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 itβs 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.
Amy Tan has come out with a new book that she wrote and illustrated called The Backyard Bird Chronicles. This engaging read with beautifully drawn illustrations contains excerpts from Amyβs nine journals that she filled with observations. Only birds that entered her backyard airspace made it onto the pages.
The Chicago area and in particular the Forest Preserves of Cook County (FPCC) are fortunate to have several different types of natural habitats that birds need to thrive. βPartnering for Birds,β a free publication created by the Chicago Bird Alliance in collaboration with FPCC, uses data from the Bird Conservation Network and eBird. The four different habitats detailed are grasslands (highlighted here), shrublands, woodlands and savannas, and wetlands.
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 β 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 Foolβs Day! Humans are not the only species that plays tricks β here are five birds you can see around Chicago that have honed their ability to fool their intended audience, or even you if youβre 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.
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