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The Chequamegon Bird Club (C.B.C.) has at least one scheduled meeting each month. The normal meeting date is on the 3rd Monday of the month and the usual meeting place is in the Large Conference Room at the Frances L. Simek Memorial Library (click for location map) in the city of Medford, Wisconsin.
Unless otherwise indicated, the monthly meetings begin at 7:00 pm and consist of two parts - the business meeting and the program segment. A "snack session" separates the two and allows members and visitors a time to socialize.
During the business segment, items related to the C.B.C. organization are discussed as well as "What's Around?", where members relate their observations of bird species and the activities they've noted during the previous month.
During the program or entertainment segment guest speakers provide interesting discussions, slide shows and movies on a wide range of natural history subjects.
The meetings are FREE! Guests and prospective C.B.C. members are welcome to attend the monthly meetings. Please bring a cup for the snack and beverage portion of the evening.
| Date & Time | Program | Location |
| November 17, 2008 | Ruffed Grouse in Wisconsin Gary Zimmer, Ruffed Grouse Society of Wisconsin |
Frances L. Simek Memorial Library - Medford |
| December 15, 2008 | Christmas Party - Bird Bingo | Frances L. Simek Memorial Library - Medford |
| January 19, 2009 | TBA | Frances L. Simek Memorial Library - Medford |
| February 16, 2209 | TBA | Frances L. Simek Memorial Library - Medford |
| March 16, 2209 | TBA | Frances L. Simek Memorial Library - Medford |
| April 20, 2009 | TBA | Frances L. Simek Memorial Library - Medford |
| May 18, 2009 | TBA | Frances L. Simek Memorial Library - Medford |
The Chequamegon Bird Club began after author and ornithologist, Sam Robbins, conducted classes on bird watching and identification and that the group that met with him wanted to continue to meet and learn. For prospective members, it may be helpful to review some of the programs and activities we have enjoyed in the past.
Field trips have been taken to Horicon Marsh, Rex Ruesch farm, Taylor County Blue Heron rookery, Krug's Game Farm, Emu ranch, Raptor Center at Antigo, Hawk Ridge, the Taylor County Historical Museum, and Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum. Our picnics have been held at Timm's Hill, Cherokee Park, the Medford School Forest, Simek Library, and various member homes. If you would like to be contacted when we are taking our next field trip, contact Gayle Davis, our trip coordinator.
Programs: We have benefited from viewing slides taken by members and slides from the Wisconsin Ornithological Society. Movies and videos from our files and from the Medford Public Library have been shown. Members have produced and shared bird videos. Topics and speakers have included specialists on bird banding, raptors, four seasons in the north woods, Sandhill Crane counts, other bird counts, various wildlife areas, International Crane Foundation, the Leigh Yawkey Museum, bird breeding trends in national forests, evolution of birds, birds and birders as seen by cartoonists, ways of attracting birds, West Nile Virus, migratory game birds, bird identification, central Wisconsin grassland conservation, effects of global warming on birds, and bird eggs and incubation. Some theme sessions have included specific birds such as Baltimore Orioles, stories of favorite birds, "Books on Your Bookshelf", and "Nature's Lunch Box" a potluck of foods found in the wild for birds and people. Non-bird topics have included bear tagging, wolves, bats, invasive species, butterfly gardening, DNR budget cuts, and the Ice Age Trail.
How-to sessions included making suet balls and birdhouse and feeder construction. Nature photographers have shared their expertise in how to photograph birds. Wood carvers have displayed their work.
Other activities have included poster contests, a booth at the fair, highway cleanup, seed sales, sales at the Farmers' Market, and displays at a Land Stewardship Conference. We have raised funds to send a youth leader to a session at the Trees for Tomorrow camp.
Ours has been an active, vibrant group and new members, regardless of birding skills, are welcome to join!