Oct
29
6:00 PM18:00
Filtering by: Social Event
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Oct
17
12:00 PM12:00
Flyway Tour with Bonner Black and Walker Burroughs at Big Marsh
Registration Required
Join musicians Bonner Black and Walker Burroughs and COS for a nature walk and concert.
Sep
18
to Sep 20
The Urban Birding Festival
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 18-20, 2026 this festival highlights the extraordinary bird diversity present in the area with over 400 recorded species in the Chicago region.
Aug
25
to Aug 30
Nighthawk Watch at Horner Park
RSVP Required
Join COS for a nocturnal twist on the classic hawk watch, our fifth annual Nighthawk Watch!
Aug
20
5:30 PM17:30
Flock Club: Field Day
RSVP Required
Join COS for Flock Club as we gather to share our passion for birds in a casual environment. Spend your summer evening playing outdoor games.
Jul
23
6:00 PM18:00
Flock Club: Ice Cream Social
Join COS for Flock Club as we gather to share our passion for birds in a casual environment. Spend your summer evening with ice cream and bluegrass music.
Jun
13
10:00 AM10:00
Marian Byrnes Natural Area Ribbon Cutting
RSVP Required
With over 100 acres of wetlands, prairie, and savannah to explore, we'll be on the look out for a variety of early migrants including rails, warblers, sparrows, and raptors.
Jun
11
6:00 PM18:00
Flock Club: Bird Trivia at Beat Kitchen
Join COS for Flock Club as we gather to share our passion for birds in a casual environment. This event features bird trivia!
Apr
24
to Apr 27
City Nature Challenge 2026
COS is excited to once again be a co-organizer of the Chicago area team in this year’s City Nature Challenge!
Feb
12
6:00 PM18:00
Flock Club: Owlentine's Day Mixer
COS proudly presents Flock Club, the social event by and for birders! Join us as we gather to share our passion for birds in a casual and accessible environment.
Jan
15
6:30 PM18:30
2026 COS Annual Meeting
RSVP Required
Join the COS Board of Directors as we celebrate our many accomplishments in 2025, play games, and announce exciting new plans for the new year, and much more!
Dec
25
7:00 AM07:00
72nd Lakefront Christmas Bird Count
RSVP Required
Join COS for the annual Lakefront 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.
Dec
20
7:00 AM07:00
1st Chicago South Christmas Bird Count
RSVP Required
Join COS for the annual 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.
Dec
14
7:00 AM07:00
77th Lisle Christmas Bird Count and Dinner
RSVP Required
Join COS for the 76th Annual Lisle Christmas Bird Count and Dinner! Every year on a wintery Sunday in December, birders sally forth to count birds and contribute their sightings to the oldest continuously running citizen science project in the world.
Dec
11
6:00 PM18:00
Flock Club: Sojourn Cocktail Bar
COS proudly presents Flock Club - a social event by and for birders. Join us as we gather to share our passion for birds in a casual and accessible environment.
Sep
12
to Sep 14
The Urban Birding Festival
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.
Aug
31
to Sep 6
Nighthawk Watch at Northerly Island
RSVP Required
Join COS for a nocturnal twist on the classic hawk watch, our third annual Nighthawk Watch!
Aug
24
to Aug 30
Nighthawk Watch at Horner Park
RSVP Required
Join COS for a nocturnal twist on the classic hawk watch, our third annual Nighthawk Watch!
Jun
26
6:00 PM18:00
Flock Club: The River Kitchen and Bar
COS proudly presents Flock Club - a social event by and for birders. Join us as we gather to share our passion for birds in a casual and accessible environment.
May
15
to May 18
IN Dunes Birding Festival
One of the most popular and fastest growing birding festivals in North America returns! The Indiana Dunes Birding Festival takes place on May 15-18, 2025 and will feature hundreds of trips highlighting the extraordinary bird diversity present in northwest Indiana and eastern Illinois.
Apr
27
12:00 PM12:00
Piping Plover Pale Ale Release
Everyone’s favorite bird beer in honor of Chicago’s Piping Plovers is back! Join us as we drink for a cause with an excellent craft brew.
Apr
25
to Apr 28
City Nature Challenge 2025
COS is excited to once again be a co-organizer of the Chicago area team in this year’s City Nature Challenge!
Apr
17
6:00 PM18:00
Flock Club: Hopewell Brewery
COS proudly presents the newest social event by and for birders; Flock Club! Join us as we gather to share our passion for birds in a casual and accessible environment.
Apr
12
10:00 AM10:00
Human-Powered Birding Around Chicagoland
In Person Program
RSVP Required
How does one go about harnessing the massive network of busses and trains for maximum migration potential? Join us at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum as we explore that very question with Lindsay Welbers, Author of Chicago Transit Hikes.
Mar
1
9:00 AM09:00
Wild Things Conference
Wild Things Conference, the largest gathering of Chicagoland nature nerds returns this spring! Join more than 2000 nature lovers from across the region for a day full of educational sessions ranging from plants and animals, to restoration practices and story telling, to environmental justice and recreation. And of course, one of the largest groups of offerings is a track all about birds.
Jan
9
6:30 PM18:30
2025 COS Annual Meeting
RSVP Required
Join the COS Board of Directors as we celebrate our many accomplishments in 2024, play games, and announce exciting new plans for the new year, and much more!
Dec
25
7:00 AM07:00
Lakefront Christmas Bird Count
RSVP Required
Join COS for the annual Lakefront 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.
Dec
15
7:00 AM07:00
76th Lisle Christmas Bird Count and Dinner
RSVP Required
Join COS for the 76th Annual Lisle Christmas Bird Count and Dinner! Every year on a wintery Sunday in December, birders sally forth to count birds and contribute their sightings to the oldest continuously running citizen science project in the world.
Dec
5
6:00 PM18:00
Flock Club: Bird Trivia at Galway Arms
COS proudly presents the newest social event by and for birders; Flock Club! Join us as we gather to share our passion for birds in a casual and accessible environment.
Sep
15
6:00 PM18:00