Coolest Bird in Chicago Wilderness?
Longtime birder Jeff Sundberg has no doubt: "The bird that always, I mean always, brings me to a complete stop is the sandhill crane. I hear them calling and I just have to try and see them. A good day will bring thousands overhead, but even a few are a special sight (and sound)."

'Tis the Season
to be Birding?
Birders usually rev up their binoculars in the spring and fall, when roughly seven million migrating birds, of more than 300 different species, pass through Chicago Wilderness. In spring, most birds (especially males) will be decked out in their brightest mating plumage — a special treat even if you don't happen to be a female bird. But don't count out other seasons. Intrepid birders go out in the wee hours of winter to glimpse uncommon owls (which they attract by playing tapes of calls), and many birds nest here in the summer.

An easy nut for birders to crack
Nuthatches have a special valve in their brain that prevents blood from rushing into their head when they go headfirst down a tree. This allows them to get into bark crevices from above, finding insects that other birds such as brown creepers can't get, while at the same time preventing them from passing out and falling to the ground.

Birding Trails —
From Texas to Oregon, tourism boards and birding groups have been mapping out birding trails, routes from one great bird site to another. Chicago is getting in on the action: Two new guides due out soon, one covering Chicago Wilderness (Chicago Department of Environment) and the other concentrating on the Chicago lakefront (Chicago Park District), will feature detailed maps of the best spots for birding, what to see where, and what else to do along the way.

Big Days and
Big Sits —
Every year, more people join in big birding events all over the region. Try HawkWatch (as many as 100 raptors of ten or more species in a few hours, all from a lawn chair), the Christmas Bird Count, Birdwatching Opens, and the Chicago Audubon Society Birdathon, among others. These are great events for beginners to steep themselves in the excitement of birding culture and learn from the experts.

Bird Banding —
Aptly described as "too cool to be adequately described," banding puts actual birds in your actual hand. Careful volunteers can join conservation groups in pulling live birds from nets, taking quick scientific measurements, placing a light band around one leg, and releasing them. The best part is that you'll be helping scientists save these species.