photo: Jim Nachel

Things to See: Birds

Great places to see birds in the Chicago Wilderness:

The site includes a high quality fen and is a good place for bird and butterfly watching. View four ecosystems from one trail. Visitor features include foot trails, and parking. For more information call (847) 462-9789.

This prairie habitat is home to a variety of butterflies, dragonflies, and birds. It contains plants such as nodding wild onion, plant cup and aster. For more information, call (312) 742-PLAY.

This restored wetland is home to great blue herons, warblers, turtles and bullfrogs. It is a good place for bird watching, walking and nature study. Volunteer opportunities are also available. For more information call (312) 742-PLAY.

Half Day and Wright Woods offer some of southern Lake County's most scenic outdoor recreation opportunities. In spring, the bridge between Half Day and Wright Woods is a popular place to spot migrating songbirds like the yellow-throated warbler or Baltimore oriole. Later in the summer, visitors may see Eastern bluebirds, tree swallows and red-tailed hawks. For more information, call (847) 968-3207.

The preserve offers three and a half miles of hiking and cross country skiing trails, features prairies, wooded communities and wetlands, and is a good spot for bird watching. For more information, call (847) 433-6901.

Open May - August only for viewing great egrets, great blue herons, black-crowned night herons and more. Visitor features include foot trails, toilets, a visitor center and parking. For more information call (815) 727-8700.

Visitors to this site can spot birds while walking the perimeter of this fenced-in migratory bird sanctuary. This is a good spot to look for resident and migratory birds including bitterns, herons, owls, 34 species of warblers, thrushes, wood ducks, hummingbirds, hawks and many more. For more information, call (312) 742-PLAY.

This site features prairie, wetland and wooded communities. The wetland on the west end of the preserve attracts ducks and numerous wading birds, including four species of herons. The preserve also includes a bluebird trail. For more information, call (847) 482-1928.

Lyons Woods is a diverse preserve containing prairie, savanna, forest and fen habitats. Many warblers nest here, including the yellowthroat, the blue-winged warbler, and the ovenbird. In the winter, the evergreen grove near the parking lot often shelters several birds not normally seen this far south. For more information, call (847) 367-6640.

Hikers, bicyclists and horseback riders can explore more than 12 miles of trails at this preserve. This landscape features wetlands that provide habitat for Canada geese, egrets, great blue heron, wood ducks and sandhill cranes. Beaver, coyote, fox, deer hawks and other creatures also make their homes here. For more information, call (630) 933-7200.

The Middlefork Savanna preserve features a mix of oak savanna and woodlands, wet and mesic prairies, sedge meadows and marshes. It supports an impressive list of uncommon birds, butterflies and other species that require large open areas for survival. Visitor features include parking, trails, drinking water and restrooms. For more information, call (847) 367-6640.

This 15-acre bird sanctuary is located on Lake Michigan. Visitors can spot a variety of migratory and resident birds, including ducks, hawks, owls, warblers, vireos and thrushes. For more information, call (312) 747-2200.

This wooded island contains 16 acres of remnant oak savanna and open woodland. It hosts as many as 250 migratory and resident bird species and is also home to a variety of butterflies and dragonflies. For more information, call (312) 742-PLAY.

Rollins Savanna is one of Lake County's largest forest preserves with 1,225 uninterrupted acres. Scattered groves of majestic oaks, wide-open prairies and abundant wetlands offer the perfect setting for grassland birds and other wildlife. Wetlands provide food and rest stops for great blue herons, sandhill cranes, egrets and other waterfowl. Visitor features include trails, restrooms, drinking water, picnic shelters, an observation blind and a native seed nursery. For more information, call (847) 367-6640.

This is a good spot to see wading birds such as great egrets, great blue herons, double-crested cormorants and black-crowned night herons. The 43-acre preserve is located along the Grand Calumet River and contains prairie and wetland communities. Glaciers created the dune and swale landscape centuries ago. Barely 1,000 acres of this type of natural landscape survives. For more information, call (219) 879-4725.

This natural area is located on the shore of Lake Michigan. It includes a boardwalk through dunes, prairie, and meadow. This is a good place for bird watching during the spring and fall migration. For more information, call (312) 742-PLAY.

photo: Mike Green, Chicago Zoological Society

The following Chicago area organizations are dedicated to the study, conservation and appreciation of birds.

• Chicago Audubon Society
  A chapter of the National Audubon Society
  539-6793



• Bird Conservation Network
  (847) 965-1150 ext. 15



• Chicago Ornithological Society
  (312) 409-9678



• Chicagoland Bird Observatory
  (630) 243-6394



• Ducks Unlimited-Great Lakes/Atlantic Regional Office
  (734) 623-2000



• DuPage Birding Club
  (630) 540-0325



• Illinois Audubon Society
  (217) 446-5085



• Illinois Audubon Society, Fort Dearborn Chapter
  8828 Bennet, Evanston, IL 60203



• Audubon - Chicago Region
  (847) 965-1150



• Prairie Woods Audubon Society
  A Chapter of the National Audubon Society
  (847) 622-5321



• Thorn Creek Audubon Society
  A Chapter of the National Audubon Society
  (708) 799-0249

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