Northerly Island is a birder's dream come true in the heart of Chicago. This former airport transformed into a vibrant park offers a unique blend of urban oasis and natural habitat. For this free end of the festival outing, we’ll hang out in the park and cross our fingers hoping for one or a few nighthawks to buzz by.

Difficulty: Easy

Trip Type: Sit

Trip Distance: some short travel required (<1000ft) from parking lot to lawn

Terrain: Mowed Lawn

Notes: All participants are encouraged to bring a lawn chair, picnic blanket, or other portable outdoor furniture.

North Pond in Lincoln Park, Chicago is a haven for birdwatchers. The 15-acre area, despite being located in the heart of the city, provides a habitat for a surprising variety of birds.  Over 238 species have been spotted at North Pond, making it a great destination for both beginner and experienced birders.

Difficulty: Easy

Trip Type: Walk

Trip Distance: Approximately <1.5 miles

Terrain: Grass, Gravel, Pavement

Notes: Trip will take place mostly on wide paved, crushed-gravel, or wood-chip trails that are relatively level with minimal incline. We may leave the trail at times to walk through the grass for a better view of the birds. Any recent rain may create muddy conditions.

Difficulty: Easy

Trip Type: Sit

Trip Distance: Our sketching location is less than 0.25 miles from the parking lot

Terrain: Pavement, gravel

Notes: Paid parking is available in the lot at Big Marsh and bathrooms are available at the visitor’s center.

Northerly Island is a birder's dream come true in the heart of Chicago. This former airport transformed into a vibrant park offers a unique blend of urban oasis and natural habitat. Keep an eye out for soaring raptors, waterfowl gracefully gliding on the lagoon, and a diverse array of songbirds finding refuge in the restored grasslands. Like many of the lakefront parks you never know what you’ll turn up here in migration!

Difficulty: Moderate

Trip Type: Walk

Trip Distance: 2 miles approximately
Terrain: Pavement, Mulch, and Dirt

Notes: This area of the river can be a little hilly. We can expect to walk on pavement, mulch trails, and dirt trails if we go South to Ronan Park where we might see some herons and kingfishers - it is a little bit more of a “wild” stretch of the park. The paved trails are shared with bicyclists and other pedestrians. We do expect the field house to be open for restrooms. Parking can be found along Francisco Avenue and Argyle St. 

Join us for an exciting bird walk at the South Shore Cultural Center! This event is perfect for bird enthusiasts of all ages, and we warmly welcome families to come and experience the beauty of nature together. The southern lakeshore of Chicago is an underappreciated area teeming with birdlife. During our walk, we'll explore this hidden gem and observe a variety of migrant bird species. Whether you're a seasoned birder or a curious beginner, our knowledgeable guides will ensure you have a memorable experience. Come and connect with nature, learn about the local bird species, and enjoy a peaceful afternoon in a beautiful setting.

Difficulty: Easy

Trip Type: Walk

Trip Distance: about a half mile
Terrain: paved walkways and dirt paths

Difficulty: Hard

Trip Type: Walk

Trip Distance: 2-5 miles approximately

Terrain: Pavement, Dirt, Mud

Notes: Portable and indoor restrooms are available. Free parking on Cannon Dr. and Stockton Dr. when available. This walk can be very long, but there will be many places to sit as the walk goes through Lincoln Park Zoo and Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. The walk is mostly on paved paths or sidewalks. and is mostly even.

Join us in birding this grassland oasis at the headwaters of the famed Route 66, just eight miles south of downtown Chicago. The 70-acre park is on the site of the former steel mill that made the girders that form the skeletons that support the skyscrapers that define Chicago's skyline. Stunning vistas, fascinating history, amazing birds. Parking is available along the road on Farragut.

Difficulty: Moderate

Trip Type: Walk

Trip Distance: 2.0-3.0 miles approximately

Terrain: Gravel, Pavement, Grass

Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary, located along the Lake Michigan shoreline in Chicago, is a renowned haven for birders. Known for its diverse habitats, including dunes, woodlands, and grasslands, the sanctuary attracts a wide array of bird species. During migration seasons, visitors can spot warblers, sparrows, thrushes, and shorebirds, along with occasional rarities. Year-round residents such as cardinals, woodpeckers, and chickadees make their home here, making Montrose Point a dynamic spot for birding enthusiasts.

Chicago Bird Alliance Hotspot page

Difficulty: Easy

Trip Type: Walk/Sit

Trip Distance: 1.5 miles
Terrain: Mostly pavement, with some warping and gaps. Little to some dirt, possible mud.

Notes: Bathrooms available in portapotties on Simmons Dr. and public restrooms in the beach house. Free parking on Simmons Dr. and paid street parking. 

Dificultad: Fácil

Tipo de viaje: Caminata/Sentado

Distancia del viaje: 1.5 millas

Terreno: Principalmente pavimento, con algunas deformaciones, hoyos y desniveles. Poca o algo de tierra, lodo es posible.

Notas: Baños portátiles disponibles en Simmons Dr. y baños públicos en la orilla de la playa. Estacionamiento gratuito en Simmons Dr. y estacionamiento de paga en la calle.

Collaboration. Creativity. Abundance of birds. These are all hallmarks of the last 30 years in Chicago bird conservation. Our lakefront and large parks transformed from sterile lawns to thriving migrant habitats. In our forest preserves, fragmented hay fields and picnic groves became the state’s most successful breeding grounds for grassland birds. The nation’s first Lights Out program, the precursor to ebird, a city-endorsed Bird Agenda - all were products of the interactions of an inspired birding community and engaged public officials. Come and learn the history of many of the wonderful habitats we bird in today.

Over Josh's lifetime of birding, he's seen a lot of birds and learned a lot about birding and about birders. Through personal stories, he will take you around the globe, using birds and places as reference points for lessons he has learned. 

Josh has been a part of the Chicago birding community since the early 1990s, when he started birding as a middle school student in Evanston. He spent many years as a bird researcher at the Field Museum and as an international birding guide before founding Red Hill Birding in 2016. These days, he organizes and leads birding tours in the Chicago area, across the US, and around the globe.

Often approached with apprehension, gulls have gained a love-hate relationship with many birders. Among these larids are some of the most coveted bird species in the world. Amar will highlight key identification field marks for separating our most common gull species, and he will also touch on some of the often-ignored topics in gull-study such as the aging process, plumage and molt. Come learn why an increasing number of people are being drawn to this family of birds and are eagerly calling themselves “larophiles".

The Field Museum is unique among major Natural History Museums for the extent to which it archives birds that have died colliding with buildings. This four-decades-long database has facilitated science that would be impossible without its volume of birds and temporal scope. In this talk, graduate students Jacob Drucker and Madison Chudzik will highlight some of this research that informs conservation action within Chicagoland and beyond.

Difficulty: Easy

Trip Type: Walk

Trip Distance: Approximately <1.5 miles

Terrain: Grass, Gravel, Pavement

Notes: Trip will take place mostly on wide paved, crushed-gravel, or wood-chip trails that are relatively level with minimal incline. We may leave the trail at times to walk through the grass for a better view of the birds. Any recent rain may create muddy conditions.

North Pond in Lincoln Park, Chicago is a haven for birdwatchers. The 15-acre area, despite being located in the heart of the city, provides a habitat for a surprising variety of birds.  Over 238 species have been spotted at North Pond, making it a great destination for both beginner and experienced birders.

Difficulty: Easy

Trip Type: Walk

Trip Distance: Approximately <1.5 miles

Terrain: Grass, Gravel, Pavement

Notes: Trip will take place mostly on wide paved, crushed-gravel, or wood-chip trails that are relatively level with minimal incline. We may leave the trail at times to walk through the grass for a better view of the birds. Any recent rain may create muddy conditions.

Difficulty: Easy

Trip Type: Birding on-site in the sewage treatment plant 

Trip Distance: 2 miles approximately
Terrain: gravel roads around the sewage plant ponds

Discover the natural wonders of Eggers Grove, a beautifully restored gem within the Cook County Forest Preserves. This vibrant area boasts lush woodlands, serene wetlands, and expansive open meadows, creating a haven for a diverse array of bird species.

Thanks to a transformative 240-acre restoration project by Audubon Great Lakes and the Forest Preserves of Cook County, Eggers Grove now offers enhanced habitats for migrating birds and elusive marsh birds that thrive in wetlands with a blend of open water and dense vegetation. You’ll spot colorful warblers, sparrows, and woodpeckers and in the wetlands, keep an eye out for waterfowl and wading birds. Eggers Grove is also highlighted in Audubon’s innovative Illinois Coastal Stopover Tool, an interactive platform that provides valuable insights into migratory stopover habitats. This cutting-edge tool offers essential habitat management recommendations and helps raise awareness about the unique needs of birds on their epic migration journeys across our region.

Difficulty: Moderate

Trip Type: Walk

Trip Distance: 1.5-2 miles

Terrain: Dirt, Mud

Notes: Indoor restroom facilities and portable restrooms available. Transportation service is available to this location from CTA bus #100 (112th St) which has connecting service to the Red Line (95th St Terminal). Benches are available near the parking areas.

The Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center, nestled within the Cook County Forest Preserves, offers a picturesque setting with prairies, woodlands, and wetlands. This diverse environment attracts a variety of bird species, making it a popular spot for birdwatchers. Visitors can enjoy sightings of warblers, woodpeckers, and hawks, along with waterfowl in the center's ponds and marshes. The nature center's trails and educational programs provide a rich experience for both novice and seasoned bird enthusiasts.

Difficulty: Moderate

Trip Type: Walk

Trip Distance: About 2 miles

Terrain: Dirt & gravel

Note: This parking lot opens right at 8 am, so if you arrive a little early it might still be closed.

Difficulty: Moderate

Trip Type: Walk

Trip Distance: maximum 3 miles; anyone needing to cut the outing short can easily return to the parking area at any point during the trip via the park’s center paved trail.

Terrain: paved walkway; mowed trails

Notes: We will limit ourselves mostly to the paved and mowed walkways, but footing can be uneven, so be sure to wear sturdy walking shoes. Park 566 is a lakefront park, so wind off the lake can be strong and temperatures more extreme than at inland parks. Please dress in layers appropriate for the location and season. Free street parking is available on Farragut just past the CTA bus terminal.

There are no bathrooms at this park.

Difficulty: Moderate distance, easy terrain

Trip Type: Walk

Trip Distance: Approximately 2 miles

Terrain: Paved, asphalt walking/biking trail

Habitat preservation and restoration have made Big Marsh an oasis for wetlands birds in Chicago. Wading birds, rails, terns, and waterfowl are drawn here throughout the year - uncommon wetland birds for the city such as Caspian Tern, Common Gallinule, and Osprey frequent the marsh during the breeding season and may linger here through September. In addition to the late-staying summer residents more than 10 species of waterfowl and 20 species of shorebird have been recorded stopping over during Fall migration as well. During the Fall, Big Marsh even has a history of attracting some of the area’s rarest vagrant wetland birds such as Snowy Egret and Little Blue Heron!

LaBagh Woods, located on the north side of Chicago, is a lush forest preserve known for its rich biodiversity. This urban oasis offers a mix of wooded areas, a unique slough wetland, and open fields, making it a prime spot for birdwatching.

An oxbow slough is a water body formed when a meander from a river is cut off, creating a wetland. These sloughs provide rich habitats for a variety of wildlife, including fish, amphibians, and numerous bird species.

LaBagh hosts a variety of bird species, particularly during migration seasons. Common sightings include warblers, thrushes, vireos, and woodpeckers. The preserve is also home to year-round residents like cardinals, chickadees, and nuthatches.

Dificultad: Fácil

Tipo de excursión: Caminata

Distancia del recorrido: Aproximadamente 2 millas

Terreno: Grava y Aspalto

Notas: Hay estacionamiento gratuito disponible en el estacionamiento de la Casa de Barcos. Esperamos que los baños estén abiertos en la Casa de Campo. El terreno será mayormente pavimentado con algunos senderos de grava fina.

Difficulty: Easy

Trip Type: Walk

Trip Distance: 2 miles approximately

Terrain: Gravel and Pavement

Notes: Free parking is available at the Boat House Parking Lot. We expect the restrooms to be open at the Field House. The terrain will be mostly paved with some fine gravel trails.