Field Trip Recap: Goth Walk at Humboldt Park

More than 50 people, nearly all in dark clothing, some standing, some kneeling, face the camera in front of the Humboldt Park lagoon.

words by Kris Hansen

There are people who know a fair amount about birds but not about being Goth, like me. And, there are people who know how to be Goth but are just learning to bird. Even more epically, there are people who are good at both. You could find them all at Humboldt Park on Saturday, May 23, for an evening Goth Walk in search of Gothic birds.

More than 50 people, most clad in black and some in period costumes and or skull-themed gear, turned out for COS’s second Goth Bird Walk. Trip leaders Chris Holden and Vinod Babu split the horde in half, then sprinkled seasoned birders throughout each group, all under the watchful eye of a Canada Goose incubating her eggs in a planter on the field house overlook.

In profile looking right, just the head and upper neck of a all-black goose with a thick white chin-strap, large dark eye looking at camera.

Canada Goose. Photo by Bob McLennan & Carrie Mathews, Humboldt Park, May 23, 2026.

A recently fledged European Starling showed off its dark-speckled garb as we left the field house. Eastern Kingbirds flipped their long, dark tails. A Mourning Warbler and a Gray Catbird added to the refrain.

Seen in profile with body pointed left but head turned to look over its shoulder, a iridescent, shiny black bird with a yellow eye and sharp, medium pointed beak, perched on a dead twig, channeling a Common Raven from Edgar Allen Poe.

Common Grackle. Photo by Chris Holden, Humboldt Park, May 23, 2026.

With Goth Bird Bingo cards in hand, we went searching for Mourning Doves, Common Grackles and Black-crowned Night Herons. The herons especially wanted to be counted, since we found three along the water’s edge and two more flying overhead.

Brilliantly white but in keeping with the dark theme, a Caspian Tern snatched a hapless fish from the water and made off with its dinner, to delighted applause.

Caspian Tern. Photo by Chris Holden, Humboldt Park, May 23, 2026.

Bucking convention, several lemon-colored Cedar Waxwings emerged into the evening sunshine. A Northern Yellow Warbler defiantly flashed its bright-colored wings. Baltimore Orioles sided with the brightly colored, while a Blackpoll Warbler restored the solemn mood.

We had so much fun looking for black and gray birds, we even crowned a Goth Rock Pigeon at the end of the walk.

Two medium-sized pirds in profile facing left, walking in grass. The left bird has a dark head and gray back with two dark stripes across it. The right bird is all dark with a couple of small white patches on its back.

Rock Pigeons, both Goth and regular. Photo by Bob McLennan & Carrie Mathews, Humboldt Park, May 23, 2026.

Bingo winners rejoiced as they collected COS stickers. Chris and friend Laura Luke collected loaned binoculars from those who borrowed them, then demonstrated their two-handed skills. A grand—er, gloomy—time was had by all, and we saw 48 species.

Two people with straps for multiple pairs of binoculars around their necks, one miming looking into the sky, the other laughing at the camera, with the lagoon and green shrubs behind them.

COS Board Member Chris Holden and friend Laura Luke, plus many loaner binoculars. Photo by Kris Hansen, Humboldt Park, May 23, 2026.

Field TripKris HansenHumboldt Park, Goth Walk