Chicago Continues to Fail Migrating Birds

The Department of Planning and Development failed to make bird protection mandatory in the draft of its 2024 Sustainable Development Policy update. Learn how to express your objection to this proposal during the 30-day public comment period.

AdvocacyRobyn DetterlineApril 16, 2024

Birds are Chicago’s Iconic Wildlife

David Hoyt puts forth his manifesto for protecting Chicago’s iconic wildlife through a bird-friendly design ordinance.

AdvocacyRobyn DetterlineApril 14, 2024

Tell the Mayor Bird Protection is Not Optional

Read Bird Friendly Chicago’s Spring 2024 call to action. Learn what you can do to help ensure bird protection becomes mandatory in Chicago’s Sustainable Development Policy.

Advocacy, ConservationRobyn DetterlineMarch 21, 2024

Money Where Their Mouth Is? Promising Developments at McCormick Place

There are promising signs that show McCormick Place may finally be putting money where its mouth is and taking action for birds!

Advocacy, ConservationEdward WardenMarch 11, 2024

Position Statement of Bird Friendly Chicago Coalition

After four years, the city continues to hem and haw about implementing the bird friendly design ordinance. Meanwhile, new buildings are constructed that will lead to thousands of additional bird deaths. Read Bird Friendly Chicago’s full position statement on this issue.

Advocacy, ConservationRobyn DetterlineFebruary 15, 2024

Call to Action: Bird Friendly Design Public Feedback

Please read this call to action and help us demand the implementation of the City of Chicago’s sustainable development policy that would require new projects through the Department of Planning and Development to meet bird-friendly design standards.

Conservation, AdvocacyRobyn DetterlineJanuary 18, 2024

So We Met with McCormick Place; an update and next steps

On October 18, the Bird Friendly Chicago coalition met with leadership from Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) and McCormick Place. Here are some takeaways from that meeting and next steps for action.

Advocacy, ConservationEdward WardenOctober 26, 2023

Celebrate Birdability Week 2023

Lauren Kostas provides an overview of this year’s Birdability Week.

Community, AdvocacyRobyn DetterlineOctober 17, 2023

Holiday Decor Danger

Decorating for the holidays is fun for us but can be dangerous for birds. Kelly Bednara shares tips from Willowbrook Wildlife Center for getting festive in a way that is safe for wildlife.

AdvocacyRobyn DetterlineOctober 14, 2023

Bird Friendly Chicago Identifies Steps to Reduce Bird Mortality in Our City

Read the full press release by Bird Friendly Chicago, listing its demands for immediate action to make Chicago a bird friendly city.

Conservation, AdvocacyRobyn DetterlineOctober 14, 2023

Chicago's Bird Friendly Design Ordinance: Where Things Stand

Architect and former COS president Carl Giometti helps us navigate through the twisting path to bird friendly design legislature in Chicago. Learn where we are now, and where we go next.

Conservation, AdvocacyRobyn DetterlineOctober 12, 2023

Six Bird Friendly Actions You Can Take Today

COS president Edward Warden gives six actions the average citizen can take to help protect migratory birds in Chicago.

Conservation, AdvocacyRobyn DetterlineOctober 12, 2023

Women's History Month: Geneva Stratton-Porter

David Hoyt writes about Gene Stratton-Porter, a turn-of-the-century writer, photographer, and naturalist COS celebrates during this Women’s History Month

AdvocacyRobyn DetterlineMarch 31, 2023

Women's History Month: Marian Byrnes

Read about why COS celebrates Marian Byrnes, a Southeast Side conservation activist, during this Women’s History Month.

Advocacy, Community, ConservationRobyn DetterlineMarch 29, 2023

Women's History Month: Hazel Johnson

Read about why COS celebrates Hazel Johnson, the mother of the environmental justice movement, during this Women’s History Month.

Conservation, Community, AdvocacyRobyn DetterlineMarch 28, 2023

COS Needs You!

COS has been around for over a hundred years now, but the only way it will reach its next hundred is with people dedicated to getting it there. We need you! As an all volunteer organization, COS is only as strong as the many people who help us achieve our mission.

Community, AdvocacyEdward WardenJanuary 30, 2023

Saving Our Murders

West Nile may be largely under control in human circles, but the story is far from over for one of the virus’s most susceptible creatures; American Crows.

Conservation, Advocacy, CommunityEdward WardenNovember 22, 2022

Vote YES

It’s not every day that with a stroke of a pen we can have a dramatic impact on local conservation. But such a rare opportunity has presented itself. COS is excited about the tremendous opportunities for bird conservation if the Vote Yes for Clean Air, Clean Water, and Wildlife ballot measure passes.

AdvocacyEdward WardenOctober 17, 2022

Announcing the Chicago Nighthawk Project

This summer, Chicago Ornithological Society launched a new volunteer monitoring program to track, study, and conserve the Common Nighthawk. In a few short weeks, the COS team created a unique new monitoring protocol and cobbled together a crack team of about a dozen volunteers to pilot this new program.

Conservation, AdvocacyEdward WardenAugust 16, 2022nighthawks

Saving South Shore Sanctuary

Save Jackson Park is working diligently to preserve the South Shore Nature Sanctuary and block plans to absorb the space into a proposed PGA-caliber golf course. The community will have their say on June 28, but will the city listen?

Conservation, Community, AdvocacyEdward WardenJune 20, 2022

COS Blog

On October 18, the Bird Friendly Chicago coalition met with leadership from Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) and McCormick Place. Here are some takeaways from that meeting and next steps for action.

Lauren Kostas provides an overview of this year’s Birdability Week.

Decorating for the holidays is fun for us but can be dangerous for birds. Kelly Bednara shares tips from Willowbrook Wildlife Center for getting festive in a way that is safe for wildlife.

Read the full press release by Bird Friendly Chicago, listing its demands for immediate action to make Chicago a bird friendly city.

Architect and former COS president Carl Giometti helps us navigate through the twisting path to bird friendly design legislature in Chicago. Learn where we are now, and where we go next.

COS president Edward Warden gives six actions the average citizen can take to help protect migratory birds in Chicago.

David Hoyt writes about Gene Stratton-Porter, a turn-of-the-century writer, photographer, and naturalist COS celebrates during this Women’s History Month

Read about why COS celebrates Marian Byrnes, a Southeast Side conservation activist, during this Women’s History Month.

Read about why COS celebrates Hazel Johnson, the mother of the environmental justice movement, during this Women’s History Month.

COS has been around for over a hundred years now, but the only way it will reach its next hundred is with people dedicated to getting it there. We need you! As an all volunteer organization, COS is only as strong as the many people who help us achieve our mission.

West Nile may be largely under control in human circles, but the story is far from over for one of the virus’s most susceptible creatures; American Crows.

Save Jackson Park is working diligently to preserve the South Shore Nature Sanctuary and block plans to absorb the space into a proposed PGA-caliber golf course. The community will have their say on June 28, but will the city listen?