Birding

person birding at Bartel Grassland

New and experienced birders can enjoy this fun and versatile year-round activity while exploring the Forest Preserves.

On this page:


Birding Resources

Birding Checklist

Whether you are an avid birder or just starting out, track all of your bird sightings by downloading the printable Forest Preserves of Cook County Birding Checklist!

Printed copies of the checklist are available Forest Preserves Nature Centers.


Partnering for Birds Report

Developed in partnership with Chicago Audubon Society, Partnering for Birds (2018) is a guide to birds of conservation concern, their habitats and best management practices to insure their success in the Forest Preserves of Cook County.

Support for Partnering for Birds was generously provided by the Bobolink Foundation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.


#BirdThePreserves logo

#BirdThePreserves

The #BirdThePreserves initiative launched in 2016 to promote the Forest Preserves as a world-class destination for birding—and to expose new audiences to this popular activity.

Help promote birding in the Forest Preserves by using the #BirdThePreserves hash tag whenever you post birding photos and observations on social media.

The Forest Preserves continues to hold dozens of #BirdThePreserves events each year.

Support for Bird the Preserves was generously provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through Chicago Wilderness.


Bird of the Month

Check out our Bird of the Month posts from the first year of the #BirdThePreserves campaign:


two bluebirds on a nesting box at horizon farm
Photo by Gary Henle.

How You Can Help Birds

Birds face threats from habitat destruction, building collisions, climate change and more. But there are steps individuals can take to support our local birds.


Birding Events

Party for the Preserves event logo
Sat, Sep 23 • 8:30 am

Bilingual Bird Migration Walk: Party for the Preserves (Caminata bilingüe sobre la migración de aves)

Sagawau Environmental Learning Center • Lemont, IL 60439
#BirdThePreserves logo
Sun, Sep 24 • 8 am

Fall Bird Walk

Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305
#BirdThePreserves logo
Sun, Sep 24 • 1:30 pm

Birds of Prey

River Trail Nature Center • Northbrook, IL 60062
#BirdThePreserves logo
Tue, Sep 26 • 8 am

Tuesdays are for Birds

Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473
#BirdThePreserves logo
Wed, Sep 27 • 8 am

Bird Walk

Dan Ryan Woods Visitor Center • Chicago, IL 60620
#BirdThePreserves logo
Thu, Sep 28 • 6 pm

Be a Better Birder: Birding and Technology

Zoom Presentation
#BirdThePreserves logo
Tue, Oct 3 • 8 am

Tuesdays are for Birds

Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473
#BirdThePreserves logo
Wed, Oct 4 • 8 am

Bird Walk

Dan Ryan Woods Visitor Center • Chicago, IL 60620
Thu, Oct 5 • 6:30 pm

Owl Prowl

Eggers Grove • Chicago, IL 60617
#BirdThePreserves logo
Tue, Oct 10 • 8 am

Tuesdays are for Birds

Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473
#BirdThePreserves logo
Wed, Oct 11 • 8 am

Bird Walk

Dan Ryan Woods Visitor Center • Chicago, IL 60620
#BirdThePreserves logo
Wed, Oct 11 • 8 am

Accessible Bird Sit

Dan Ryan Woods Visitor Center • Chicago, IL 60620
#BirdThePreserves logo
Thu, Oct 12 • 8:30 am

Bird Walk

Eggers Grove • Chicago, IL 60617
Sat, Oct 14 - Sat, Oct 21

Fall Migratory Bird BioBlitz

#BirdThePreserves logo
Wed, Oct 18 • 8 am

Bird Walk

Dan Ryan Woods Visitor Center • Chicago, IL 60620
Thu, Oct 19 • 6:30 pm

Owl Prowl

Eggers Grove • Chicago, IL 60617
#BirdThePreserves logo
Wed, Oct 25 • 8 am

Bird Walk

Dan Ryan Woods Visitor Center • Chicago, IL 60620
#BirdThePreserves logo
Thu, Oct 26 • 6 pm

Be a Better Birder: Intermediate Bird ID

Zoom Presentation
#BirdThePreserves logo
Sun, Oct 29 • 8 am

Fall Bird Walk

Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305
#BirdThePreserves logo
Sat, Nov 4 • 8:30 am

Bird Walk

Eggers Grove • Chicago, IL 60617