This lovely southside park is one of Chicago’s best hotspots for spring migrating birds.
The combination of two lagoons and a mosaic of microhabitats habitats including a young prairie, a mature woodland, scrubby shrubs and rampant undergrowth located very close to Lake Michigan makes this an ideal stopover for all kinds of songbirds, ducks and raptors.
Four hours may not be long enough to see everything on the Wooded Island if it’s a good migration day, so be prepared with water, snacks and sunscreen in case the trip runs longer and you can’t tear yourself away.
If participants are interested in further extending the trip (and it’s a good migration day), we might head further south to Rainbow Beach to see what birds are on the beach, in the water or in the dunes and park habitat.
Beginning birders are welcome at this trip.
Due to COVID safety restrictions, we are limiting this walk to 5 people per leader. YOU MUST RSVP IN ADVANCE! THERE WILL BE NO IN-PERSON SIGN UP! Since we will have such small groups, we ask that you contact trip leader or aerin tedesco (aerintedesco@gmail.com) at least 24 hours in advance if you cannot attend.
Please read the safety instructions below CAREFULLY before signing up!!!*
Leaders: Frances Kane and Dan Lory
For more information, please contact Frances at franceskane96@gmail.com.
- By car, take Lake Shore Drive south from downtown Chicago. Go past the Museum of Science & Industry and a little way past 57th Street, turn right on Science Drive. At the stop sign, turn left and follow the road into the parking lot and drive all the way to the western side and park there (next to the lagoon).
- You need to pay to park in this lot. The parking ticket machines take quarters and credit cards. You can also pay online using the ParkMobile app: http://us.parkmobile.com
- By bike: This is a good location to cycle to along the lake front bike path.
- Public Transportation: The #6 Hyde Park Express Bus stops about a block north of the Museum of Science & Industry from downtown Chicago. Walking to the trip meeting spot will take 15 - 20 minutes.
*Safety Instructions: These rules are for community safety, our safety, and for the comfort and peace of mind of those participating.
- Face masks will be required for everyone and should cover both nose and mouth. Anyone without a mask cannot participate in the trip.
- Attendees should be spaced 6 feet apart from each other.
- Unfortunately, we will not be able to lend binoculars nor share scopes.
- No car pooling is allowed unless you live in the same household.
- If you are feeling ill and have any symptoms of COVID or have been exposed to anyone who has, we ask you to please not attend.
-The first time anyone deviates from the protocol (too close, no face covering, face covering not properly worn, and so on), the leader will make a request for that individual to get back into compliance. If that individual can't or won't comply, or upon a second deviation from the protocol, leader will ask the individual to leave the walk. If the individual will not leave, the leader will end the walk.