Shorebirds along the Illinois River

We will meet at the Dixon Mounds Museum Parking lot at 7:00am. We will spend the day scanning the mudflats within the North and South Globes of Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge, hotspots around Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge, and the Nature Conservancy Nature Preserve. This location is host to thousands of shorebirds and waterfowl each fall. It is, no doubt, one the premier places in Illinois for birding. We will break for a lunch, presentation, and some relaxation at the Dixon Mounds Museum around 12:00pm. The Dixon Mounds Museum is a gracious host and is one of the major on-site archaeological museums in the United States. It offers a unique opportunity to explore the world of the American Indian in an awe inspiring journey through 12,000 years of human experience in the Illinois River Valley.