“Would I be the only newbie on the walk? Would I be judged for my banged-up binoculars? Would there be a quiz?” Lauren Kostas on some of the questions that may nag a new birder and how to jump with both feet into the wide world of birding.
Chicagoland was recently graced by an ultra-rare visit from a Painted Redstart! This Central American species paid a brief visit to become the first such sighting in Illinois, but hung around long enough to delight some speedy birders.
“There seem to be bird people, and plant people: the ecological gardener who appreciatively inspects the yard, and yet is unfamiliar with the birds that dwell there. Gardening for birds is one way to bridge this divide.”
Read the latest of Dan Lory’s Thursday thoughts on birds of the Chicago region. This week’s post is about the importance of talking to yourself… and also Short-eared Owls.
In 2017 Ted Wolff set an audacious but fun goal for himself: bird every county in Illinois and record more than 100 species in each. We spoke with Ted to understand what motivated the landscape architect and avid birder to take on the challenge and to hear tales from the journey.
Read the latest of Dan Lory’s Thursday thoughts on birds of the Chicago region. This week’s post is about the “Pot o’ Gold Atop a Tree,” the Eastern Meadowlark.
Unless you intend to limit your birding to a manicured backyard, a rushing stream, or a snowy mountainside, knowing something about these petite pests can help your plan your next outdoor excursion to reduce the chances of having a negative encounter with ticks.
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?
Read the latest of Dan Lory’s Thursday thoughts on birds of the Chicago region. This week’s post is a bird that keeps the magic of spring migration going well into summer, the Yellow Warbler.
Read the latest of Dan Lory’s Thursday thoughts on birds of the Chicago region. This week’s post is a bird not really from around here, but very welcome all the same: the Say’s Pheobe.
It is now official that the State of Illinois appreciates birds of all feathers and welcomes the legions that pass through from out of town every spring and fall. There really is no better strategy for rebranding the label of “flyover country,” and turning a negative into a positive with a bit of tropical glamor.
Read the latest of Dan Lory’s Thursday thoughts on birds of the Chicago region. This week’s post is a bird both revered and feared: the Red-winged Blackbird.
The Indiana Audubon Society will be hosting the 8th annual Indiana Dunes Birding Festival (IDBF) from May 11–15 in Northwest Indiana, a celebration of birding and nature in the region. Lauren Kostas presents this guide.
Read the latest of Dan Lory’s Thursday thoughts on birds of the Chicago region. This week’s post is a bird with an undeserved bad reputation: the Ruddy Duck.
