About NCIOS:

Organized in 1947
At 60 years, one of the longest-lasting organizations in Rockford
Read about the 60th anniversary

The Rockford Bird Club

The NCIOS website was created to help connect area birders with each other to increase the enjoyment of birding in Northern Illinois. Here you will find information about area birding events, recent bird sightings, facts about area birds, and ways to improve your birding skills. Read about the history of the club

Upcoming & Past Events

Check out the calendar of events for the 2007-2008 birding year.

Byron Forest Preserve now has a Wild Bird Hotline number - 815-234-8535 ext. 203. Messages of rare bird sightings may be accessed and recorded.

NCIOS meets at 7:00PM on the second Thursday of the month, except in June and September when the club meets at 6:00PM in area forest preserves and parks. NCIOS does not meet in July, August, or December. December is when the club participates in area Christmas Bird Counts.

Check out various live feeds of nesting birds including Eagles, Owls, and Falcons.

Meetings feature educational programs about birds, birding equipment, places and times to watch birds, recent area bird sightings, bird identification tips, members' birding trips, etc. NCIOS offers monthly bird watching field trips to local sites of interest, as well as opportunities to participate in trips to out of state sites and annual Christmas, Spring, and Sandhill Crane bird counts. Visitors are always welcome and car pooling is available for field trips. Classes for beginning birders are offered from time to time. Birders are perhaps the friendliest groups of people, so come join us and find out why birding is such a fun activity. For more information about NCIOS, please contact Jan Lockwood at 815-289-0751.

Trip to Mississippi River on March 10th - Eight members participated in the trip to the Mississippi River led by Anne Straight. It was a great day of birding with 53 species seen during stops at Spring Lake, Lock and Dam 13, and Lock and Dam 14. Highlights were the 2 male Harlequins... Read on...

Perhaps the best way to increase the joy of birding is by becoming a member. The cost is $10.00 a year; a low price for getting to learn from some of the top birders of the midwest. If you are already a member, check out the blog to post about recent sightings and help other birders out.

For more information about the birds and birding spots, check out the Winnebago Birding Guide