“Would I be the only newbie on the walk? Would I be judged for my banged-up binoculars? Would there be a quiz?” Lauren Kostas on some of the questions that may nag a new birder and how to jump with both feet into the wide world of birding.
Chicagoland was recently graced by an ultra-rare visit from a Painted Redstart! This Central American species paid a brief visit to become the first such sighting in Illinois, but hung around long enough to delight some speedy birders.
Gershwin famously wrote “Summertime, and the living is easy.” Not so at LaBagh—it is packed with a long to-do list! So far this summer, dedicated volunteers have tackled a multitude of important tasks during thirteen workdays in June and July.
“There seem to be bird people, and plant people: the ecological gardener who appreciatively inspects the yard, and yet is unfamiliar with the birds that dwell there. Gardening for birds is one way to bridge this divide.”
This summer, Chicago Ornithological Society launched a new volunteer monitoring program to track, study, and conserve the Common Nighthawk. In a few short weeks, the COS team created a unique new monitoring protocol and cobbled together a crack team of about a dozen volunteers to pilot this new program.
Read the latest of Dan Lory’s Thursday thoughts on birds of the Chicago region. This week’s post is about the importance of talking to yourself… and also Short-eared Owls.
In 2017 Ted Wolff set an audacious but fun goal for himself: bird every county in Illinois and record more than 100 species in each. We spoke with Ted to understand what motivated the landscape architect and avid birder to take on the challenge and to hear tales from the journey.
Read the latest of Dan Lory’s Thursday thoughts on birds of the Chicago region. This week’s post is about the “Pot o’ Gold Atop a Tree,” the Eastern Meadowlark.
Unless you intend to limit your birding to a manicured backyard, a rushing stream, or a snowy mountainside, knowing something about these petite pests can help your plan your next outdoor excursion to reduce the chances of having a negative encounter with ticks.
Save Jackson Park is working diligently to preserve the South Shore Nature Sanctuary and block plans to absorb the space into a proposed PGA-caliber golf course. The community will have their say on June 28, but will the city listen?
The Bird Conservation Network (BCN), a local group of 21 conservation organizations, including the Chicago Ornithological Society, has released data from a 22-year study of the breeding habits of over 100 nesting species in a variety of natural habitats across northeastern Illinois.
Read the latest of Dan Lory’s Thursday thoughts on birds of the Chicago region. This week’s post is a bird that keeps the magic of spring migration going well into summer, the Yellow Warbler.
With migration season ending, and without evidence that HPAI is infecting songbirds, the IDNR is lifting backyard restrictions. They still discourage the public from feeding waterfowl and encourage following best practices for keeping feeders and baths clean.
Read the latest of Dan Lory’s Thursday thoughts on birds of the Chicago region. This week’s post is a bird not really from around here, but very welcome all the same: the Say’s Pheobe.
It is now official that the State of Illinois appreciates birds of all feathers and welcomes the legions that pass through from out of town every spring and fall. There really is no better strategy for rebranding the label of “flyover country,” and turning a negative into a positive with a bit of tropical glamor.
Chicago announces a Bally’s casino in River West. Even a bird-friendly building along the riverfront will likely see some bird mortality. Conservationists must get the message to the City and Bally’s to protect birds as much as possible. Robyn Detterline brings us the story.