CBC Meetings & Activities

• Introduction
• Monthly Meetings
• Field Trips & Activities

Monthly Meetings and Other C.B.C. Activities

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.

During the business meeting, 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 since the last meeting.

During the program or entertainment segment members or 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.

C.B.C. Field Trips, Events and Special Activities

The Chequamegon Bird Club was organized after author and ornithologist, Sam Robbins, conducted classes on bird watching and identification. 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, 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.

Programs: We have benefited from viewing photographs 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 hosting the World Migratory Bird Day events at Perkinstown Winter Sports Area, working with 5th grade students at the Taylor County Youth Expo, 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!

Ongoing Activities:

May

World Migratory Bird Day Celebration

Taylor County Youth Expo Booth The Expo is attended by about 350 students from Taylor and Price Counties. The students sample various outdoor activities sponsored by clubs and agencies from the Medford area.

June

Breeding Bird Surveys

December

Christmas Bird Counts

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