Chicago Ornithological Society
We are here to share experiences and enjoy some of Earth’s most inspiring fauna through field trips and educational programs in the Chicago region and beyond. We appreciate. We aim to increase public awareness on the urgency of conservation of birds and their habitat. We advocate. We grab shovels and get our hands dirty in local habitat restoration projects. We work. We spend time together and discuss how we can make the world a better place for birds — and each other. We support.
Everyone is welcome to join us, whether you are a beginner, an experienced birder, or have an interest in conservation and restoration for wildlife.
Enjoy Field Trips
We organize and host over 100 field trips taking place year round and throughout the Chicagoland area. We strive to make our trips inclusive to all experience levels and background. All trips are free and loaner binoculars available.
Learn with Us
We produce dozens of educational programs a year featuring experts from across the field of birds and birding. These programs are public, free of charge, and feature renowned speakers, authors and researchers like Dr. Drew Lanham, Noah Strycker and Lynn E. Barber.
Volunteer
From conservation projects, to leading bird walks, to social media management, everything that we accomplish is through the power of volunteers. Volunteers are always welcome and needed as we work to make Chicago a haven for birds. Contact us to find your role with COS!
Advocate
Our organization keeps tabs on local developments that can impact bird life and habitat. We work with numerous partners across the environmental, political, and social spectrum to build a better city for people and wildlife.