“Chicago is a bird watcher’s paradise,” said Scott Judd, an experienced birder. Birder and environmental worker Miranda Wecker says the city is better for spotting birds than rural Washington state, where she has lived for many years. The green spaces and lakeside location make approximately 350 species of birds observable in Chicago. Lake Michigan’s elongated shape is ideal for migration, as birds prefer flying over the city instead of directly over the water. Both independently and through groups such as the Chicago Audubon Society and Chicago Ornithological Society, birding enthusiasts indulge their interest through bird walks and information seminars, and contribute to the conservation of species and environments.
Many participants record sightings on networks such as eBird, a site supported by Cornell University. Users can view others’ sightings and add their own. “There are a huge variety of people who bird in Chicago and they are invariably kind and helpful,” said birder Shana Conner, an experienced birder. Bruce McCullough, a birding enthusiast who regularly attends walks by the Chicago Audubon Society and the Chicago Ornithological Society, enjoys birding as a way to get into nature.
Several volunteer efforts and online resources constitute a large effort to salvage Chicago’s bird species. Bird-Friendly Chicago urges for a Bird-Friendly Buildings Ordinance designed to eliminate bird collisions with glass buildings or illuminated building areas, and the Chicago Bird Collision Monitors’ Lights Out Chicago movement encourages decreased overnight illumination. “Many people aren’t aware of how special and critical our location is for birds,” said Topp, emphasizing that any conservation effort is beneficial.
“The work of dedicated conservationists past and present should be more widely acknowledged and appreciated,” Wecker said. One of the most recent projects in local conservation was a response to observed piping plovers, a federally endangered species, seen mating on Montrose Beach. The area surrounding the nest has been enclosed and volunteers sponsored by the Chicago Ornithological Society keep active watch.
