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?
The Bird Conservation Network (BCN), a local group of 21 conservation organizations, including the Chicago Ornithological Society, has released data from a 22-year study of the breeding habits of over 100 nesting species in a variety of natural habitats across northeastern Illinois.
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.
With migration season ending, and without evidence that HPAI is infecting songbirds, the IDNR is lifting backyard restrictions. They still discourage the public from feeding waterfowl and encourage following best practices for keeping feeders and baths clean.
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.
Chicago announces a Bally’s casino in River West. Even a bird-friendly building along the riverfront will likely see some bird mortality. Conservationists must get the message to the City and Bally’s to protect birds as much as possible. Robyn Detterline brings us the story.
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.
It’s burn season in Chicagoland! Fire is a good thing and a sign that land managers are creating habitat that benefits birds and other wildlife. Learn more about why fire is important and COS supports this practice.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is recommending that all Illinoisians take down their bird feeders and remove bird baths until May 31, or until the current bird flu outbreak in the Midwest subsides. Currently COS trusts and recommends following state guidelines.
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.
With the installation of a humble antenna, Chicago joins a global scientific community working to reveal the secrets of migration. This is the first such receiver in Chicago and Cook County, and one of only a handful operating in Illinois.
