Join COS for the 1st ever Chicago South Christmas Bird Count! Every year on Christmas day, birders sally forth to count birds and contribute their sightings to the oldest continuously running citizen science project in the world. This new count circle includes a wide variety of habitats across Chicago’s souths side from the beaches of South Shore, to icy waters of the Chicago River, to woods and remnant prairies of Marquette Park.
WHEN: The Chicago South Christmas Bird Count (CBC) takes place on Saturday, December 20, 2025.
WHAT: We will count all the birds, by species, that are in our "count circle" on the count day.
WHERE: The Chicago South Count Circle is the 15 mile diameter area centered on the intersection of 72st Street and Ashland Ave. Given the presence of and overlap with the Calumet-Sand Ridge count, this count does not include Lake Calumet and its surrounding parks/preserves.
WHO: You! All are welcome to join our endeavor: veteran and novice alike. You don't have to be an expert on birds or the area. We will match up people who have never done a CBC before with participants who have.
HOW DO I SIGNUP? Send an email to the CBC Compiler with your name, telephone number and email address. Please RSVP by Monday, December 8th.
COST: Participation in the count is free.
Post Countdown Gathering
All CBC participants of the Chicago South and Chicago Urban counts are invited to gather at the end of the weekend for drinks, dinner, camaraderie, and swapping tales of the weekend's birding adventures. The teams behind each of these Chicago counts are partnering up for this special shared gathering to bring all of Chicago’s birding community together.
WHEN: Sunday, December 21 at 6pm, following the Chicago Urban CBC
WHAT: We add up everyone’s birds and see how we all did in a suspense filled countdown more exciting than a NYE ball drop!
WHERE: Hybrid event with both virtual and in person options. In person location is TBD.
WHO: You! All are welcome to join the celebration, even if you didn’t participate (we won’t tell).
HOW DO I RSVP? Send an email to the compilers with your name and email address. Please RSVP by Monday, December 1st at cbc@chicagobirder.org