Calling all shutterbugs and bird enthusiasts! We want you to capture the vibrant avian life of Chicago through your lens and participate in the inaugural "Chicago Birds Photography Contest." Photographers of all experience levels are invited to compete with winning submissions eligible for eternal bragging rights and cash prizes!
The importance of Black Americans in conservation and environmentalism is GREATLY underrepresented and it requires some digging to learn about the significant past and current Black contributors and advocates of birding, conservation, and environmental justice.
This time of year, owls become the focus of many nature lovers. The presence of humans can be stressful for owls, so it’s important to understand more about owls and follow simple guidelines to ensure their safety.
The importance of Black Americans in conservation and environmentalism is GREATLY underrepresented and it requires some digging to learn about the significant past and current Black contributors and advocates of birding, conservation, and environmental justice.
The Chicago Department of Planning and Development (DPD) failed to make bird protection mandatory in its recent draft of its 2024 Sustainable Development Policy (SDP). Bird Friendly Chicago, its partners, and its supporters asked the city of Chicago to make bird protection mandatory in this update, a measure that would be critical in preventing bird mortality. Unfortunately the DPD failed to do so, even in the face of overwhelming public support for this measure.
We tend to view the increasing urbanization of the environment as detrimental to birds, and indeed, habitat loss is the principal reason for the decrease in bird numbers and species. However, in very specific instances, some birds can coexist with the urban environment in beneficial ways – beneficial to them, and to the humans who enjoy them.
As an inclusive birding community that supports social and environmental justice, the Chicago chapter of the Feminist Bird Club organizes several different types of events with the hope of creating birding opportunities for individuals who may have not felt comfortable with other groups or in other settings.
Every year, hundreds of bird species visit Chicago during Spring Migration, bringing new colorful life to the city after months of gray and snow. It is for that reason we want you to give us your best depiction of your favorite bird coming back for Spring Migration. Whether you rely on watercolor and crayons or digital rendering software, we want you to show us the beauty of these birds through your eyes. All artistic levels are welcomed!
Happy April Fool’s Day! Humans are not the only species that plays tricks – here are five birds you can see around Chicago that have honed their ability to fool their intended audience, or even you if you’re not paying close enough attention!
Brown Thrasher, Audubon Photography Awards/Peter Waksmundzki
Many of us know eBird as the app from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology that makes listing and sharing our bird observations easy. The eBird website also features useful information and ways to explore data: interactive maps, species profiles, and tools for analyzing sightings across years and geographic regions. But you may not know there are even more tools available to help you learn about birds.
Lights Out! Chicago asks buildings to turn off or dim bright antenna, rooftop and display lights from 11 pm to sunrise every spring and fall migration season. This act saves the lives of thousands of birds who would otherwise be attracted from their nightly travels towards the confusing city lights.
It may be feeling like spring some days but it’s still winter! Sightings of typical spring migrants have already been reported in February. Should this be cause for concern? Perhaps not in some specific cases, but mild winters are affecting migratory patterns for numerous birds, such as the Swainson’s Thrush and Black-throated Blue Warbler. Check out this article for some good news, some not so good news… and what we can do to help birds during migration time!
Photo Credit: Gregory Ball/Audubon Photography Awards
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