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

person birding at Bartel Grassland
Wed, May 31 • 8 am

Bird Walk

Dan Ryan Woods Visitor Center • Chicago, IL 60620
#BirdThePreserves logo
Fri, Jun 2 • 7 am

Spring Bird Migration Walk

Penny Road Pond • Barrington Hills, IL 60010
#BirdThePreserves logo
Wed, Jun 7 • 8 am

Bird Walk

Dan Ryan Woods Visitor Center • Chicago, IL 60620
#BirdThePreserves logo
Fri, Jun 9 • 7 am

Spring Bird Migration Walk

Horizon Farm • Barrington Hills, IL 60010
group of people birding at Penny Road Pond
Sat, Jun 10 • 8 am

Nesting Bird Walk

Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305
Sagawau Environmental Learning Center in summer.
Sun, Jun 11 • 10 am

Bird Banding – Drop in

Sagawau Environmental Learning Center • Lemont, IL 60439
exterior of the Sand Ridge Nature Center building
Sun, Jun 11 • 1:30 pm

Meet Our Birds

Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473
#BirdThePreserves logo
Wed, Jun 14 • 8 am

Bird Walk

Dan Ryan Woods Visitor Center • Chicago, IL 60620
Sagawau Environmental Learning Center in summer.
Sat, Jun 17 • 1 pm

Guess Who Built the Nest

Sagawau Environmental Learning Center • Lemont, IL 60439
exterior of the Sand Ridge Nature Center building
Sun, Jun 18 • 7 am

Intro to Birding

Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473
Sagawau Environmental Learning Center in summer.
Mon, Jun 19 • 10 am

Community Builders: Birds

Sagawau Environmental Learning Center • Lemont, IL 60439
#BirdThePreserves logo
Wed, Jun 21 • 8 am

Bird Walk

Dan Ryan Woods Visitor Center • Chicago, IL 60620
Sagawau Environmental Learning Center in summer.
Special Event Wed, Jun 21 • 9 am

ENTICE Workshop: Illinois Birds for Junior High and High School Teachers

Sagawau Environmental Learning Center • Lemont, IL 60439
#BirdThePreserves logo
Thu, Jun 22 • 6 pm

Be a Better Birder: Birding Ethics

Zoom Presentation
three people in a canoe at Beaubien Woods
Sat, Jun 24 • 8:30 am

Bird and Canoe

Beaubien Woods • Chicago, IL 60827
Sagawau Environmental Learning Center in summer.
Tue, Jun 27 • 10 am

OWLS: Older Wiser Learners – Summer Blooms

Sagawau Environmental Learning Center • Lemont, IL 60439
#BirdThePreserves logo
Wed, Jun 28 • 8 am

Bird Walk

Dan Ryan Woods Visitor Center • Chicago, IL 60620
#BirdThePreserves logo
Wed, Jul 5 • 8 am

Bird Walk

Dan Ryan Woods Visitor Center • Chicago, IL 60620
exterior of the Sand Ridge Nature Center building
Sun, Jul 9 • 1:30 pm

Meet Our Birds

Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473
#BirdThePreserves logo
Wed, Jul 12 • 8 am

Bird Walk

Dan Ryan Woods Visitor Center • Chicago, IL 60620