Next trip is May 19, 7 AM at Labagh Woods! COS members and friends are invited to join the Chicago Group of the Sierra Club for Chicago Park Nature Tours, a six-trip series of walks for beginning bird and nature watchers from April through September. Spend a few hours learning about nature, native plants and urban wildlife in Chicago parks. This year, we will branch out from Montrose Point and Dunes to several new parks and natural areas. Nature and birds change dramatically throughout the seasons, even in urban areas, and our six trips will start with northbound bird migration and end during the height of southbound migration. In between, we’ll focus on breeding birds, mammals, butterflies, dragonflies and beautiful plants. [...]
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| Three birders braved inclement weather at Humboldt Park on April 28, to learn a bit more about birding by ear. Sam Burckhardt led us in overcast windy 45 degree weather; luckily down pour had just ended. We had 46 species. Despite the weather, we had good views of several warbler species, and a snipe that was very [...] Twenty-two observers participated in the Lake Calumet Earth Day Birding hike on Sunday morning (22 April 2012). The walk was sponsored by Audubon Chicago Region, Chicago Ornithological Society, Bronzeville Historical Society, and the Illinois International Port District. Our group was allowed to access the east-west dike at Lake Calumet as well as the northernmost of the east [...] Beau Schaefer led a COS group of 10 birders on April 22nd at Rollins Savanna. It was a little chilly but the wind held off until the last part of the trip. Had some nice birds including great looks at one of 5 HENSLOW’S SPARROWS. Beau was able to get a male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD in the [...] 
Just a quick note to thank Dave Willard and the Field Museum for hosting the Chicago Ornithological Society this past Saturday. Sixteen participants were treated to up close views of some of the largest (Wandering Albatross, Harpy Eagle), smallest (Bee Hummingbird), and strangest (a number of Birds of Paradise) birds that nature has to offer. [...] 
Prairie Chicken Trip Report The COS trip to the Newton-Prairie Ridge area was a big success. Our group was led by Dr. Jeff Walk of The Nature Conservancy. Jeff grew up in the area and knows it well. On Saturday, we scoured farm fields in the Newton-Prairie Ridge area. While we missed Upland Sandpiper and [...] Birding Blitz 2012 — April 28 – Donate Here! At the Cache River Nature Fest Birding Blitz teams compete to see and hear the most species of birds in a 24-hour period, while raising money for conservation in southernmost Illinois. Teams can search for birds throughout the area of southernmost Illinois, from Jackson, Williamson, Saline, [...] Gavin Shire, Vice President of the American Bird Conservancy, writes that the development of wind power has been disasterous for bird species. In this post, he writes about how American Bird Conservancy’s petition to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department seeks to reduce harm to birds in the continuing development of wind energy. [...] Chicago Ornithological Society sent a letter of support to Mayor Rahm Emanuel for his decision made this week to pull back the plan for a police firing range on the South Side after a pair of bald eagles were found nesting there. The site has been long contested by birders and conservationists, including COS (see previous post here.)
We had 82 species of birds on the count this year, the 63rd time the count’s been held. This is the third best species total for the Lisle-Arb count, trailing only the counts from Dec 2009 (89 species) and Dec 2006 (86 species). Of course, a significant factor in this was that the weather never got cold for a protracted period leading up to the count, and the temperatures on count day were positively balmy. The high temperature reached 43 degrees on count day. [...] |
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Copyright © 2012 Chicago Ornithological Society - All Rights Reserved
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Founded in 1912, COS celebrates 100 years as a Chicago area birding Club. To help COS celebrate, Lucas Haberkorn, age 11 years, and Nandu Dubey, age 14 years, members of the IOS Illinois Young Birders club (IYB), created artwork for COS to use to promote its celebration. 
