Chicago Ornithological Society

Chicago Ornithological Society All things birds in the Second City. The hub of advocacy, conservation action and bird nerds since 19

Chicago Ornithological Society is an all volunteer run organization at the forefront of all things birds in the Chicago region. From expert guided trips to cutting edge science to avenues for action, we bring together bird enthusiasts of all ages, experience levels, and backgrounds to share our love of birds and further their conservation.

Join COS on Saturday, May 30th for a spring walk through Labagh Woods to find some spring migrants! We will spot warbler...
05/20/2026

Join COS on Saturday, May 30th for a spring walk through Labagh Woods to find some spring migrants! We will spot warblers up high in the trees, shorebirds in the pond, and walk the Weber Spur Trail too!

Sign up at chicagobirder.org/events/2026/5/30/labagh or thru the link in our bio.

COS member Steve Whitman recaps the Sunday Social bird walk at Humboldt Park on May 3. As nesting season had started, a ...
05/20/2026

COS member Steve Whitman recaps the Sunday Social bird walk at Humboldt Park on May 3. As nesting season had started, a couple of Canada Geese had created a nest in the boathouse planter and Red-winged Blackbirds attacked and mobbed much larger birds.

Read the full report at chicagobirder.org/blog/2026/5/11/field-trip-recap-humboldt-park or thru the link in our bio.

Join COS for a spring walk through Labagh Woods to find some spring migrants! We will spot warblers up high in the trees...
05/20/2026

Join COS for a spring walk through Labagh Woods to find some spring migrants! We will spot warblers up high in the trees, shorebirds in the pond, and walk the Weber Spur Trail too!

Sign up at chicagobirder.org/events/2026/5/30/labagh or thru the link in our bio.

Trip leader Wayne Ryan recaps the April 9 bird walk to Air Station Prairie to observe American Woodcocks. The 19 birders...
05/19/2026

Trip leader Wayne Ryan recaps the April 9 bird walk to Air Station Prairie to observe American Woodcocks. The 19 birders in attendance were not disappointed as Woodcocks came out peenting and performed a sky dance. A total of 20 bird species was observed including some exciting shorebirds and waterfowl.

Read the full report at chicagobirder.org/blog/2026/5/2/field-trip-recap-woodcock-walk-at-air-station-prairie or thru the link in our bio.

Jackson Park is a favorite spot for birders in Chicago. The lagoons, grassland, and wooded areas provide habitat for mig...
05/19/2026

Jackson Park is a favorite spot for birders in Chicago. The lagoons, grassland, and wooded areas provide habitat for migrating birds and summer nesting birds. Expect to see a variety of birds from small to large, from hummingbirds and warblers to hawks and herons. New birders are welcome!

Sign up at chicagobirder.org/events/2026/5/31/jackson-park or thru the link in our bio.

COS member Carrie Lakin recaps the April 26 trip to Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary. The group of ten birders, led by COS ...
05/17/2026

COS member Carrie Lakin recaps the April 26 trip to Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary. The group of ten birders, led by COS Board Member Chris Cochrane, observed a total of 40 species. While they observed a variety of birds, they enjoyed a nice array of shorebirds including Dunlin, Spotted Sandpiper, Killdeer, and Piping Plover.

Read the full report at chicagobirder.org/blog/2026/4/28/field-trip-recap-montrose-point-bird-sanctuary or thru the link in our bio.

In our latest blog post, COS Board Member Chris Holden recaps the April 19 Sunday Social Bird Walk that he led with COS ...
05/16/2026

In our latest blog post, COS Board Member Chris Holden recaps the April 19 Sunday Social Bird Walk that he led with COS member Steve Whitman. The group observed a total of 40 bird species including a Caspian Tern that went on a successful fishing expedition.

Read the full report at chicagobirder.org/blog/2026/4/22/field-trip-recap-sunday-social-at-humboldt-park or thru the link in our bio.

End the daylight hours with a COS bird walk at Horizon Farm. The Forest Preserves of Cook County manages this 400-acre h...
05/12/2026

End the daylight hours with a COS bird walk at Horizon Farm. The Forest Preserves of Cook County manages this 400-acre hotspot that boasts a strong sprawl of meadows and wetlands that are home to breeding grassland birds such as Eastern Meadowlark and Bobolink. This is a slow-paced walk.

Sign up at chicagobirder.org/events/2026/5/23/horizon-farm-6sd7c or thru the link in our bio.

As migratory birds move through Chicagoland in the millions, let’s continue to do what we can to help them arrive safely...
05/11/2026

As migratory birds move through Chicagoland in the millions, let’s continue to do what we can to help them arrive safely to their northern breeding grounds.

COS member Danny Miller covers how to effectively mitigate bird collisions, such as turning off lights and treating windows with bird-safe decals. He also writes on the well-studied bird mortality at McCormick Place, where collisions have dropped significantly due to protective measures. To read the full blog post, visit chicagobirder.org/blog/2026/5/10/help-reduce-bird-collisions or thru the link in our bio.

End the daylight hours with a COS bird walk at Douglass Park. This 160-acre hotspot that packs diverse habitats includin...
05/09/2026

End the daylight hours with a COS bird walk at Douglass Park. This 160-acre hotspot that packs diverse habitats including prairie, savanna, and wetland. We will walk roughly a roughly 1.5-mile loop around the park’s lagoons in search of Chicago’s wild wonders as the sun sets.

RSVP at chicagobirder.org/events/2026/5/21/douglass-park or thru the link in our bio.

COS member Kris Hansen recaps the sunrise walk at Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary on April 20. A variety of sparrows, wood...
05/09/2026

COS member Kris Hansen recaps the sunrise walk at Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary on April 20. A variety of sparrows, woodpeckers, swallows, and wrens were present. The group observed a total of 47 species including Chicago’s famous Piping Plovers.

Read the full report at chicagobirder.org/blog/2026/4/20/field-trip-recap-sunrise-walk-at-montrose-bird-sanctuary or thru the link in our bio.

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Barrington, IL
60010

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