Field Trips and Programs Conservation and Advocacy LaBagh Woods Project Calumet Initiative Chicago Nighthawk Project Doug Anderson Grant Photo Contest 2025
Leadership & Committees
Member Magazine Blog e-newsletter
Join Volunteer Donate

Upcoming Events

 
Field Trips and Events
IL Spring Bird Count

Join the annual Illinois Spring Bird Count and help support one of the longest running citizen science efforts in the state.

Montrose Bird Sanctuary Stewardship Workday
May 10
Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary
Montrose Bird Sanctuary Stewardship Workday
Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary

Join the stewards of Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary (Magic Hedge) for a workday at one of the top bird watching spots in the country!

Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary
Linne Woods Bird Walk
May 11
Linne Woods
Linne Woods Bird Walk
Linne Woods

RSVP Required

Linne Woods is a beautiful mix of bottomland forest, upslope woods and open prairie. We'll walk on trails through all these habitats, looking for a plethora of warblers, thrushes and hawks!

Linne Woods
Humboldt Park Sunday Social Bird Walk
May 11
Humboldt Park
Humboldt Park Sunday Social Bird Walk
Humboldt Park

RSVP Required

Join us as we explore Humboldt Park as migratory birds flock to this incredible green oasis in the surrounding urban environment.

Humboldt Park
North Pond Wednesday Bird Walks
May 14
North Pond Casting Pier
North Pond Wednesday Bird Walks
North Pond Casting Pier

In cooperation with Third Coast Birding and Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, COS is proud to continue our long tradition of Wednesday morning bird walks at North Pond!

North Pond Casting Pier
IN Dunes Birding Festival
May 15
Indiana Dunes National Park Visitor Center
IN Dunes Birding Festival
Indiana Dunes National Park Visitor Center

One of the most popular and fastest growing birding festivals in North America returns! The Indiana Dunes Birding Festival takes place on May 15-18, 2025 and will feature hundreds of trips highlighting the extraordinary bird diversity present in northwest Indiana and eastern Illinois.

Indiana Dunes National Park Visitor Center
Dunning Read Natural Area Spring Bird Walk
May 17
Dunning Read Natural Area
Dunning Read Natural Area Spring Bird Walk
Dunning Read Natural Area

RSVP Required

We’re teaming up with the Chicago Public Library Dunning Branch to explore Dunning Read Natural Area.

Dunning Read Natural Area
LaBagh Woods Stewardship Workday
May 17
LaBagh Woods Grove #1
LaBagh Woods Stewardship Workday
LaBagh Woods Grove #1

Join us for a habitat restoration workday at COS’s flagship stewardship site LaBagh Woods, and help bring back critical bird habitat.

LaBagh Woods Grove #1
Busse Woods South Bird Walk
May 18
Busse Woods
Busse Woods South Bird Walk
Busse Woods

RSVP Required

Busse Woods hosts a pretty varied assortment of nesting and pass-through migrants, water birds and raptors.

Busse Woods
North Pond Wednesday Bird Walks
May 21
North Pond Casting Pier
North Pond Wednesday Bird Walks
North Pond Casting Pier

In cooperation with Third Coast Birding and Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, COS is proud to continue our long tradition of Wednesday morning bird walks at North Pond!

North Pond Casting Pier
After Work Bird Walk at The Wild Mile
May 22
The Wild Mile
After Work Bird Walk at The Wild Mile
The Wild Mile

RSVP Required

Join COS for an afternoon walk as we decompress from a long day at work and look for birds at the Wild Mile.

The Wild Mile
Montrose Dunes Stewardship Workday
May 24
Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary
Montrose Dunes Stewardship Workday
Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary

Join the stewards of Montrose Beach Dunes for a workday at one of the top bird watching spots in the country!

Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary

The Chicago Birder Blog

 
Blog
Field Trip Recap: Humboldt Park Sunday Social
Field Trip Recap: Humboldt Park Sunday Social

Kris Hansen recaps the Sunday Social bird walk at Humbolt Park on May 4, 2025.

Field Trip Recap: North Park Village Nature Center
Field Trip Recap: North Park Village Nature Center

Kris Hansen recaps the COS walk at North Park Village Nature Center on Saturday, May 3, 2025.

Field Trips Recap: Sammy's Big Day
Field Trips Recap: Sammy's Big Day

Trip leader Sammy Cabindol recaps his four bird walks at Montrose Point, Jarvis Bird Sanctuary, Lincoln Park Zoo and Douglass Park on April 28, 2025.

Field Trip Recap: Montrose Point Beginners Bird Walk
Field Trip Recap: Montrose Point Beginners Bird Walk

Trip leaders Geoff and Christine Williamson recap the beginner’s bird walk at Montrose Dunes and Bird Sanctuary May 3, 2025.

Field Trip Recap: Borbs and Forbs at Columbus Park
Field Trip Recap: Borbs and Forbs at Columbus Park

COS member Steve Whitman recaps the “borbs and forbs” walk at Columbus Park April 26.

Field Trip Recap: Marian Byrnes Walk
Field Trip Recap: Marian Byrnes Walk

Jon Evans recaps the COS field trip to Marian Byrnes Park on April 27, 2025.