LaBagh Woods/North Branch Restoration Project
Since 2015, COS has raised funds to support a uniquely avian-based restoration project at LaBagh Woods, a Cook County Forest Preserve along the North Branch of the Chicago River. The LaBagh Woods project aims to build up the understory to provide shelter and a quality stopover habitat for migrating birds.
About the Project
LaBagh Woods is infested with invasive, non-native buckthorn that needs to be removed. However, simply eliminating the buckthorn would result in a habitat consisting of only canopy and herbaceous layer, which would be less than welcoming to the more than 215 bird species recorded at LaBagh. COS funding has allowed the purchase and planting of native shrubs and subcanopy trees, along with the fencing needed to protect them from browsing deer.
Migratory Bird Feature Usage at LaBagh Woods
Habitat restoration takes time and it is often many years before desired impacts are readily apparent. After almost a decade of diligent restoration work, the Migratory Bird Feature Usage At LaBagh Woods pilot report was published. The study found that 20 percent of the birds observed at the site during spring migration were Birds of Conservation Concern, emphasizing the importance of maintaining this multilayered native habitat.
Community
The LaBagh restoration has been wildly successful in replacing acres of buckthorn with native plantings actively used by birds, and also in engaging the community. Community involvement has raised awareness of the importance of restoring LaBagh and has built a camaraderie among the team of restoration volunteers engaging with this long-term project. Human intervention will be required for many years to get LaBagh back to a mostly self-sustaining native ecosystem. COS and the restoration team are committed to this effort!
Get Involved
The LaBagh team is always looking for volunteers for our workdays. Volunteer work includes clearing buckthorn and other invasive vegetation, planting and fencing native shrubs, sowing seeds, monitoring existing plantings, and making trail improvements.
Interested volunteers can contact labaghvolunteers@gmail.com for more information, or check us out on Instagram @labaghvolunteers!
Use the donation button below to support the LaBagh Woods Restoration Project. Every cent will be used to restore important habitat at LaBagh Woods and other forest preserves along the North Branch.
