This walk has been cancelled due to the expected extreme weather. Please stay safe!

Join COS Board Member and Red Hill Birding guide Nathan Goldberg for a winter bird walk at Rainbow Beach and Park 566 on Chicago's South Side. Birding in Chicago in December is often best along Lake Michigan, where we will look for concentrations of wintering diving ducks including Scaup, Redhead, Canvasbacks, and more. If we're lucky, we may even find a Long-tailed Duck in the flock, and will look hard for a Purple Sandpiper or Harlequin Duck along the many breakwalls. We'll also walk through the dunes to see if any smaller birds are around. After birding Rainbow Beach, we'll head a short distance over to Park 566 and see if we can find any passerines, including longspurs, Snow Buntings, Redpolls, or an odd sparrow. We'll scan the breakwalls here as well to check the gull flocks, looking hard for Great Black-backed, Lesser Black-backed, Glaucous, and/or Iceland Gulls. After the walk at 566 concludes, those interested in a short extension can join Nathan and take a short drive to check on a Monk Parakeet colony about 10 minutes away, wrapping up a balmy but enjoyable morning of winter birding!

Leader: Nathan Goldberg

You must RSVP in advance. Pre-registration is required for the bird walk. Please contact Nathan (nathangoldberg29@gmail.com) or aerin tedesco (aerintedesco@gmail.com) at least 24 hours in advance if you cannot attend or with questions.

Safety Instructions:
- In order to attend you must be FULLY VACCINATED.
- Please bring a face mask with you. You may be asked to wear it as needed by the trip leader.

Meet at Rainbow Beach parking lot map: https://goo.gl/maps/piwZMEPBVDTs1ei16