The Lovebirds of Montrose

Jon Evans writes of how the city’s most popular natural habitat and birding hotspot forged a great Chicago love story.

CommunityRobyn DetterlineFebruary 14, 2024

To celebrate International Day of Women and Girls in Science, COS recognizes the women in conservation who are helping make the field more inclusive for all.

ConservationRobyn DetterlineFebruary 12, 2024

Join the Great Chicago Backyard Bird Count!

Learn how to participate in the 2024 Great Chicago Backyard Bird Count.

CommunityRobyn DetterlineFebruary 4, 2024

Call to Action: Bird Friendly Design Public Feedback

Please read this call to action and help us demand the implementation of the City of Chicago’s sustainable development policy that would require new projects through the Department of Planning and Development to meet bird-friendly design standards.

Conservation, AdvocacyRobyn DetterlineJanuary 18, 2024

Migrate to Your Local Theater?

Shelley Weinberg watches the animated film Migration and let’s us know whether this ducky movie sinks or swims.

Robyn DetterlineJanuary 13, 2024

ESA at 50

Writer Andrea Martinez takes a look at the Endangered Species Act on the 50th anniversary of its passing.

ConservationRobyn DetterlineDecember 28, 2023

2023: The Year in Birds

Eric Houghton walks us back through 2023 to remember the year that was in the Chicago birding world.

Community, ConservationRobyn DetterlineDecember 20, 2023

Continual Feast

Kris Hansen dives into the ins and outs of the very human practice of feeding our wild feathered friends.

ConservationRobyn DetterlineDecember 16, 2023

2023 COS Recap

Kris Hansen chats with COS committee chairs to summarize the organization’s accomplishments for 2023.

CommunityRobyn DetterlineDecember 16, 2023

A Worthwhile Road Trip to See Sandhill Cranes

Shelley Weinberg shares her recent journey to the Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area to see the spectacle of the Sandhill Crane fall congregation.

Robyn DetterlineDecember 11, 2023Jasper-Pulaski

COS 2023 Holiday Gift Guide: The Winter Hermit

The COS editorial team shares its picks for the best 2023 holiday gifts for birders hunkered down this winter.

Robyn DetterlineDecember 1, 2023

Birding Through the Year: Fall 2023

In his latest installment of Birding Through the Year, David Hoyt shares a personal, cultural, and scientific journey of coming to know the mysterious nightjar.

Robyn DetterlineNovember 24, 2023Birding Through the Year, nighthawks

Ode on Wild Turkey

Writer Patricia O’Donnell helps us celebrate the bird of the hour: America’s triumphant wild turkey.

Robyn DetterlineNovember 20, 2023

Field Trip Report: Humboldt Park

Field trip leader David Rupp recaps the November 2 COS field trip to Humboldt Park.

Field TripRobyn DetterlineNovember 20, 2023Humboldt Park

Ode to the Turkey Vulture

In time for Turkey Day, writer Katie Larson writes about her fondness for the Turkey Vulture, a very neat bird.

Robyn DetterlineNovember 20, 2023

A New Old Hotspot: Riis Park

COS member and field trip leader Jorge Garcia writes about Riis Park and two of this year’s community events held there, including a bird walk facilitated by COS.

Field Trip, Conservation, CommunityRobyn DetterlineNovember 18, 2023Riis Park

2023 Chicagoland CBC Guide

It's Christmas Bird Count season! With well near a dozen counts happening throughout the Chicagoland area, how does one get started? We've got you covered!

Community, Conservation, Field TripEdward WardenNovember 14, 2023

Field Trip Report: Dunning Transit Hike

COS board member and field trip leader Robyn Detterline recaps the October 28 Dunning Transit Hike at the Read Dunning Memorial Park, Dunning Read Natural Area, and Mount Olive Cemetery.

Of The Birds, for the Birders?

Eric Houghton takes the role of himself, a birder in the 21st century, and gives Hitchock’s 1963 classic The Birds a view.

Robyn DetterlineOctober 31, 2023

So We Met with McCormick Place; an update and next steps

On October 18, the Bird Friendly Chicago coalition met with leadership from Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) and McCormick Place. Here are some takeaways from that meeting and next steps for action.

Advocacy, ConservationEdward WardenOctober 26, 2023

COS Blog

Shelley Weinberg watches the animated film Migration and let’s us know whether this ducky movie sinks or swims.

Writer Andrea Martinez takes a look at the Endangered Species Act on the 50th anniversary of its passing.

Eric Houghton walks us back through 2023 to remember the year that was in the Chicago birding world.

Kris Hansen dives into the ins and outs of the very human practice of feeding our wild feathered friends.

Kris Hansen chats with COS committee chairs to summarize the organization’s accomplishments for 2023.

Shelley Weinberg shares her recent journey to the Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area to see the spectacle of the Sandhill Crane fall congregation.

The COS editorial team shares its picks for the best 2023 holiday gifts for birders hunkered down this winter.

In his latest installment of Birding Through the Year, David Hoyt shares a personal, cultural, and scientific journey of coming to know the mysterious nightjar.

Writer Patricia O’Donnell helps us celebrate the bird of the hour: America’s triumphant wild turkey.

Field trip leader David Rupp recaps the November 2 COS field trip to Humboldt Park.

In time for Turkey Day, writer Katie Larson writes about her fondness for the Turkey Vulture, a very neat bird.

COS member and field trip leader Jorge Garcia writes about Riis Park and two of this year’s community events held there, including a bird walk facilitated by COS.

It's Christmas Bird Count season! With well near a dozen counts happening throughout the Chicagoland area, how does one get started? We've got you covered!

COS board member and field trip leader Robyn Detterline recaps the October 28 Dunning Transit Hike at the Read Dunning Memorial Park, Dunning Read Natural Area, and Mount Olive Cemetery.

Eric Houghton takes the role of himself, a birder in the 21st century, and gives Hitchock’s 1963 classic The Birds a view.

On October 18, the Bird Friendly Chicago coalition met with leadership from Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) and McCormick Place. Here are some takeaways from that meeting and next steps for action.