The Bird Conservation Network, of which COS is a member, is excited to announce a new enterprise. We have established the Redstart Connection Campaign to raise funds to help birds here in the Midwest and on their wintering grounds.
Read MoreUnder the guidance of Walter Marcisz, nine dedicated folks gathered at the Bridgeport branch of the Chicago Public Library on September 8 and started entering into eBird historical records of bird observations we received from Doug Anderson. We had a follow-up gathering at the library on October 13th.
Read MoreLed by Ethan and Aaron Gyllenhaal, 18 birders helped make Chicago's Columbus Park a bit less underbirded on Sundaymorning. They were rewarded with 54 identified species of birds, plus aparakeet-like bird that was not a Monk Parakeet. This flyover had palesecondaries, was overall smaller than a Monk Parakeet, and had a shorter tail. It looked similar to White-winged Parakeet, and we'll keep an eye out for it onfuture visits to the park.
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In conjunction with the Montrose Beach "Beach Sweep" clean-up, the Chicago Ornithological Society and the Chicago Group of the Sierra Club teamed up again to visit nature in Chicago's parks. A group that varied in size from two to seven toured Montrose Point looking for birds and other creatures of nature in the park.
Read MoreSeventeen observers attended this joint Chicago Ornithological Society/Evanston North Shore Bird Club sponsored field trip to the Calumet Water Reclamation Plant in southeast Chicago on Sunday morning (19 August 2012). An absolutely gorgeous day for a field trip. Shorebirds were rather cooperative as well - we counted over 300 individual shorebirds of ten species (the vast majority of shorebirds were in Lagoon 17, which was the very last lagoon we visited).
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A group of 17 individuals spent most of the morning of August 18, 2012 walking through Jackson Park's Wooded Island, south of the Museum of Science and Industry, and then back up the east side of the lagoon and through Bob-o-link Meadow. We looked for birds, bugs, and anything that moved.
Read MoreThere is still room for more participants for the Emiquon and Chautauqua weekend trip on August 25-26. Please contact Jill Niland to register. We'll plan on visiting Chautauqua and Emiquon National Wildlife Refuges in addition to The Nature Conservancy's Emiquon Preserve also known as Thompson Lake.
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COS headed to the former Joliet Arsenal, now the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, to enjoy the prairie life on the property. The group was led led by John Baxter and observed a plethora of dragonflies, butterflies and birds.
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COS and Sierra Club joined forces again to go out and experience nature in Chicago, this time at Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary. The group toured Montrose Beach and observed Kildeer, Ring-billed Gulls, Herring Terns, Caspian Terns, and Forster's Terns. Next they entered the vegetated "bird and butterfly" area of the sanctuary to see a variety of birds and insects.
Read MoreAlex Bloss, Sam Burckhardt, Jill Niland, Marcus Roening (from Washington state) and I roamed around a waterlogged Montrose Point for a while, this morning, under the auspices of the Chicago Ornithological Society. The actual walk had few highlights, perhaps the best being an American Redstart.
Read MoreOn another not-so-birdy day, Lisa Hipes led a great group of seven birders at this very pretty preserve. We were able to help a brand new birder, who joined the group toward the end of the trip, find his life male black throated blue warbler, a showy red-breasted grosbeak, a great crested flycatcher, and a very vocal song sparrow.
Read MoreGeoff Williamson and Jill Niland lead the birding and nature walk at LaBagh Woods on Saturday, May 19. Even though it was very quiet, they found interesting "other-than-bird species." However, Geoff did a great job, as usual, of finding birds by ear.
Read MoreThree birders braved inclement weather at Humboldt Park on April 28, to learn a bit more about birding by ear. Sam Burckhardt led us in overcast windy 45 degree weather; luckily down pour had just ended. We had 46 species. Despite the weather, we had good views of several warbler species, and a snipe that was very visible on a mowed lawn. Sam adeptly pointed out the songs and calls of a variety of birds.
Read MoreBeau Schaefer led a COS group of 10 birders on April 22nd at Rollins Savanna. It was a little chilly but the wind held off until the last part of the trip. Had some nice birds including great looks at one of 5 HENSLOW'S SPARROWS. Beau was able to get a male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD in the scope atop a cattail for all of about 2 sec. before it dove back into the mass. Only 1 other birder had a chance to see it then, but three others who went back after the group dispersed did also find it. We also had FOY BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER and WARBLING VIREO.
Read MoreTwenty-two observers participated in the Lake Calumet Earth Day Birding hike on Sunday morning (22 April 2012). The walk was sponsored by Audubon Chicago Region, Chicago Ornithological Society, Bronzeville Historical Society, and the Illinois International Port District.
Read MoreThanks to Dave Willard and the Field Museum for hosting COS this past Saturday. Sixteen participants were treated to up close views of some of the largest (Wandering Albatross, Harpy Eagle), smallest (Bee Hummingbird), and strangest (a number of Birds of Paradise) birds that nature has to offer.
Read MoreThis weekend trip was led by Dr. Jeff Walk of The Nature Conservancy. Jeff grew up in the area and knows it well. On Saturday, we scoured farm fields in the Newton-Prairie Ridge area. With a full moon and the wee hours of Sunday, we headed out to watch a show of Prairie Chickens.
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