Festival Schedule

Taco lunch from Taqueria Mi Barrio Tepito. Lunch includes tacos and drinks. Vegetarian options will be provided.

North Pond in Lincoln Park, Chicago is a haven for birdwatchers. The 15-acre area, despite being located in the heart of the city, provides a habitat for a surprising variety of birds. 

The Field Museum is one of the largest natural history museums in the world, functioning as a bank of biological material from around the world in addition to a space for the public to experience the earth's natural wonders.

Birding at Graceland Cemetery in Chicago offers a unique experience amidst the serene and historic setting of this Victorian-era cemetery.

Whether you are just discovering birding, hoping to share birding with family members, or trying to develop newfound skills, there is probably no better place in Chicago than Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary!

North Pond in Lincoln Park, Chicago is a haven for birdwatchers. The 15-acre area, despite being located in the heart of the city, provides a habitat for a surprising variety of birds. 

Experience the mantra of trip leader Jeff Bilsky on this trip “Go birding, Eat tacos.” First, you’ll visit LaBagh Woods, a Cook County Forest Preserve located on the north side of Chicago. This urban oasis offers a mix of wooded areas, a unique slough wetland, and open fields, making it a prime spot for birdwatching.

LaBagh Woods, located on the north side of Chicago, is a lush forest preserve known for its rich biodiversity. This urban oasis offers a mix of wooded areas, a unique slough wetland, and open fields, making it a prime spot for birdwatching.

Join us in birding this grassland oasis at the headwaters of the famed Route 66, just eight miles south of downtown Chicago.

The Calumet Region encompasses a large area on Chicago’s South Side that has seen drastic landscape changes from wetlands to industry…and now back again as several marshes dot the area in various stages of restoration.

Humboldt Park, a sprawling green space on Chicago's West Side, is a vibrant urban park featuring lagoons, meadows, and woodlands.

Chicago Bird Alliance has hosted walks at Jackson Park every Saturday, year ‘round (weather permitting), for over 50 years!

Located on the northwest side of Chicago, North Park Village Nature Center features a 58+ acre natural area and educational facility, situated within the 155-acre North Park Village campus.

Busse Woods, just a portion of the much larger Ned Brown Forest Preserve, is one of the last remaining fragments of flatwood habitat in country, as well as one of the most well-preserved upland forests in general, earning it a place on the National Parks Service’s list of national natural landmarks.

This park designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, has a natural area of 35.7 acres of prairie and wetlands. Washington Park hosts many migrating songbirds and waterbirds.

Discover the natural wonders of Eggers Grove, a beautifully restored gem within the Cook County Forest Preserves. This vibrant area boasts lush woodlands, serene wetlands, and expansive open meadows, creating a haven for a diverse array of bird species.

The Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center, nestled within the Cook County Forest Preserves, offers a picturesque setting with prairies, woodlands, and wetlands.

Located southwest of the city in Tinley Park, Orland Grasslands is over 750 acres of former agricultural land that has undergone thorough restoration over the past 20+ years. The results have led to an impressive return to native habitats that truly characterize the ‘Prairie State’.

Big Marsh is perhaps Chicago’s best wetland area for birding and it is home to many big birds! Species such as Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, and Black-crowned Night Heron are all staples of Big Marsh, but other large birds can be found here during fall migration as well.

South Pond, Nature Boardwalk in Lincoln Park, Chicago, is a scenic urban refuge offering a blend of natural beauty and wildlife. It features a large pond surrounded by native plants and winding boardwalks, providing a variety of habitat for resident and migratory bird species.

The warblers love the water’s edge and don’t mind the boats - so you’ll have birds almost in your lap! This trip is great for a close study of fall migrants.

Meet at Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum to explore Lincoln Park. Lincoln Park includes some of the best areas to observe migrant birds in Chicago.

Join us for a delightful morning of bird watching at Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary, Chicago’s preeminent birding hotspot!

A Big Sit is perfect for bird enthusiasts of all ages and levels. It's a relaxed style of birding where participants stay within a designated area and observe as many bird species as possible from that spot.

Jarvis Bird Sanctuary’s viewing platform is probably the best place in Chicago to sit and wait for the birds to come to you!

Join us for a delightful morning of bird watching at Big Marsh, located in the vibrant Lake Calumet region!

Join Matthew Dolkart (@thebirdherder) for a two-hour guided walk around Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary starting at 6am. At Montrose, you'll soak in the best the city has to offer in urban bird photography.

$260 | 5:00AM - 11:00AM | Leaders: Steve Huggins & Amar Ayyash

Meeting Location: Montrose Harbor, Dock D-11

Click Here for Google Maps

Registration Required

Set sail on this unique birding experience in Lake Michigan. This is an early start, departing from Montrose Harbor at 5:30 am.

By getting out into the lake this time of year we are hoping to turn up a jaeger or an interesting gull or tern. Pelagic birds are birds that spend most of their time over large bodies of water, often flying quickly and powerfully to catch prey and avoid predators. The leader of this trip will be chumming to increase your chances of bringing in a unique sighting.

So join this boat tour led by the experts at Red Hill Birding for your chance to see either a lot of gulls or maybe a lifer parasitic jaeger.