If you like reading a good memoir, or if you’re needing inspiration as Earth Day 2025 comes around, you should pick up Trish O’Kane’s 2024 volume, Birding to Change the World: A Memoir. It is, in her own words, a “braid of science, personal story, and an activism story” that comes as close to riveting as any memoir can.

The current strain of the bird flu has been spreading rapidly among wild and poultry birds alike, causing concern over what happens next. Learn about some of the consequences of avian influenza and some of the measures you can use to protect yourself and our local birds.

This article looks at gull identification through the lens of evolutionary biology and genetics. It discusses when it becomes necessary to move beyond rigid taxonomic categories and instead focus on variation in genes and traits. For birdwatchers, who can only deal in observable traits, this approach is crucial to avoid unwarranted assumptions about genetics—assumptions that can lead to false confidence when assessing vagrancy or hybrid ancestry.

There is progress! In June experts in avian conservation, urban planners, architects, City of Chicago Departments and other relevant experts will provide policy recommendations on bird-friendly design. Data on which new construction developments have selected bird-mitigation options from the Sustainable Development Policy during the year since the updated policy was released will be considered.

When the temperature drops and the snow starts flying where should you head to do a little birding…or should I say brrrr-ding. Well, there are quite a few good options around Chicago.

When you think of romance between birds, perhaps Monty and Rose, arguably Chicago’s most famous bird couple, come to mind. This Piping Plover pair captivated Chicago from 2019 to 2021. But every year, numerous birds around the Chicagoland area signal their willingness to pair up, mate, and form a family. Ardor to a bird comes in many varieties. It can be…