Still looking for the perfect gift, or are you ready to treat yourself after a long year? Check out the CBA gift guide! We’ve included ideas for last-minute holiday presents that tie back to the Chicago Bird Alliance, from Rosemary Mosco being the keynote speaker at the Urban Birding Festival and Amar Ayyash speaking at the annual member meeting in March, to recognizing local birder and involved CBA member Riley Phoebus Mazok and, most importantly, appreciating the Piping Plovers who made Chicago their home. These gifts are sure to make any Chicago birder merry this holiday season!
The Gull Guide: North America by Amar Ayyash
Amar Ayyash is a top expert on gull identification, and his expertise shines through in The Gull Guide: North America. This is a 500+ page book that includes an overview of gull topography, plumage, molts, and identification tips, along with deep dives into regularly occurring North American species and subspecies. Gulls can be tricky to identify correctly, but this reference book is packed with detailed descriptions and photos to help the reader be prepared for the challenge. This is a valuable guide for any birder!
The Birding Dictionary by Rosemary Mosco
If you want to know the true definition of ‘gull,’ check out The Birding Dictionary by Rosemary Mosco - then read through the descriptions of 221 other birding terms. It sounds like a lot, but when you find yourself at the end of the dictionary, you’ll be wishing there were many more! Those new to birding will be delighted to find a way in through this funny, refreshing, and thoroughly enjoyable book. More experienced birders will nod along as they see the truth among the humor.
3. A Bird's Eye View: A Series of Coloring Illustrations on Queer Ecology by Riley Phoebus Mazock
A Bird's Eye View: A Series of Coloring Illustrations on Queer Ecology by Riley Phoebus Mazock
Looking for a coloring book that is also educational? Check out local birder Riley Phoebus Mazok’s A Bird's Eye View: A Series of Coloring Illustrations on Queer Ecology.
From Riley’s Etsy page: “A Bird’s Eye View is a thoughtfully illustrated coloring book that invites readers to explore the intersections of queerness, ecology, and birding. Through a series of engaging illustrations and narratives, the book highlights diverse bird species and their often-overlooked same-sex pairings, communal parenting structures, and symbolic relevance to LGBTQ+ identity.”
Wall calendar (2026) - Chicago Piping Plovers
Can’t get enough of the Chicago Piping Plovers? Keep track of important dates in 2026 with a calendar of Piping Plovers! The photos in this calendar were all taken of El, Bean, and Ray in 2025 as they visited 63rd Street Beach, with each individual identified by their leg bands.
*Proceeds from the sale of the calendar will go to support Chicago Piping Plovers
5. Stylus Pen with Lanyard
Stylus with binoculars
Have you ever been out birding when it’s zero degrees and you need to record sightings in eBird or jot down an observation? As you take off your gloves to better tap the phone screen, the biting cold doesn’t hold back from rendering your fingers almost numb. Avoid that scenario by getting a stylus - and attach it to your binoculars using a lanyard! Spend some time shopping around online and you can actually buy a stylus pen that comes with a lanyard. If you purchase the two items separately, ensure there’s a way to attach them. Invest in a stylus/lanyard for yourself, or for a birder friend, and keep the cold at bay.