Birding is, among many things, an activity that heightens our awareness with nature. Spring is migration time for many species of birds, and we can watch and help these amazing little travelers on their journey.

​

Chicago is an incredible place for birds and birders alike! It is situated on the Mississippi Flyaway, a 2,300-mile-long North American bird migration route stretching from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. Despite its urban character, Chicago is home to many marsh and wetlands, grasslands, rivers and woodlands.

 

Check out The Forest Preserves of Cook County and find a bird watching event near you! 

Native plants are extremely important for birds - they have evolved alongside birds for millions of years, and thus provide ideal nutrients that are not provided by non-native plants.

​

You can help our feathered friends by planting a few different native flowers or grasses in your yard. Determine how much room you have and your yard's conditions - sunny, shady, dry or wet.

​

You can learn more about supporting birds through native gardening at chicagobirdalliance.org

Spring and fall migrations can be a very dangerous time for birds, especially as they fly over urban areas. Many migratory birds only fly at night to avoid predators and use the stars as their compass. They can become easily confused by electric lights left on overnight.

 

We can help by turning off our lights at night, using only motion-detector lights, or switching to amber or yellow lights. These changes can also help reduce your energy costs - a win-win for both us and our bird friends.