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Upcoming Events

 
Field Trips and Events
Nighthawk Watch at Horner Park
Aug 25
Horner Park
Nighthawk Watch at Horner Park
Horner Park

RSVP Required

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

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Horner Park
North Pond Wednesday Bird Walks
Sep 2
North Pond Casting Pier
North Pond Wednesday Bird Walks
North Pond Casting Pier

In cooperation with Third Coast Birding and Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, COS is proud to continue our long tradition of Wednesday morning bird walks at North Pond!

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North Pond Casting Pier
Humboldt Park Sunday Social Bird Walk
Sep 6
Humboldt Park
Humboldt Park Sunday Social Bird Walk
Humboldt Park

Registration Required

Join us as we explore Humboldt Park in search of late summer birds in this incredible oasis in the surrounding urban environment.

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Humboldt Park
North Pond Wednesday Bird Walks
Sep 9
North Pond Casting Pier
North Pond Wednesday Bird Walks
North Pond Casting Pier

In cooperation with Third Coast Birding and Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, COS is proud to continue our long tradition of Wednesday morning bird walks at North Pond!

Read more →
North Pond Casting Pier
Beginner Bird Walk: Montrose Point
Sep 11
Beginner Bird Walk: Montrose Point

RSVP Required

Join us at Montrose to learn about birding basics this fall.

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Beginner Birding at Horner Park
Sep 12
Horner Park
Beginner Birding at Horner Park
Horner Park

RSVP Required

A great place for beginner birders, Horner Park is a city park with a natural area that stretches along the Chicago River. 

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Horner Park
Montrose Bird Sanctuary Stewardship Workday
Sep 12
Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary
Montrose Bird Sanctuary Stewardship Workday
Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary

Join the stewards of Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary (Magic Hedge) for a workday at one of the top bird watching spots in the country!

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Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary
Black Feather: A Goth Bird Walk in Graceland Cemetery
Sep 12
Graceland Cemetery
Black Feather: A Goth Bird Walk in Graceland Cemetery
Graceland Cemetery

RSVP Required

Join COS for Black Feather, our goth bird walk series, as we visit beautiful and historic Graceland Cemetery!

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Graceland Cemetery
Sunrise Birding at Montrose Point
Sep 13
Sunrise Birding at Montrose Point

RSVP Required

Join COS for an early morning bird outing at Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary.

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LaBagh Woods Stewardship Workday
Sep 13
LaBagh Woods Grove #1
LaBagh Woods Stewardship Workday
LaBagh Woods Grove #1

Join us for a habitat restoration workday at COS’s flagship stewardship site LaBagh Woods, and help bring back critical bird habitat.

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LaBagh Woods Grove #1
Beginner Bird Walk: Washington Park
Sep 13
Beginner Bird Walk: Washington Park

RSVP Required

Join COS for a late-morning bird walk at Washington Park

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Sunset Bird Walk at Marquette Park
Sep 13
Sunset Bird Walk at Marquette Park

RSVP Required

End the daylight hours with a COS bird walk at Marquette Park.

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North Pond Wednesday Bird Walks
Sep 16
North Pond Casting Pier
North Pond Wednesday Bird Walks
North Pond Casting Pier

In cooperation with Third Coast Birding and Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, COS is proud to continue our long tradition of Wednesday morning bird walks at North Pond!

Read more →
North Pond Casting Pier
The Urban Birding Festival
Sep 18
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
The Urban Birding Festival
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

Chicago Ornithological Society is proud to present, in association with our many birding partners, The Urban Birding Festival! Taking place in and around Chicago on September 18-20, 2026 this festival highlights the extraordinary bird diversity present in the area with over 400 recorded species in the Chicago region.

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Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Montrose Dunes Stewardship Workday
Sep 19
Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary
Montrose Dunes Stewardship Workday
Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary

Join the stewards of Montrose Beach Dunes for a workday at one of the top bird watching spots in the country!

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Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary
Beginner Walk - COS in the Suburbs: Crabtree Nature Center
Sep 21
Crabtree Nature Center
Beginner Walk - COS in the Suburbs: Crabtree Nature Center
Crabtree Nature Center

RSVP Required

Join COS for a morning birding trip out to Crabtree Nature Center in Barrington.

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Crabtree Nature Center
North Pond Wednesday Bird Walks
Sep 23
North Pond Casting Pier
North Pond Wednesday Bird Walks
North Pond Casting Pier

In cooperation with Third Coast Birding and Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, COS is proud to continue our long tradition of Wednesday morning bird walks at North Pond!

Read more →
North Pond Casting Pier

The Chicago Birder Blog

 
Blog
Field Trip Recap: River Park Heron Watch
Field Trip Recap: River Park Heron Watch

Watch leader Brighten Jelke recaps the Black-Crowned Night Heron Watch at River Park on Aug. 12.

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Field Trip Recap: Sunday Social at Humboldt Park
Field Trip Recap: Sunday Social at Humboldt Park

Trip co-leader Chris Holden recaps the Sunday Social Bird Walk at Humboldt Park on Aug. 9, 2026.

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Field Trip Report: River Park Heron Watch
Field Trip Report: River Park Heron Watch

COS member and trip leader Brighten Jelke recaps the River Park Heron Watch on June 10 and June 17.

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Field trip recap: Goth Bird Walk & Common Nighthawk Quest at Horner Park
Field trip recap: Goth Bird Walk & Common Nighthawk Quest at Horner Park

Trip co-leader Chris Holden recaps the combined Goth Bird Walk and Common Nighthawk Quest at Horner Park on June 13.

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Bird Bands in the Wild
Bird Bands in the Wild

Christina Harber shares details on how birders can report sightings of bird bands, and why they should take the time to do so.

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Field Trip Recap: Horizon Farm
Field Trip Recap: Horizon Farm

COS member Joann Umeki recaps the sunset birdwalk at Horizon Farms.

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