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Upcoming Events

 
Field Trips and Events
Starved Rock Scramble
Feb 8
Ottawa Canyon Trailhead
Starved Rock Scramble
Ottawa Canyon Trailhead

RSVP Required

On this trip, we'll explore the magical winter landscape of the canyons along the Illinois River at Starved Rock- Ottawa, Kaskasia and Illinois.

Ottawa Canyon Trailhead
North Pond Wednesday Bird Walks
Feb 12
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
LaBagh Woods Stewardship Workday
Feb 16
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
Birds & Bytes: Tarik Shahzad's Big Year

Virtual Program

RSVP Required

Join COS for the latest episode of our virtual program series Birds & Bytes for a conversation with the newest Cook County big year record holder; Tarik Shahzad!

Wild Things Conference
Mar 1
Stephens Convention Center
Wild Things Conference
Stephens Convention Center

Wild Things Conference, the largest gathering of Chicagoland nature nerds returns this spring! Join more than 2000 nature lovers from across the region for a day full of educational sessions ranging from plants and animals, to restoration practices and story telling, to environmental justice and recreation. And of course, one of the largest groups of offerings is a track all about birds.

Stephens Convention Center
LaBagh Woods Stewardship Workday
Mar 2
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
Flock Club Book Club: The Backyard Bird Chronicles
Mar 11
Albany Park Library
Flock Club Book Club: The Backyard Bird Chronicles
Albany Park Library

Join COS for Flock Club Book Club to discuss Amy Tan’s The Backyard Bird Chronicles. In the spirit of our yearlong celebration of green birding, we’ll discuss this tome on the ultimate green birding outing—the kind that is not an outing at all!

Albany Park Library
North Pond Wednesday Bird Walks
Mar 12
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
North Pond Wednesday Bird Walks
Mar 19
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
LaBagh Woods Stewardship Workday
Mar 23
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
North Pond Wednesday Bird Walks
Mar 26
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
The Nighthawk at North Park Village Nature Center
Mar 30
North Park Village Nature Center
The Nighthawk at North Park Village Nature Center
North Park Village Nature Center

RSVP Required

Join us for a program all about the mysterious nighthawk; what makes them tick, why are they disappearing, and what's being done to save them right here in Chicago.

North Park Village Nature Center

The Chicago Birder Blog

 
Blog
Field Trip Report: Douglass Park
Field Trip Report: Douglass Park

Joann Umeki recaps the field trip to Douglass Park on Feb. 2, 2025.

Results of the 2024 Nighthawk Monitoring Season
Results of the 2024 Nighthawk Monitoring Season

The Chicago Ornithological Society's Common Nighthawk monitoring program continues to gain momentum, and we’re thrilled to report the success of our third season. Building on the strong foundation set by our first two years, the 2024 season saw significant growth in both participation and data collection, helping us better understand and conserve Chicago’s nighthawk population.

A Record-breaking Year
A Record-breaking Year

Tarik Shahzad shares his experiences during his record-breaking Big Year in 2024.

COS Annual Meeting Recap
COS Annual Meeting Recap

A recap of the COS annual meeting held in January 2025.

COS Statement on Community
COS Statement on Community

Read about our commitment to keeping the COS community safe and strong.

Update on Avian Flu (January 18, 2025)
Update on Avian Flu (January 18, 2025)

COS provides an update on avian bird flu (HPAI), including recommendations on reporting dead or diseased birds and ways to prevent the spread of the disease.