Wild Things Conference, the largest gathering of Chicagoland nature nerds returns this spring! Join more than 2000 nature lovers from across the region for a day full of educational sessions ranging from plants and animals, to restoration practices and story telling, to environmental justice and recreation. And of course, one of the largest groups of offerings is a track all about birds.

RSVP Required

Join the COS Board of Directors as we celebrate our many accomplishments in 2024, play games, and announce exciting new plans for the new year, and much more!

RSVP Required

Join COS for the annual Lakefront Christmas Bird Count! Every year on Christmas day, birders sally forth to count birds and contribute their sightings to the oldest continuously running citizen science project in the world.

RSVP Required

Join COS for the 76th Annual Lisle Christmas Bird Count and Dinner! Every year on a wintery Sunday in December, birders sally forth to count birds and contribute their sightings to the oldest continuously running citizen science project in the world.

COS proudly presents the newest social event by and for birders; Flock Club! Join us as we gather to share our passion for birds in a casual and accessible environment.

Join COS for a nocturnal twist on the classic hawk watch, our third annual Nighthawk Watch!

COS proudly presents the newest social event by and for birders; Flock Club! Join us as we gather to share our passion for birds in a casual and accessible environment.

RSVP Required

Join COS for a nocturnal twist on the classic hawk watch, our third annual Nighthawk Watch!

Join us for this latest edition of Flock Club!, the social gathering by and for bird enthusiasts. This month’s gathering will be taking place at Skunk Cabbage Books and be themed around The Year of the Peregrine.

Mark your calendar and join us for the bird conservation party of the year!

Join us on Saturday, June 22nd at 5pm where we will enjoy live music, delicious craft beers, major announcements, and of course, birding, while raising money for Chicago Ornithological Society’s many bird conservation projects.

COS proudly presents the newest social event by and for birders; Flock Club! Join us as we gather to share our passion for birds in a casual and accessible environment.

Join our partners and your fellow nature nerds for a party where the field guides are the main dish! Following the City Nature Challenge, we need all hands to help identify the many birds found and uploaded to inatualist.

COS proudly presents the newest social event by and for birders; Flock Club! Join us as we gather to share our passion for birds in a casual and accessible environment.

Join our friends at Big Marsh for an afternoon celebration of all things winter!

RSVP Required

Join the COS Board of Directors as we celebrate our many accomplishments in 2023, play games, and announce exciting new plans for the new year, and much more!

COS proudly presents the newest social event by and for birders; Flock Club! Join us as we gather to share our passion for birds in a casual and accessible environment.

Sunday, Dec. 17 - 12:00pm

Everyone’s favorite bird beer in honor of Chicago’s Piping Plovers is back! Join us as we drink for a cause with an excellent craft brew.

RSVP Required

Join COS for the 75th Annual Lisle Christmas Bird Count and Dinner! Every year on a wintery Sunday in December, birders sally forth to count birds and contribute their sightings to the oldest continuously running citizen science project in the world.

COS proudly presents the newest social event by and for birders; Flock Club! Join us as we gather to share our passion for birds in a casual and accessible environment.

Birding is for everyone! Curious about what it takes to get started, what resources are available, or where to even go? Then join members of Chicago’s vibrant birding community at Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary for our first ever Beginning Birding Open House!

Birds & Beers meets bird walks... a birding hang out! Trying a slightly different concept from the typical bird walk, COS is thrilled to start the Tweets and Eats program!

Beer in the Woods is a fundraiser to help support Friends of the Forest Preserves’s advocacy work, Conservation Corps programming, and community engagement initiatives. COS is a proud supporter of Friends and will be leading bird walks as part of this event.

RSVP Required

Join COS for a nocturnal twist on the classic hawk watch, our second annual Nighthawk Watch!

Mark your calendar and join us for the bird conservation party of the year!

Join us at Metropolitan Brewing on Saturday, August 26th at 5pm where we will enjoy live music, delicious craft beers, major announcements, and of course, birding, while raising money for Chicago Ornithological Society’s many bird conservation projects.

RSVP Required

Join COS for a bird walk and craft for birding families at North Park Village Nature Center!

Kickoff summer at Big Marsh with a family-focused event to celebrate local art, artists, the many art installations at the park.