The easiest way to get involved is attend one of the monthly meetings or field trips listed on our calendar page.
Bird Counts
The Christmas Bird Count is a census of area birds conducted during the 23 days surrounding Christmas. On the assigned date, organized field parties census the bird populations within a given count circle, a pre-defined area 15 miles in diameter. Meanwhile, “feeder watchers” will count the birds that visit their feeder during the day. There are a number of individual counts in the Quad Cities area, each held on a different day. Count circles include: Clinton, Cordova, Quad Cities, Andalusia, New Boston, and Muscatine. It is not necessary to be an expert birder to participate on a Christmas Bird Count. If you are not an expert, we will make every attempt to team you with an experienced birder if you would like to join a field party.
Contact any board member if you are interested in participating in a field party or as a feeder watcher.
The Illinois Spring Bird Count falls on the Saturday between May 4 and May 11, near the peak of song bird migration. Field parties often identify 100 or more different species during a Spring Count. Participants in the Spring Bird Count may join a field party, or they may choose to count the birds that visit their feeder or a neighborhood park.
Contact any board member if you are interested in participating in the Illinois Spring Bird Count.
Conservation Committee Projects focus on wildlife habitat improvement. Here are some examples:
- Bluebird trail at Horseshoe Bend on the Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge in Louisa County. QCAS built and maintains a one-mile long bluebird trail on the prairie restoration in Horseshoe Bend. We clean, repair, or replace boxes in late February or early March so the boxes are ready for the bluebird nesting season. We are always on the lookout for volunteers to monitor nest success during the nesting season.
- Invasive species removal. In early July, we focus on the removal of sweet clover at the Lyndon-Agnew Prairie outside of Lyndon Illinois. Other opportunities for invasive plant removal include euonymous at Blackhawk State Historic Site in April and garlic mustard in May.
- Collection of a variety of prairie plant seeds for the prairie restoration at Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge.
- Water quality surveys. Conservation committee members monitor the quality of streams in Illinois every June.
- Wildlife population surveys including frog and toad studies at Nahant Marsh in Davenport and other locations and the annual Crane Count at various sites close to the Quad Cities.
If you would like to volunteer for these or other Conservation Committee projects, please contact either of the Conservation Committee co-chairs, Carol Rogers or Patrick Carlson.
Education Committee
Every January, the Education Committee prepares a booth at the QCCA Expo center and operates spotting scopes at Sunset Marina during the Bald Eagle Days environmental fair. We can always use assistance preparing for the event, staffing the booth, and operating the scopes. Contact Walt Zuurdeeg or Karen Rotschafer if you would like to volunteer.
Newsletter Committee
QCAS publishes Mississippi Currents our chapter newsletter, six times a year. You can contribut by submitting articles, drawings, and photos of interest. Send your submissions to Brent Langley. Contact Brent if you can help with editing and page layout as well.
If you’ve been thinking about getting involved in any way, feel free to contact any board member.