Chicago Bird Alliance

06/01/2026

Looking for something fun to do this summer? Make birds with Holly Greenberg!

Bird Collisions in the Anthropocene is hosting four free open drop-in workshops for all ages in Chicago and Evanston during the summer! This crowdsourced environmental art project involves crafting a bird replica for the 300-foot carpet of birds killed in window collisions in Chicago.

Take part in this important and inspiring project by attending any of the upcoming workshops and make a bird for the carpet while learning how to make your windows more bird-friendly!

Learn more details about these upcoming workshops on our website, linked in the comments, and follow Bird Collisions in the Anthropocene to learn more about the project!

05/28/2026

Reminder to showcase how you’ve been helping birds this year!

Check out the comments section for the link to submit an entry. Examples of what you can call out include planting native plants, treating windows, becoming a bird monitoring volunteer, signing a petition benefiting birds or their habitat, birding in a rarely birded area and adding results to eBird, and more!

A leaderboard will be updated monthly throughout 2026 to reflect the top ten participants with the most entries, with the next update on 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟯𝟭𝘀𝘁! Entries will be entered into a raffle at the beginning of 2027, where you can win binoculars and other prizes. More details can be found in the ‘Help a Bird Out’ section on our website!

Image descriptions for Slide 1:
(upper left) Screenshot of entry form
(bottom right) Photo of two green tickets by kstudio
(bottom right) Graphic of binoculars with bird on top by pongsakorn_tantiyakorn

05/27/2026

Get your votes in now!

The recent contest by the Chicago Park District to name the newly born eaglets within the Chicago city limits has come down to three potential names: Migizi, Marian, and Clawumet.

Residents can vote for one of these names until June 1st, with the top two being selected for the eaglets! Vote for your favorite name through the form linked in the comments below.

Photo of one of the baby Bald Eagles born recently in Chicago by Erin Hooley.

05/27/2026

Join Chicago Bird Alliance at an upcoming outing or event! All trips and events are free unless otherwise noted. Link in comments.

05/22/2026

This May 22-25, we’re celebrating Female Bird Day!

Female birds have long been understudied in ornithology, due in part to their tendency to be more cryptic in behavior and plumage. Learn more about female birds and how to spot them on our blog!

Article guest-written by The Galbatross Project's Jess Gorzo and Stephanie Beilke. Linked in the comments below.

05/22/2026

The CBA Native Plant Sale has been 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱! You now have until Tuesday, May 26th to procure native fauna that provides food and shelter for birds. Purchases also help fund CBA’s bird conservation programs and are truly appreciated!

Additionally, volunteers are needed Friday, May 29 through Sunday, May 31 at North Park Village Nature Center to help with the sale! Come join us if you love plants, are able to help lift and sort inventory, and don't mind getting a little dirty.

Below is a summary of what each day entails:

May 29: Unloading the trucks and initial sorting (one shift available)
May 30: Sorting individual orders and preparing for pickup (two shifts available)
May 31: Final prep in the morning, assist customers with pickup between 12-3 PM (three shifts available)

Check out the link in the comments section to order and sign up to volunteer!

Image descriptions:

Slide 1:
Upper left: Smooth Blue Aster by James_Gabbert
Upper right: Smooth Phlox (P. glaberrima) 'Morris Berd' cultivar by AlpamayoPhoto
Lower left: Queen of the Prairie by Kathryn Skeldon
Lower right: Grass Leaved Goldenrod by ErikAgar

Slide 2:
Upper left: Eastern Prickly Pear by Kadir AKKAYA
Upper right: Showy Goldenrod by Two Fishes Studio
Lower left: Lance-leaved coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata) by Lastovetskiy
Lower right: Gray’s Sedge by Nahhan

05/15/2026

The 2026 CBA Native Plant Sale is ending on Monday, May 18th! If you’d like to place an order before time runs out, check out the link in the comments section.

We’d like to highlight three native plants which just might be the perfect fit for you!

𝗕𝘂𝗿 𝗢𝗮𝗸: This hardy tree does well with urban pollution and in drought conditions. Birds will nest in its canopy and those migrating through in the spring can feed on the 500 species of caterpillars that grow on it. This fast-growing tree makes its presence known, so make sure you have the space for it!

𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗣𝗶𝗻𝗲: Grow a jack pine and provide needed shelter for birds. This member of the pine family was once found along our lakefront, and it’s time for a comeback. If you have a place with sandy soil that gets lots of sun, this could be the tree for you!

𝗣𝗮𝘄𝗽𝗮𝘄: Plant a pawpaw tree and watch birds come feast on the ripe fruit around autumn. During spring, purple flowers bloom with an atypical scent, beckoning flies and beetles to come pollinate. If you decide on a pawpaw tree, note that at least two of them are needed for cross-pollination.

Don’t wait - support birds and the Chicago Bird Alliance one native plant at a time! And much thanks to everyone who has purchased already!

Image descriptions:

Slide 1: Wilson's Warbler on bur oak by OHFalcon72/Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Slide 2: Both photos of bur oak by Possibility Place Nursery, a partner of CBA
Slide 3: Both photos of jack pine by Possibility Place Nursery, a partner of CBA
Slide 4: Both photos of pawpaw by Possibility Place Nursery, a partner of CBA

Also used information from Possibility Place Nursery and the National Park Service (https://www.nps.gov/articles/pawpaw.htm) for plant descriptions

05/13/2026

Get a chance to name a baby Bald Eagle!

In honor of the newly born eaglets within the Chicago city limits, the Chicago Park District is inviting patrons to submit up to three names for the babies until Friday.

The top three submissions will be announced on May 19th, and residents can vote for the final winning name by June 1st! Submit names through the form in the comments.

Photo of one of the baby Bald Eagles born recently in Chicago by Steve Pearson.

05/13/2026