COS Needs You!

Birding is one of the most rapidly growing hobbies in North America. We’ve seen that first hand in Chicago not just in the number of media hits and eBird lists popping up, but in how rapidly Chicago Ornithological Society has grown as well. In order to keep up with that growth and serve the burgeoning bird community we need you! As an all volunteer organization, COS is only as strong as the many dedicated people who help us achieve our mission. Have skills you’d like to offer? Great! Don’t know what you have to offer but still want to help? Great! Whether you can swing a few hours or a few minutes a week, we want to hear from you. Shoot us an email at chicagobirder@gmail.com to get involved.

Updated 5/8/22

Listed below are some of the teams that need help but is by no means an exhaustive list of roles or ways to get involved:

Communications Team
The communications team manages COS’s web based tools and communications including the website, blog, social media, e-blasts, and our flagship publication The Chicago Birder. Do you love to write, share photos, or ban Facebook spam bots? Then look no further! In particular, this team is seeking writers for the COS blog and the Chicago Birder and help with our Instagram.

Fundraising Committee
The fundraising team develops and executes a variety of strategies to help fund COS’s important work and rapidly growing initiatives. From online fundraisers, to swag, to full blown birder parties, nothing is too big or small when it comes to funding bird conservation.

Field Trip Committee
The field trip committee plans and run birding trips throughout the Chicago region, and sometimes beyond. Their work involves the coordination with partners, land managers, and trip leaders to ensure top notch birding experiences for birders of all levels. In particular, this team is looking for people to help lead our signature field trips. If you have a spot (or several) that you like to go birding and are excited to share your joy of birding with other eager birders, then this is the team for you!

Conservation Committee
The Conservation Committee focuses on conservation issues impacting birds across the Chicago region and sometimes beyond. Whether those impacts are habitat loss, window collisions, or concerts on the beach, this team pursues partnerships and advocacy avenues to protect birds wherever they may be.

Calumet Team
The Calumet team oversees the various bird conservation projects, programs and activities focused on the parks and preserves in the Calumet region. This team is in need of help advancing its newly minted Calumet Initiative and Master plan. You can learn a bit more about their work here.

Have questions or are ready to jump in? Contact us at chicagobirder@gmail.com to get started! To learn more about COS’s mission and the many teams/committees that help drive it, visit our About page.

We look forward to connecting with you and guiding COS through another century of being Chicagoland’s premier birding and bird conservation organization.