Twenty-nine people with binoculars, one flashing a peace sign and one with a thumbs up sign, on boardwalk in front of the river — *Photo by Edward Warden, COS president and trip leader*

words by Lauren Kostas

On June 20 a group of 29 curious and enthusiastic beginning birders gathered for an introduction to birding at the Wild Mile, a floating eco-park on the north branch of the Chicago River.

The event was part of the Wild Mile Workshop series hosted by Urban Rivers at the distinctive wildlife sanctuary. We kicked off the walk with a quick primer on the use of binoculars and a review of identification basics like color, shape, size, behavior, and location. We put our new skills to the test strolling down an ADA-accessible boardwalk and exploring the native wetland gardens that wrap around the pontoon-like structures.

Large gray and blue bird with long, sharp, spearlike bill, gold eye, long neck and long legs next to a river — Great Blue Heron. *Burnham Prairie, March 22, 2023. Photo by Carl Giometti.*

A birding hotspot, 105 species have been identified at the Wild Mile. The highlights of our walk included a Great Blue Heron that flew directly over our group and a pair of Black-crowned Night Herons feeding on the shore. Swifts, swallows, gulls and more were spotted. A beaver swimming downstream also drew gasps and demonstrated the improved health of the river ecosystem.

Seen from behind, a large group of people use binoculars to spot and identify a bird from the boardwalk along the river. — *Photo by Edward Warden.*

By the end of our walk together, we had expanded our community of “bird nerds” and marveled at the resilience and richness of the river at the heart of the city. We saw 14 species.

Check out the Chicago Birder event calendar for more beginning birder tours and the Wild Mile events site to find ways to engage with the unique, urban greenspace.

Field Trip Report: Wild Mile