We need your help for the Spring Bird Count next 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 lists of places we need volunteers for, starting with the most high priority areas. 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!
Major priority areas (past volunteers unavailable this year):
Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe
Baker’s Lake and Ron Beese Park
Deer Grove East FP and Deer Grove West FP
Paul Douglas Woods FP/Grassy Ridge Meadow, Hoffman Estates
River Trail Nature Center and Allison Woods
Wolf Lake Conservation Area
Big Marsh Park, Chicago
Deadstick Pond and Heron Pond (122nd and Stony Island)
Indian Ridge Marsh Parks (north and south/Park 597)
Marian Byrnes Natural Area
Other areas that need coverage:
Bode Lake FP, Streamwood (2 areas, west and east)
Shoe Factory Road preserves (Route 59 to Higgins Road)
Barrington Conservancy (Bartlett Road N of Higgins)
Turnbull Woods and Glencoe Lakefront Park
Tower Road Beach
Any Chicago lakefront parks Foster Avenue north to Loyola Park
Linne Woods FP
Paul Woods FP
Harms Woods FP (North and South)
Glenview Woods FP
Lake Glenview
Wayside Woods
Lions Woods, Des Plaines
Northwestern Woods and Campground Road Woods
Robinson Woods
Canal Origins Park and Park 571 (Bubbly Creek)
South Shore Nature Sanctuary, Chicago
Ottawa Trail Woods
Portage Woods
Cermak Woods
Spears Woods
Cranberry Slough Nature Preserve
Arie Crown and Theodore Stone Forests (LaGrange Road)
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
Mary Bernat (mbernat@fastmail.com) can use help in her west Palos sections including around Lemont, Black Partridge Woods and trails off from Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center
Cemeteries that can attract birds:
Memorial Park Cemetery (Skokie)
Maryhill Catholic Cemetery
Adalbert Cemetery, Niles
Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Evanston
Irving Park Cemetery and Acacia Park Cemetery
Elmwood and St. Joseph Cemeteries, Elmwood Park
Carmel Cemetery, Hillside