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Field Trips and Events
Winging It: A Brief History of Humanity's Relationship with Birds
Jun 20
Newberry Library
Winging It: A Brief History of Humanity's Relationship with Birds
Newberry Library

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

Newberry Library
The Urban Birding Festival
Sep 12
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
The Urban Birding Festival
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

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.

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
LaBagh Woods Stewardship Workday
Sep 14
LaBagh Woods Grove #1
LaBagh Woods Stewardship Workday
LaBagh Woods Grove #1

Join us for a habitat restoration workday at COS’s flagship stewardship site LaBagh Woods, and help bring back critical bird habitat.

LaBagh Woods Grove #1
COS in the Suburbs: Spring Lake Forest Preserve
Sep 16
Spring Lake Forest Preserve
COS in the Suburbs: Spring Lake Forest Preserve
Spring Lake Forest Preserve

RSVP Required

We’ll explore Beverly Lake and Healy Savannah sections of this Cook County Forest Preserve in Barrington offering diverse habitat such as remnant prairie, sedge meadow, and fen.

Spring Lake Forest Preserve
North Pond Wednesday Bird Walks
Sep 17
North Pond Casting Pier
North Pond Wednesday Bird Walks
North Pond Casting Pier

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!

North Pond Casting Pier
COS in the Suburbs: Spring Lake Forest Preserve
Sep 17
Spring Lake Forest Preserve
COS in the Suburbs: Spring Lake Forest Preserve
Spring Lake Forest Preserve

RSVP Required

We’ll explore the Penny Road Pond trails of this Cook County Forest Preserve in Barrington offering diverse habitat such as remnant prairie, sedge meadow, and fen.

Spring Lake Forest Preserve
After Work Bird Walk at Millennium Park
Sep 17
Millennium Park
After Work Bird Walk at Millennium Park
Millennium Park

RSVP Required

End the day with a COS bird walk at Millennium Park and Grant Park.

Millennium Park
Montrose Point Beginner Bird Walk
Sep 20
Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary
Montrose Point Beginner Bird Walk
Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary

RSVP Required

This full-morning trip is specifically for beginning birders. We will focus on birding basics and identifying the most common birds in Chicago. 

Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary
Montrose Dunes Stewardship Workday
Sep 20
Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary
Montrose Dunes Stewardship Workday
Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary

Join the stewards of Montrose Beach Dunes for a workday at one of the top bird watching spots in the country!

Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary
Big Marsh Stewardship Workday
Sep 20
Big Marsh Park
Big Marsh Stewardship Workday
Big Marsh Park

Join park staff for a workday at one of the top bird watching spots in the country; Big Marsh Park!

Big Marsh Park
Park 566 Bird Walk
Sep 22
Park 566
Park 566 Bird Walk
Park 566

Join us for a fall migration walk at Park 566! This uniquely urban habitat is host to countless migratory birds and one of the best places in Chicago to observe grassland birds, raptors, waterfowl, and many other species on their journey south.

Park 566
North Pond Wednesday Bird Walks
Sep 24
North Pond Casting Pier
North Pond Wednesday Bird Walks
North Pond Casting Pier

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!

North Pond Casting Pier

The Chicago Birder Blog

 
Blog
Field trip recap: Beginning Birding at Jarvis Bird Sanctuary
Field trip recap: Beginning Birding at Jarvis Bird Sanctuary

COS member Kate Allgeier recaps the beginner’s bird walk at Jarvis Bird Sanctuary on Sept. 7, 2025.

Field Trip Recap: McKinley Park
Field Trip Recap: McKinley Park

COS member Kris Hansen recaps the sunset bird walk at McKinley Park on Sunday, Sept. 7.

Urbs in Horto, Aves in Urbs
Urbs in Horto, Aves in Urbs

Read about how the Urban Birding Festival was born.

Field Trip Recap: Horner Park Nighthawk Watch
Field Trip Recap: Horner Park Nighthawk Watch

COS member Jen Mach recaps a lively night of Common Nighthawk watching at Horner Park.

Field Trip Recap: Sunday Social at Humboldt Park
Field Trip Recap: Sunday Social at Humboldt Park

COS member Mikko Jimenez recaps the Sunday Social bird walk at Humboldt Park on Aug. 31, 2025.

Field Trip Recap: Horner Park
Field Trip Recap: Horner Park

COS member Joann Umeki recaps the field trip at Horner Park on Aug. 23, the first one led by COS board member Chris Cochrane.