Chicago Ornithological Society

Promotional flyer for the "Chicago Bird Photography Contest Photo Exhibition" featuring a vibrant image of a Blackburnian Warbler by Riley Phoebus Mazock. The flyer invites viewers to an opening reception at Big Marsh Park on October 11, 2023, from 1–3 pm, with snacks, a short program, and a raffle. Event details and location are listed, along with logos and credits for the Chicago Audubon Society and Chicago Bird Alliance.

Join us at Big Marsh Park on October 11 for this showcase of the winners and runners-up from the 2025 Chicago Bird Photography Contest. Enjoy a short program with snacks and a raffle at the opening reception!

Urbs in Horto, Aves in Urbs — Chicago Ornithological Society Read about how the Urban Birding Festival was born.

Now on the Chicago Birder Blog: Read the story behind the Urban Birding Festival. Registration for this year's festival closes Sunday. We hope you will join us! www.chicagobirder.org/blog/2025/9/...

The Birdbrain Case for Stopping Lincoln Yards Development The discovery of grassland-loving dickcissels on the site of Sterling Bay's stalled megadevelopment suggests the value of preserving open land.

I recently noticed an unexpected bird singing in the Lincoln Yards site near the Hideout — a dickcissel. Here's my story about it for @chicagomag.com: www.chicagomag.com/city-life/th...

Flock Club Book Club: Turning to Birds — Chicago Ornithological Society Join COS for Flock Club Book Club to discuss Lily Taylor’s Turning to Birds . In the spirit of our yearlong celebration of green birding, we’ll discuss this book’s mindfulness approach to birding.

You still have about two weeks to read "Turning to Birds" by Lily Taylor before joining us for Flock Club Book Club on 7/29 at the Jefferson Park library! We hope to see you all there. Please RSVP so we know how many treats to bring! www.chicagobirder.org/events/2025/...

Piping Plovers move pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss them.

Blue Star will now be known as Ferris. 1/4

Hiya! I'm El.

The El (for Elevated) is Chicago's transit system. Just like our Piping Plover family at Montrose, the El connects the city of Chicago, its surrounding suburbs, and the community it serves. 1/2

Hi! I'm Bean.

The Bean, a beautiful sculpture by Anish Kapoor in Millenium Park, is beloved by locals and visitors alike. Its reflective surface captures and transforms the surrounding city skyline. 1/2

It's our Fledge Day and we have something more to reveal...our names!

At 23 days, your Chicago Piping Plover chicks are officially fledged. Throughout the day, we will roll out the chicks' forever names in dedicated posts. 1/3

📸: Tamima Itani (The chick soon fka Red Star)

An illustration of a Blue Jay flying over a field of purple coneflowers. Text reads: Field Trip. Borbs & Forbs: Dunning-Read Natural Area. Saturday, July 19, 7:45 a.m.-noon. Dunning-Read Natural Area. 4050 North Oak Park Avenue. Chicago, Illinois. 60634. 7:45 a.m. Bird walk begins. 9:00 a.m. stewardship activities.

Join us for a birding and stewardship day at the Dunning-Read Natural Area on 7/19. Give back to the birds and the natural environment, and be a part of the Chicago community. RSVP: www.chicagobirder.org/events/2025/...

Grassland Birds at Horizon Farms — Chicago Ornithological Society RSVP Required Join COS in search of breeding grassland birds at Horizon Farm.

Friday! Join us for an afternoon walk to look for grassland birds at Horizon Farms in Barrington, IL. Event is free, but you must RSVP! www.chicagobirder.org/events/2025/...

Three!!! 🐥🐥🐥
Three updates from the Montrose Protected Beach - Saturday, July 5, 2025

🤍Your Chicago Piping Plover family - both parents and all three chicks - is doing well!
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📸: Tamima Itani (Green Star)

In the future definitely call Chicago Bird Collision Monitors: 773-988-1867. Please save their number! All birds who hit windows should be checked out by a wildlife rehabber. Just because they fly away doesn't mean they don't have brain trauma. Thanks for caring!

This is a black bellied whistling duck. They’re normally in Texas and Mexico, so this guy is quite lost. Lots of birders geeking out in Lincoln Park right now, haha. #chicago #bird

[May 4th, 1980] A Chicago-area bird-watcher's guide lists common and uncommon bird species, their habitats, and expected stay periods, published weekly during migration season in The Tribune.

#history #1980s

Eight-legged Imani?!
During the first weeks after hatching, chicks are unable to maintain their own body temperature. The chicks spend much time tucked in under their parents' wings to stay warm. This is called "brooding."

📸: Ezra Quintero (Imani brooding his three chicks, Montrose, July 1, 2025)

Birds & Botany: Marian Byrnes Natural Area — Chicago Ornithological Society COS member Kris Hansen recaps the bird walk at Marian Byrnes Natural Area on June 1, 2025.

On June 1 COS took a trip to Marian Byrnes Natural Area for a special Birds & Botany trip. Observations included Virginia Rail, Red-headed Woodpecker, Water Plantain, and Blue Flag Iris. www.chicagobirder.org/blog/2025/6/...

An ad for a contest. Text reads: Announcing the 2025 Chicago Bird Photography Contest. The contest is a joint initiative of the Chicago Park District, Chicago Ornithological Society, and Chicago Bird Alliance. Submit by August 1. An image shows a Tufted Titmouse perched on the lens of a camera.

The Chicago Bird Photography Contest closes August 1! Get your best shots in before it's too late! www.chicagobirder.org/chicago-bird...

Grassland Birds at Horizon Farms — Chicago Ornithological Society RSVP Required Join COS in search of breeding grassland birds at Horizon Farm.

Join COS for an afternoon bird walk at Horizon Farm. This 400-acre hotspot boasts a strong sprawl of meadows and wetlands. We will walk a roughly 1-mile loop around the site in search of breeding grassland birds. The event is free, but you must RSVP! www.chicagobirder.org/events/2025/...

Ad ad for an event Text reads COS Book Club. Tuesday, July 29, 2025. 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Jefferson Park Library. 5363 West Lawrence Avenue. Chicago, Illinois, 60630. Coffee and snacks will be provided. 2025 A Year of Green Birding. The ad also shows the cover of the book "Turning to Birds: The Power and Beauty of Noticing" by Lily Taylor, which features an illustration of a Gray Catbird. Logos for The Chicago Ornithological Society and Flock Club appear at the bottom of the ad.

Join us for Flock Club Book Club on July 29! We'll discuss Turning to Birds by Lili Taylor, reflecting on mindfulness, appreciation of the natural world, and living in the present. A Year of Green Birding event! RSVP at the link!
www.chicagobirder.org/events/2025/...

☀️ Imani with 2 of his 3 chicks ☀️

📸: Chicago Piping Plovers (sunset June 27, 2025)

Field Trip Recap: Douglass Park — Chicago Ornithological Society COS member Kris Hansen recaps the walk at Douglass Park in the evening of May 31.

COS took a field trip to Douglass Park on May 29. 24 birders took an evening stroll where they observed actively feeding warblers and capped the night off with Common Nighthawks!
www.chicagobirder.org/blog/2025/6/...

Bird Walk at Humboldt Park for Families and Beginners — Chicago Ornithological Society RSVP Required Join us as we explore Humboldt Park on a bird walk tailored for new birders and families.

Join COS for an afternoon outing at Humboldt Park. The park is an excellent example of protecting native habitats in urban environments. We will walk roughly 1 mile on paved paths. Loaner binoculars will be available. The event is free, but you must RSVP! www.chicagobirder.org/events/2025/...

Borbs and Forbs: Garfield Park — Chicago Ornithological Society RSVP Required Borbs and Forbs is a monthly event for nature enthusiasts and those inspired to give back to our communities. Each month we will visit a Chicago Park to admire local birds and other fa...

Join us on a short bird walk Saturday morning at Garfield Park, followed by a stewardship day. We will be identifying trees for the Garfield Park Tree Guide and doing litter pickup. The event is free, but you must RSVP! www.chicagobirder.org/events/2025/...

Bird Walk at Douglass Park for Families and Beginners — Chicago Ornithological Society RSVP Required Attention families and beginners: end the daylight hours with a COS bird walk at Douglass Park.

Join COS for a family-friendly beginner walk at Douglass Park on Friday evening. We will walk around the park’s lagoons in search of Chicago’s wild wonders as the sun sets. Loaner binoculars are available. This event is free, but you must RSVP! www.chicagobirder.org/events/2025/...

An ad for an event that includes imagery of a flamingo holding a tropical drink on top a background of colorful swirls and flowers. Text reads: Flock Club social event. Drinks. Food. Bird Talk. The River Kitchen and Bar. Thursday, June 26. 6 to 8 p.m. 2909 North Sheffield Avenue. Chicago, Illinois. The ad also shows the logo for the Chicago Ornithological Society.

This Thursday! Join us in a social event with real humans! We need 3D community now more than ever! We hope you can make it to The River Kitchen and Bar for drinks, food, and bird talk with your fellow bird nerds.

Perfect Rhythm
This video from hatch day shows the perfect rhythm between plover parents Sea Rocket and Imani as they brood and mind two hatched chicks and continue to incubate two eggs.

🎥: Chicago Piping Plovers (taken via digiscope, June 20, 2025)

Winging It: A Brief History of Humanity's Relationship with Birds — Chicago Ornithological Society Head on over the Newberry Library for Winging It: A Brief History of Humanity’s Relationship with Birds, a COS-sponsored exhibit.

Now through September 27, visit the Newberry Library for Winging It, an exhibition that explores humanity’s complex relationship with birds, featuring contemporary and historic items from the library’s world-class collection. Sponsored in part by COS.

Sunset Bird Walk at Douglass Park — Chicago Ornithological Society RSVP Required End the daylight hours with a COS bird walk at Douglass Park.

End the daylight hours with a COS bird walk at Douglass Park on June 25. New birders are welcome and loaner binoculars are available. After the bird walk ends, you can stay for the bat hike starting at 8:30! The event is free, but you must RSVP! www.chicagobirder.org/events/2025/...

🐣🐣🐣🐣
The day we have waited for, worked for has come! All 4 chicks have hatched. Our work carries on as we continue to support Imani and Sea Rocket and their chicks. Thank you, as always, for your support.

📸: Chicago Piping Plovers (Imani removing an eggshell from the nest, June 20, 2025)
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Flock Club: The River Kitchen and Bar — Chicago Ornithological Society COS proudly presents Flock Club - a social event by and for birders. Join us as we gather to share our passion for birds in a casual and accessible environment.

Join us for Flock Club, the social gathering by and for bird enthusiasts. On 6/26 we’re gathering at The River Kitchen and Bar. There is a variety of food and drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) for purchase. Come and chat it up with your fellow birders!
www.chicagobirder.org/events/2025/...