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.
MEETING UPDATE: Reminder that the next NCIOS meeting on May 8th is being held at Rock Cut State Park at 7318 Harlem Road at 6:30 PM. We are meeting at the west lake parking lot by the dam. We will bird a bit and prepare for the Spring Bird Count on May 10th. What, you aren't signed up yet? Call Jack Armstrong at 815-398-2974 pronto!
You can now take I-39 to the Highway 173 exit and head west to the north entrance of Rock Cut.
Upcoming Events
- Archived Sightings From Around the Area
- Most recent sightings can be found on the Blog
- Rockford Christmas Bird Count #108 (2007) Results
- Kishwaukee Christmas Bird Count #108 (2007) Results
- BirdJam Review
Bird Count Reports and Trip Reports
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.
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.