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Bird Watching in Chicago

Want to see migratory birds? Not many people know it, but Chicago is a great hub for migratory birds. Spring and fall are great times to see some amazing birds in different habitats. Once you feel ready, go out and enjoy nature in and around Chicago! If you want to read more on birding check out the article below about birding basics in Illinois.

Chicago is a Birder’s Paradise. Every year, millions of birds travel migratory flyways, routes that take birds from their tropical wintering grounds in Latin America to the forests of Canada, where many will nest. You might be surprised to discover that some of Illinois’ most popular birding destinations are found within the metropolis of Chicago.

Yes Chicago is not just business and real estate deals, it is also a formidable place to enjoy the beauty of nature. In fact, one small site on Lake Michigan’s shore harbors more bird species than any other destination in the state. Beyond the city limits, a variety of spots are there for the pleasure of bird watchers who come from all over the world.

More than three-fourths of all bird species seen in Illinois have passed through or paused to rest and feed along the Chicago lakefront. The vegetation along the lakefront provides the rest and shelter birds need as they are migrating along Lake Michigan, which is on the Mississippi Flyway.

In you want to learn all about it, the Bird Conservation Network and the former Chicago Department of the Environment partnered to create the Chicago Region Birding Trail Guide.This pocket guide covers the seven Illinois counties surrounding Chicago and the two north-west Indiana counties along Lake Michigan.

Welcome to the Chicago Region Birding Trail. The Chicago region is one of the country’s premier inland birding locations. The climate and topography allow for a wide range of habitat types, from extensive grasslands to forests to marshes and lakes. The region’s proximity to the southern end of Lake Michigan is a bird’s paradise. Illinois has 21 birding trails and these trails range from 1.3 to 8.6 miles in length. The most popular trails are Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie Hike, Iroquois County State Wildlife Area Hike and Kankakee River State Park Hike.

Explore the most popular bird watching trails near Chicago with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. One of the reasons there is a Chicago real estate boom recently is due to all the benefits of living in Chicago and one of the them is the proximity to so many marvels of nature.

This is birding in beauty. Few places in Chicagoland offer such beautiful surroundings as the Chicago Botanic Garden. Among a plethora of native and exotic plantings lies a haven for some 255 bird species, enabling birders to enjoy over 9,000 plant varieties in both manicured and unmanicured settings while simultaneously listening for the song of a Blackburnian Warbler or the distinctive zippery of an American Robin.

The Chicago Botanic Garden is a fantastic plac efor bird wathchers. There you can enjoy bird walks, wildflower walks, prairie walks, seed collecting courses, beekeeping classes, butterfly gardening classes, hummingbird gardening classes, rain gardens courses, and exploring native plants workshops at the Regenstein School of the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe, Illinois. Off-site adventures include the owl prowl.

Another great venue for bird watchers in Chicago is the Chicago’s Lincoln Park. Nearly 350 kinds of birds have visited Chicago’s Lincoln Park, one of the region’s best places to see birds. And you can even join experienced bird watchers from the Chicago Ornithological Society on weekly bird walks around North Pond to observe and learn about our feathered neighbors.