prairie Friends Land Trust guides and staff as we explore portions of the 1,200-acre Warbler Ridge Conservation Area near Charleston. Nestled on the Embarras River at the southmost reach of the Wisconsin glacier, this Coles County gem offers ridges and ravines alongside flat floodplain forest and pollinator habitats. Trip Leader Tyler Funk will help us search for migrating and resident songbirds in the morning. Larger avian residents include the pileated woodpecker, bald eagle and harriers. After lunch we will switch focus to learn about an exciting bat habitat restoration project underway at Warbler Ridge. Combined morning and afternoon walking distance will be approximately 3 miles both flat grassland habitat and forest dirt trails with moderate terrain. Field trip includes round-trip transportation by van. Please purchase lunch with registration.  We will have coolers onboard for those who chose to brown bag. (Maximum 20) Cost: $30

THIS TRIP IS SOLD OUT  It is difficult to judge a book from its cover. The level to rolling topography and expansive cultivation of central Illinois obscures a landscape with a dynamic geological and vegetational history. Overlay a narrative of human history—12,000 years of Native American history, the arrival of Euro-American in the early 19^th century—and you have the ingredients of an adventure. From Allerton Park to Moraine View State Park and back, join tour guide Mike Wiant and explore a climax forest with a carpet of wildflowers and Spring birds overhead; the location of the Grand Kickapoo village; the history of earthquakes; Ice Age landforms; and, the origins of central Illinois’ many rivers. The field trip includes transportation by van. Some walking will be involved at various destinations. Please purchase lunch with registration. We will have coolers onboard for those who chose to brown bag. (Maximum 10) Cost: $35

The Bruce Hannon Levee Trail (2.3 miles) near Allerton, passes alongside the Sangamon River and offers great birding opportunities. The trail is part of the 108-acre reserve managed by the Land Conservation Foundation (LCF). This renewed floodplain forest is a natural water filter, helping ensure a healthy river and a clean water supply where LCF has planted 25,000 trees, restoring a farm field to its natural, wooded state. This is a one-way hike guided by LCF member Fran Harty. Shuttling will be arranged. (Maximum 20)

Learn more about the state-threatened mudpuppy salamander’s habitat, diet, and life history through a reflection of recent graduate student Marissa Jones’ successful experience trapping over 30 mudpuppies in Allerton last year! This program will offer an indoor trapping demonstration as well as a field trip consisting of a short hike along Allerton trails to active trapping locations along the Sangamon River. A portion of the hike will include some off trail over uneven terrain to get to the river. Expect to see woodpeckers, a variety of spring flowers, oak-hickory forest and, hopefully, a mudpuppy salamander. (Maximum 15)

New discoveries are an everyday happening at Amboy Marsh and Gremel Nature Preserves.  Bill Handel (botany), Isaac Stewart (insects) and Bo Dziadyk (muskrats) will each present an overview of their research and insights into what’s been happening at these sites. Program will be held in the Allerton Mansion Library.

The Illinois Audubon Society first sounded the alarm with concerns of the decline in prairie-chicken populations in 1931. Nearly 91 years later, their future in Illinois now rests in the capable hands of Bob Gillespie, Site Manager at Prairie Ridge State Natural Area. Bob will cover the history and latest news for our boomers on the prairie. Program will be held in the Allerton Mansion Library.

Allerton Park & Retreat Center is named one of the 7 Wonders of Illinois by visitors, guests, and the Illinois Bureau of Tourism.  Allerton offers 1,500 acres of beautiful, outdoor surroundings, including extensive formal gardens with more than 100 outdoor sculptures and garden ornaments. Originally the estate of Robert Allerton, it now holds a National Natural Landmark and National Register of Historic Places designation. Enjoy a slow-paced, guided tour of the grounds.  (Maximum 20)

A guided hike through the forests of Allerton Park on Sunday morning with special guest trip leader Robert Ridgway. Birds that we will likely see include red-shouldered hawk, brown creeper, tufted titmouse, downy, hairy, red-headed and pileated woodpeckers, white-breasted nuthatch and any early migratory birds.  This hike will be about 2 miles in length and very flat, the floodplain trail is often muddy; boots recommended. (Maximum 24)

Join Decatur Audubon Society at this 621-acre site near Cisco, Illinois, that includes open meadow, tall grass prairie and two branches of Friends Creek. We will search for returning grassland birds including Henslow’s sparrow and yellow-breasted chat. Walk approximately 3 miles on trails that are mostly flat, but could be muddy. Boots recommended. Located 10 miles from Allerton Retreat Center. (Maximum 20)

Observe bird banding and enjoy a hike in search of early spring migrants along the Sangamon River. The Millikin University Biology Department and Illinois Raptor Center have been using bird banding to conduct research on songbirds on the Illinois Raptor Center property since 2014, and the site features diverse habitats and an excellent private trail system. There will be plenty of time to observe the banding process and enjoy a hike. Located 33 miles from Allerton Retreat Center. (Maximum 24).

Meet and visit with bird artist Lynn Hawkinson Smith in her home studio in the woods along the Sangamon River. Lynn sells her work across the United States and at local galleries and nature centers. After the studio visit Lynn and Beth Beauchamp, Land Conservation Foundation Board Director, will lead a hike to the Charlotte & Dan Brady Woods Nature Preserve a floodplain woods located behind Lynn’s property. Easy 2-mile hike on trails. Trails can be muddy; boots recommended. Located 25 miles from Allerton Retreat Center. (Maximum 12)