Chicago Birding locations in June? (2 Viewers)

[mTown]

Hello forum friends,

I will be in Chicago for work from the end of May to the end of July. Needless to say, I'll be taking my binoculars and compact spotting scope with me
I hope to make a birding trip or two on the weekends.

1) Do you have any tips for me on where to go for some good birding in and around Chicago?
2) Can you recommend any species books for me? I am unfortunately 0 familiar with the birds of North America. Probably a beginner book/rough species knowledge will do for the short time I'm there.
3) If you have any other tips (websites, etc.) for me, please feel free to let me know.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Bill Atwood]

You could start with placing your request here:

IBET - Illinois Birders Exchanging Thoughts - Google Groups

groups.google.com

Here is a link to Chicago Region Birding Trail Guide pdf:
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/doe/general/NaturalResourcesAndWaterConservation_PDFs/Birds/birding_guide_finalsingle.pdf

 

[Bill Atwood]

Hello forum friends,

I will be in Chicago for work from the end of May to the end of July. Needless to say, I'll be taking my binoculars and compact spotting scope with me
I hope to make a birding trip or two on the weekends.

1) Do you have any tips for me on where to go for some good birding in and around Chicago?
2) Can you recommend any species books for me? I am unfortunately 0 familiar with the birds of North America. Probably a beginner book/rough species knowledge will do for the short time I'm there.
3) If you have any other tips (websites, etc.) for me, please feel free to let me know.

Thanks in advance!

ABA guide to birds of Illinois:

Amazon.com

There are many guides to birds of North America or eastern North America. The most popular one seems to be:

The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America: Second Edition (Sibley Guides): Sibley, David Allen: 9780307957917: Amazon.com: Books

Buy The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America: Second Edition (Sibley Guides) on Amazon.com ✓ FREE SHIPPING on qualified orders

www.amazon.com

 

[raymie]

Lincoln Park. Specifically recommend Montrose Point (especially in May) and the trails on the south side of the zoo. There's lots of other great sites around the city (look at the eBird hotspot map), but Lincoln Park really does stand out against the rest.

 

[Bill Atwood]

If you are up for some professional guiding try these folks:

Chicago guiding — Red Hill Birding

www.redhillbirding.com

 

[mTown]

Quite helpful! Thanks a lot!

 

[Bill Atwood]

You probably should check with your Chicago based co-workers about what areas are safe to travel in.

 

[SanAngelo]

These are two spots I frequent when visiting Cook County and the Chicago area.

Orland Grassland
Bartel Grasslands

I enjoy huntin' down the sparrows.

Bartel is really good for Bobolinks and Dickcessels; no effort to tick 'em off. Everything else is kind of a hunt; walking grass trails. It's a big area requiring a scope or a long reach camera/lens.

Orland is fun too; there's grass trails and paved trails which you share with joggers and bicycles.

You find more info on the attached pdf; numbers 48 and 49.

You can make it a full day in this part of the county.

Check you maps for Cook County Forest Preserve trails, there's a number of good spots around Bartel, not so many close to Orland.

If you're staying in North or West Cook County, there's a plenty of Forest Preserve trails/areas in both locations. I'm just not so familiar to make a recommendation.

I'm attaching two signs photos from Orland, a few photos from Bartel, and a couple from Montrose.

IRT post # 4; Lincoln Park is okay for city birding. Montrose Point is better, it has a nice rehab with a good canopy; you'll find various warblers, vireos, and flycatchers moving through. The north end of the point has a roped off area for piping plover (the female didn't return this year/the male returned but sadly he died). There's also a roped off area for the resident Bank Swallow Colony. It's a fun few hours to half a day, depending on how the birds are moving.

I too tend to visit the Chicago area in May-July, good birding that time of year.

Good Luck