Chicago Ornithological Society
@chicagobirder.bsky.social
All things birds in the Second City!
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!
October 4, 2025 at 9:34 PM
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!
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/...
July 12, 2025 at 5:31 PM
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/...
The Chicago Bird Photography Contest closes August 1! Get your best shots in before it's too late! www.chicagobirder.org/chicago-bird...
July 2, 2025 at 12:17 AM
The Chicago Bird Photography Contest closes August 1! Get your best shots in before it's too late! www.chicagobirder.org/chicago-bird...
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/...
www.chicagobirder.org/events/2025/...
June 29, 2025 at 3:58 PM
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/...
www.chicagobirder.org/events/2025/...
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.
June 23, 2025 at 11:13 PM
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.
Join us on 6/28 for a short bird walk at Garfield Park. Afterwards we'll join the Garfield Park steward for a workday in which we help improve the natural areas. No experience or equipment is required. Gloves and other needed tools will be provided. RSVP: www.chicagobirder.org/events/2025/...
June 18, 2025 at 12:49 AM
Join us on 6/28 for a short bird walk at Garfield Park. Afterwards we'll join the Garfield Park steward for a workday in which we help improve the natural areas. No experience or equipment is required. Gloves and other needed tools will be provided. RSVP: www.chicagobirder.org/events/2025/...
COS is looking for writers! We need volunteers to create content for The Chicago Birder magazine and blog. Contribute as little or as much as you want! Help us spread our mission of appreciating and conserving birds through community and education. Email ChicagoBirder@gmail.com for more information.
June 17, 2025 at 12:42 AM
COS is looking for writers! We need volunteers to create content for The Chicago Birder magazine and blog. Contribute as little or as much as you want! Help us spread our mission of appreciating and conserving birds through community and education. Email ChicagoBirder@gmail.com for more information.
Female birds are overlooked. That's a problem for our hearts, and for our science! This weekend celebrate Female Bird Day by paying attention to the female birds you see. What do they look like? What are they doing? What joy do they bring? Share your female bird moments in the comments!
May 24, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Female birds are overlooked. That's a problem for our hearts, and for our science! This weekend celebrate Female Bird Day by paying attention to the female birds you see. What do they look like? What are they doing? What joy do they bring? Share your female bird moments in the comments!
CALL TO ACTION 🧵
The U.S. fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) have proposed a rule (FWS-HQ-ES-2025-0034) that would rescind the definition of “harm” in the Endangered Species Act (ESA). 1/6
The U.S. fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) have proposed a rule (FWS-HQ-ES-2025-0034) that would rescind the definition of “harm” in the Endangered Species Act (ESA). 1/6
May 17, 2025 at 9:03 PM
CALL TO ACTION 🧵
The U.S. fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) have proposed a rule (FWS-HQ-ES-2025-0034) that would rescind the definition of “harm” in the Endangered Species Act (ESA). 1/6
The U.S. fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) have proposed a rule (FWS-HQ-ES-2025-0034) that would rescind the definition of “harm” in the Endangered Species Act (ESA). 1/6
Submit to the 2025 Chicago Bird Photography Contest! Six different categories: Urban Aviary, Lakefront Flyers, Seasonal Spectacles, Feathered Flocks, Wetland Wonders, Birds in My Parks. Show your stuff! Show our birds! www.chicagobirder.org/chicago-bird...
May 15, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Submit to the 2025 Chicago Bird Photography Contest! Six different categories: Urban Aviary, Lakefront Flyers, Seasonal Spectacles, Feathered Flocks, Wetland Wonders, Birds in My Parks. Show your stuff! Show our birds! www.chicagobirder.org/chicago-bird...
The Spring issue of The Chicago Birder is out now! For current COS members, this issue should already have arrived in your inbox! 📸 Cover photo by Matt Zuro
May 12, 2025 at 8:34 PM
The Spring issue of The Chicago Birder is out now! For current COS members, this issue should already have arrived in your inbox! 📸 Cover photo by Matt Zuro
The IL Spring Bird Count is a yearly statewide bird census. The data from this count helps us understand the impact of climate change on birds, and changes in bird populations. Participants are volunteers, like you! Join us on 5/10. Info at the link.
www.chicagobirder.org/events/2025/...
www.chicagobirder.org/events/2025/...
May 4, 2025 at 3:07 PM
The IL Spring Bird Count is a yearly statewide bird census. The data from this count helps us understand the impact of climate change on birds, and changes in bird populations. Participants are volunteers, like you! Join us on 5/10. Info at the link.
www.chicagobirder.org/events/2025/...
www.chicagobirder.org/events/2025/...
It's time to submit to the 2025 Chicago Photography contest! Participants can submit photos of birds taken in Chicago to compete in six different categories. Winners will have their photographs on display at The Urban Birding Festival and Big Marsh's FCEC. www.chicagobirder.org/chicago-bird...
April 13, 2025 at 7:03 PM
It's time to submit to the 2025 Chicago Photography contest! Participants can submit photos of birds taken in Chicago to compete in six different categories. Winners will have their photographs on display at The Urban Birding Festival and Big Marsh's FCEC. www.chicagobirder.org/chicago-bird...
We have 5 nighthawk presentations planned this spring! Note the presentations that are part of the Wild Things Conference and the Indiana Dunes Birding Festival require an entrance fee. The rest are free and open to the public. Sign up for individual events at chicagobirder.org/events.
February 15, 2025 at 9:59 PM
We have 5 nighthawk presentations planned this spring! Note the presentations that are part of the Wild Things Conference and the Indiana Dunes Birding Festival require an entrance fee. The rest are free and open to the public. Sign up for individual events at chicagobirder.org/events.
Join COS in 2025 as we celebrate green birding! Through programs and field trips, we'll explore what happens when we slow down and stay local. Our first green birding event is a discussion of Amy Tan's Backyard Bird Chronicles on 3/11! RSVP: www.chicagobirder.org/events/2025/...
February 8, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Join COS in 2025 as we celebrate green birding! Through programs and field trips, we'll explore what happens when we slow down and stay local. Our first green birding event is a discussion of Amy Tan's Backyard Bird Chronicles on 3/11! RSVP: www.chicagobirder.org/events/2025/...
There’s a fundraiser for Chicago Bird Collision Monitors on February 22! They do great work rescuing injured birds in the Chicago area. Please consider attending, and if you can't attend, they are always accepting donations! www.birdmonitors.net/Events.php?f...
February 5, 2025 at 3:23 PM
There’s a fundraiser for Chicago Bird Collision Monitors on February 22! They do great work rescuing injured birds in the Chicago area. Please consider attending, and if you can't attend, they are always accepting donations! www.birdmonitors.net/Events.php?f...
The COS Anderson Mini-Grant is awarded annually to educators and organizations in Chicago who are implementing programs that promote bird conservation, education, and appreciation. No anyone who fits that bill? Encourage them to apply! www.chicagobirder.org/anderson-grant
February 2, 2025 at 3:18 PM
The COS Anderson Mini-Grant is awarded annually to educators and organizations in Chicago who are implementing programs that promote bird conservation, education, and appreciation. No anyone who fits that bill? Encourage them to apply! www.chicagobirder.org/anderson-grant
Get prepared for Polar Adventure days at Big Marsh! Sled dogs, ice carvings, winter crafts, live music, hot cocoa, puppets, slacklines, live animals--it's all going to be there! Plus it's a good place for a bird walk. Food will be available onsite for purchase. Parking is available for $3 per car.
February 1, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Get prepared for Polar Adventure days at Big Marsh! Sled dogs, ice carvings, winter crafts, live music, hot cocoa, puppets, slacklines, live animals--it's all going to be there! Plus it's a good place for a bird walk. Food will be available onsite for purchase. Parking is available for $3 per car.
Attention educators and community organizations! We are accepting applications for the 2025 Douglas C. Anderson Bird Conservation Mini-Grant! Receive $1,000 for your youth program promoting bird conservation, education, and/or appreciation. Apply: chicagobirder.org/anderson-grant
January 25, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Attention educators and community organizations! We are accepting applications for the 2025 Douglas C. Anderson Bird Conservation Mini-Grant! Receive $1,000 for your youth program promoting bird conservation, education, and/or appreciation. Apply: chicagobirder.org/anderson-grant
Join us for our virtual annual meeting On Thursday, 1/9! In addition to COS updates, there will be bird trivia, and we will announce the winner of our photo of the year award. The event is free and open to all, but you must RSVP: www.chicagobirder.org/events/2025/...
January 3, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Join us for our virtual annual meeting On Thursday, 1/9! In addition to COS updates, there will be bird trivia, and we will announce the winner of our photo of the year award. The event is free and open to all, but you must RSVP: www.chicagobirder.org/events/2025/...
We hope that 2025 brings peace and birds for all.
COS has a lot of exciting plans in the works, from field trips and education programs to social events and conservation work. If you're not a member, please consider joining or renew your membership at chicagobirder.org/join.
COS has a lot of exciting plans in the works, from field trips and education programs to social events and conservation work. If you're not a member, please consider joining or renew your membership at chicagobirder.org/join.
January 1, 2025 at 6:49 PM
We hope that 2025 brings peace and birds for all.
COS has a lot of exciting plans in the works, from field trips and education programs to social events and conservation work. If you're not a member, please consider joining or renew your membership at chicagobirder.org/join.
COS has a lot of exciting plans in the works, from field trips and education programs to social events and conservation work. If you're not a member, please consider joining or renew your membership at chicagobirder.org/join.
Goodbye, 2024, Year of the Peregrine! This is your last chance to get our official 2024 Peregrine merch from our shop. Don't miss out! chicago-birder.creator-spring.com
December 31, 2024 at 4:58 PM
Goodbye, 2024, Year of the Peregrine! This is your last chance to get our official 2024 Peregrine merch from our shop. Don't miss out! chicago-birder.creator-spring.com
Our Virtual Annual Meeting is for COS members and non-members alike. Come see what we have been up to, enjoy fun trivia, and see the big COS Photo of the Year reveal! RSVP: www.chicagobirder.org/events/2025/...
December 26, 2024 at 5:34 PM
Our Virtual Annual Meeting is for COS members and non-members alike. Come see what we have been up to, enjoy fun trivia, and see the big COS Photo of the Year reveal! RSVP: www.chicagobirder.org/events/2025/...
On behalf of Chicago's birds, we wish you a Merry Christmas.
December 25, 2024 at 2:55 PM
On behalf of Chicago's birds, we wish you a Merry Christmas.
In the winter, American Golfinches aren't so gold anymore! They lose their yellow feathers and display as a more muted brown. You can still recognize them by their squeaky chirp and their bouncy flight pattern.
December 24, 2024 at 8:05 PM
In the winter, American Golfinches aren't so gold anymore! They lose their yellow feathers and display as a more muted brown. You can still recognize them by their squeaky chirp and their bouncy flight pattern.