Sunday, February 16, 2025
Start Time – 9:30 a.m.
The Gull Frolic is a unique winter event at Illinois’ premier gull-watching hotspot, North Point Marina. Bring your binoculars, scope and cold weather gear, and join birders outside of the yacht club to enjoy a close study of some of our harder-to-find winter species, including Iceland (Thayer’s and Kumlien’s), Glaucous, Great Black-backed, and Lesser Black-backed Gulls! A variety of waterfowl typically make an appearance too (scoters and other diving ducks), along with the occasional raptor, owl, or winter finch. Birders wearing bright orange hats will be available to help answer questions along the “boardwalk”.
Whenever you need a break from the cold, retreat indoors to the Winthrop Harbor Yacht Club that’s just a few feet away from the shore. Birders from all corners of our state come to mingle, relax and drive away the winter doldrums. Coffee, tea and hot-chocolate will be available all day to help us warm up. There will be a presentation in the conference room that’s offered twice (Session A & Session B).
Speaker:
Amar Ayyash, author The Gull Guide: North America and leading authority on the gulls of North American.
Presentation summary
Among the world’s “seabirds”, gulls are the most accessible to humans, invading our most immediate surroundings. Unsurprisingly, they’re sometimes perceived as 2nd class avian creatures. This, along with the identification challenges they present has created a love-hate relationship with many birders. And yet, some of our most coveted bird species — such as Ross’s and Ivory Gull — are part of this family, presenting us with an interesting juxtaposition. Amar Ayyash will take us through an entertaining and intriguing exploration of their natural history, and share some of the lesser-known adaptations and quirky behaviors of gulls.
Speaker Bio
Amar Ayyash is a leading authority on the gulls of North America. He hosts the website anythinglarus.com, administers the North American Gulls Facebook group, and has been involved with the IOS Annual Gull Frolic for the last 13 years. Amar is often found speaking at birding events throughout the continent, and much of his free time is dedicated to traveling the world to photograph and study gulls. He is a regular contributor to premier birding
magazines and journals and is the author of the newly released book, The Gull Guide. Amar lives in the southwest suburbs with his family and has been teaching high school math for the last 20 years.
The Gull Guide: North America will be available for purchase during the IOS Gull Frolic. Amar will be signing books throughout the event. Don’t miss this opportunity to get your book signed in-person at the Gull Frolic!
Registration:
The $40 registration fee / $30 for IOS members: includes a continental breakfast, lunch, and more. Any surplus raised will go to the IOS Grant Program, which provides money to local researchers and projects that benefit Illinois birds and birding.
IOS Members Only Tickets go on Sale Nov. 1st
SPONSORS: The Gull Frolic is hosted by the Illinois Ornithological Society, with sponsorship help from many local bird clubs, organizations and individuals. If your organization or club is interested in sponsoring, please contact Amar. There are a limited number of information tables for sponsoring organizations.
DIRECTIONS: To reach the Winthrop Harbor Yacht Club take the I-94 toll road north toward Milwaukee. Exit east (turn right) at Route 173. Continue east and turn left on Sheridan Road (Rt. 137). Proceed north and turn right on 7th Street. Follow the North Point Marina signs to the yacht club. There is plenty of parking and parking is always free!
Registration fills fast, so don’t delay. All are invited. We look forward to seeing you at this fun and enjoyable annual event!