Feb
23
9:00 AM09:00
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Feb
25
6:00 PM18:00
Birds & Bytes: Tarik Shahzad's Big Year
Virtual Program
RSVP Required
Join COS for the latest episode of our virtual program series Birds & Bytes for a conversation with the newest Cook County big year record holder; Tarik Shahzad!
Mar
1
9:00 AM09:00
Wild Things Conference
Wild Things Conference, the largest gathering of Chicagoland nature nerds returns this spring! Join more than 2000 nature lovers from across the region for a day full of educational sessions ranging from plants and animals, to restoration practices and story telling, to environmental justice and recreation. And of course, one of the largest groups of offerings is a track all about birds.
Mar
2
8:00 AM08:00
Crabtree Nature Center Bird Walk
Join COS for a morning birding trip to Crabtree Nature Center in Barrington.
RSVP Required.
Mar
2
10:00 AM10:00
LaBagh Woods Stewardship Workday
Join us for a habitat restoration workday at COS’s flagship stewardship site LaBagh Woods, and help bring back critical bird habitat.
Mar
8
8:00 AM08:00
Bilingual McKinley Park Birdwalk / Paseo Bilingüe Parque de McKinley
RSVP Required
Join COS for a bilingual birding trip at McKinley Park! This event is great for all ages including multi-generational families where some family members are more comfortable with Spanish.
Mar
11
5:30 PM17:30
Flock Club Book Club: The Backyard Bird Chronicles
Join COS for Flock Club Book Club to discuss Amy Tan’s The Backyard Bird Chronicles. In the spirit of our yearlong celebration of green birding, we’ll discuss this tome on the ultimate green birding outing—the kind that is not an outing at all!
Mar
12
7:00 AM07:00
North Pond Wednesday Bird Walks
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!
Mar
19
7:00 AM07:00
North Pond Wednesday Bird Walks
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!
Mar
23
10:00 AM10:00
LaBagh Woods Stewardship Workday
Join us for a habitat restoration workday at COS’s flagship stewardship site LaBagh Woods, and help bring back critical bird habitat.
Mar
26
7:00 AM07:00
North Pond Wednesday Bird Walks
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!
Mar
26
6:00 PM18:00
Birds & Bytes: The Biking Big Year
Virtual Program
RSVP Required
Join COS for the latest episode of our virtual program series Birds & Bytes for a conversation with Beau Schaeffer about the greenest big year!
Mar
30
10:00 AM10:00
The Nighthawk at North Park Village Nature Center
RSVP Required
Join us for a program all about the mysterious nighthawk; what makes them tick, why are they disappearing, and what's being done to save them right here in Chicago.
Apr
2
7:00 AM07:00
North Pond Wednesday Bird Walks
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!
Apr
2
7:00 PM19:00
The Nighthawk at Matteson Library
RSVP Required
Join us for a program all about the mysterious nighthawk; what makes them tick, why are they disappearing, and what's being done to save them right here in Chicago.
Apr
5
10:00 AM10:00
The Nighthawk at Big Marsh Park
RSVP Required
Join us for a program all about the mysterious nighthawk; what makes them tick, why are they disappearing, and what's being done to save them right here in Chicago.
Apr
9
7:00 AM07:00
North Pond Wednesday Bird Walks
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!
Apr
16
7:00 AM07:00
North Pond Wednesday Bird Walks
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!
Apr
23
7:00 AM07:00
North Pond Wednesday Bird Walks
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!
Apr
25
to Apr 28
City Nature Challenge 2025
COS is excited to once again be a co-organizer of the Chicago area team in this year’s City Nature Challenge!
Apr
30
7:00 AM07:00
North Pond Wednesday Bird Walks
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!
May
7
7:00 AM07:00
North Pond Wednesday Bird Walks
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!
May
14
7:00 AM07:00
North Pond Wednesday Bird Walks
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!
May
15
to May 18
IN Dunes Birding Festival
One of the most popular and fastest growing birding festivals in North America returns! The Indiana Dunes Birding Festival takes place on May 15-18, 2025 and will feature hundreds of trips highlighting the extraordinary bird diversity present in northwest Indiana and eastern Illinois.
May
21
7:00 AM07:00
North Pond Wednesday Bird Walks
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!
May
28
7:00 AM07:00
North Pond Wednesday Bird Walks
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!
Jun
4
7:00 AM07:00
North Pond Wednesday Bird Walks
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!
Jun
11
7:00 AM07:00
North Pond Wednesday Bird Walks
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!
Jun
18
7:00 AM07:00
North Pond Wednesday Bird Walks
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!
Sep
12
to Sep 14
The Urban Birding Festival
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 12-14, 2025 this festival highlights the extraordinary bird diversity present in the area with over 400 recorded species in the Chicago region.
Feb
16
10:00 AM10:00
LaBagh Woods Stewardship Workday
Join us for a habitat restoration workday at COS’s flagship stewardship site LaBagh Woods, and help bring back critical bird habitat.
Feb
14
to Feb 17
Great Chicago Backyard Bird Count: A Year of Green Birding Event
Join the 2025 Great Chicago Backyard Bird Count! Learn how to join this year’s team and be a part of this citizen science project from the comfort of your own home. This event is part of COS’s Year of Green Birding.
Feb
12
7:00 AM07:00
North Pond Wednesday Bird Walks
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!
Feb
8
9:00 AM09:00
Starved Rock Scramble
RSVP Required
On this trip, we'll explore the magical winter landscape of the canyons along the Illinois River at Starved Rock- Ottawa, Kaskasia and Illinois.
Feb
2
10:00 AM10:00
LaBagh Woods Stewardship Workday
Join us for a habitat restoration workday at COS’s flagship stewardship site LaBagh Woods, and help bring back critical bird habitat.
Feb
2
9:00 AM09:00
Douglass Park Winter Walk
RSVP Required
Join us as we explore Douglass Park and observe winter birds.
Feb
1
9:00 AM09:00
Chicago River Basin Blitz
RSVP Required
Join us as we conduct a blitz of some of the best spots on the Chicago River to observe winter waterfowl.
Jan
25
9:00 AM09:00
Calumet River Basin Blitz
RSVP Required
Join us as we conduct a blitz of some of the best spots on the Calumet River to observe winter waterfowl.
Jan
19
10:00 AM10:00
LaBagh Woods Stewardship Workday
Join us for a habitat restoration workday at COS’s flagship stewardship site LaBagh Woods, and help bring back critical bird habitat.
Jan
18
10:00 AM10:00
FULL - Snowy Owl Irruption!
RSVP Required
Join Chicago Ornithological Society for an in person program as we explore and take a deep dive into everything we know about Snowy Owl irruptions!
Jan
15
7:00 AM07:00
North Pond Wednesday Bird Walks
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!
Jan
11
10:00 AM10:00
FULL - Snowy Owl Irruption!
RSVP Required
Join Chicago Ornithological Society for an in person program as we explore and take a deep dive into everything we know about Snowy Owl irruptions!
Jan
9
6:30 PM18:30
2025 COS Annual Meeting
RSVP Required
Join the COS Board of Directors as we celebrate our many accomplishments in 2024, play games, and announce exciting new plans for the new year, and much more!
Jan
5
10:00 AM10:00
LaBagh Woods Stewardship Workday
Join us for a habitat restoration workday at COS’s flagship stewardship site LaBagh Woods, and help bring back critical bird habitat.
Dec
25
7:00 AM07:00
Lakefront Christmas Bird Count
RSVP Required
Join COS for the annual Lakefront Christmas Bird Count! Every year on Christmas day, birders sally forth to count birds and contribute their sightings to the oldest continuously running citizen science project in the world.
Dec
24
9:00 AM09:00
Humboldt Park Merry Birdmas Stroll
RSVP Required
Join us for a slow-paced outing at Humboldt Park. In December this park is busy with winter residents. We'll hopefully enjoy raptors (American Kestrel, Red-tailed Hawk, Cooper's Hawk), sparrows (American Tree, Song, Swamp, White-throated, and Dark-eyed Juncos), and woodpeckers (Hairy, Downy, Red-bellied).
Dec
21
10:00 AM10:00
LaBagh Woods Stewardship Workday
Join us for a habitat restoration workday at COS’s flagship stewardship site LaBagh Woods, and help bring back critical bird habitat.
Dec
18
7:00 AM07:00
North Pond Wednesday Bird Walks
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!
Dec
15
7:00 AM07:00
76th Lisle Christmas Bird Count and Dinner
RSVP Required
Join COS for the 76th Annual Lisle Christmas Bird Count and Dinner! Every year on a wintery Sunday in December, birders sally forth to count birds and contribute their sightings to the oldest continuously running citizen science project in the world.
Dec
11
6:00 PM18:00
Family & Adult Owl Prowls at North Park Village
In partnership with the Chicago Park District, come and learn about the raptor of the night- the owl! This interpretive program and guided walk will lead participants through the preserve in search of owls.
Dec
9
6:00 PM18:00
Dec
5
6:00 PM18:00
Family Owl Prowl at North Park Village
In partnership with the Chicago Park District, come and learn about the raptor of the night- the owl! This interpretive program and guided walk will lead participants through the preserve in search of owls.
Dec
5
6:00 PM18:00
Flock Club: Bird Trivia at Galway Arms
COS proudly presents the newest social event by and for birders; Flock Club! Join us as we gather to share our passion for birds in a casual and accessible environment.
Dec
4
6:00 PM18:00
Dec
1
10:00 AM10:00
LaBagh Woods Stewardship Workday
Join us for a habitat restoration workday at COS’s flagship stewardship site LaBagh Woods, and help bring back critical bird habitat.
Nov
28
9:00 AM09:00
Humboldt Park Birdsgiving Stroll
RSVP Required
Join us for a slow-paced outing at Humboldt Park. In late November this park is bustling with late migrants, including Fox, White-throated, and Swamp Sparrows, as well as winter residents such as Cooper's Hawks, American Tree Sparrows, and Dark-eyed Juncos.
Nov
23
10:00 AM10:00
Owls of Chicago at North Park Village
RSVP Required
Join Chicago Ornithological Society at North Park Village Nature Center as we take a deep dive into everything we know about Chicago's many owls!
Nov
20
6:00 PM18:00
Family & Adult Owl Prowls at North Park Village
In partnership with the Chicago Park District, come and learn about the raptor of the night- the owl! This interpretive program and guided walk will lead participants through the preserve in search of owls.
Nov
16
10:00 AM10:00
LaBagh Woods Stewardship Workday
Join us for a habitat restoration workday at COS’s flagship stewardship site LaBagh Woods, and help bring back critical bird habitat.
Nov
16
8:00 AM08:00