Article updated 5/8/26
We need your help for the Spring Bird Count on Saturday, May 9th!
This is a yearly count covering all 102 counties in Illinois. The data derived from it is vital in helping understand the impact of climate change on birds and population trends statewide.
More details can be found here regarding this important event:
https://spring-bird-count.inhs.illinois.edu/
Illinois Spring Bird Count 2026 - CBA Event Page
Below are Cook County areas where help is still needed as of May 7th. Please contact Alan Anderson, the Cook County Compiler for the Illinois Spring Bird Count, at casresearch@comcast.net if you are interested in volunteering.
The Spring Bird Count would not be possible without the essential work of the compilers and volunteers monitoring birds. A huge thank you to everyone helping out on May 9th!
Northwest Cook County:
Bode Lake FP, Streamwood (2 areas, west and east)
North and near Northwest Cook County:
Turnbull Woods and Glencoe lakefront park
Paul Woods FP, Morton Grove
Lake Glenview, Glenview
Wayside Woods, Morton Grove
Lions Woods, Des Plaines
Northwestern Woods and Campground Road Woods, Des Plaines
Robinson Woods--Northwest – River Bend Family Picnic Area, Rosemont/Schiller Park
Memorial Park Cemetery (Skokie)
Maryhill Catholic Cemetery
Adalbert Cemetery, Niles
Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Evanston
Chicago areas:
Any Chicago lakefront parks Foster Avenue north to Loyola Park
(any or all of: Foster Beach and Dunes, Berger Park, Hartigan Beach, Chicago Park 559, Lane Beach, Osterman Beach Dunes Natural Area, Edgewater Dog Park
Robinson Woods South
Irving Park Cemetery and Acacia Park Cemetery (Irving Park Road)
Harold Washington Park (different than Washington Park)
Dan Ryan Wood Forest Preserve
Central Cook:
Portage Woods
Ottawa Trail Woods
Cermak Woods
Elmwood and St. Joseph Cemeteries, Elmwood Park
Carmel Cemetery, Hillside
Southwest Cook County:
Spears Woods
Cranberry Slough Nature Preserve
Arie Crown and Theodore Stone Forests (LaGrange Road)
Hickory Hills Woods Forest Preserve
South Cook County:
Wampum Lake, Brownell Woods, Glenwood Woods South
King’s Grove Woods (west side woods and east side grasslands)
Sauk Trail Woods FP and Lake (numerous entries)
Schubert’s Woods