Calling all shutterbugs and bird enthusiasts! We want you to capture the vibrant avian life of Chicago through your lens and participate in the inaugural "Chicago Birds Photography Contest." Photographers of all experience levels are invited to compete with winning submissions eligible for eternal bragging rights and cash prizes!
The importance of Black Americans in conservation and environmentalism is GREATLY underrepresented and it requires some digging to learn about the significant past and current Black contributors and advocates of birding, conservation, and environmental justice.
This time of year, owls become the focus of many nature lovers. The presence of humans can be stressful for owls, so it’s important to understand more about owls and follow simple guidelines to ensure their safety.
The importance of Black Americans in conservation and environmentalism is GREATLY underrepresented and it requires some digging to learn about the significant past and current Black contributors and advocates of birding, conservation, and environmental justice.
Common Tern and Forster’s Tern are subtle birds that create a lot of confusion for birders, especially in places like Chicago where we see them both in small numbers during migration. The field marks for these species are subtle and variable, however even when people put in time to learn the field marks, they may struggle if they don’t know what to prioritize.
Pesticides are used to kill unwanted pests - insects and rodents, mainly, and they’re used everywhere: on farms, in our homes, lawns and gardens. Tragically, pesticides don’t just stop at their intended targets - often they kill birds (and bees and butterflies and other animals), resulting in at least 67 million bird deaths every year in the U.S. There are safer alternatives.
Every year, up to a billion birds are killed by crashing into windows, greatly reducing already decreasing overall bird populations. It’s a terrible death, killing birds in their prime as they migrate to start new families in their breeding grounds. We can prevent many of these deaths by turning off lights at night during migration, and making windows less reflective.
Bird populations are dropping drastically and much of this is the result of habitat loss. Native plants are a primary source of habitat for birds; they supply food, shelter, and nesting for raising their young. Learn how you can help birds survive and thrive by planting natives in your yard, patio, or window box.
Carbon emissions and climate change are affecting birds in many negative ways, reducing food and habitat, and placing many bird species into a precarious struggle for survival. Reducing your carbon footprint is complex and sometimes difficult, but challenging yourself to make a few changes can be empowering.
Winter Birding in The Windy City: Some may feel as though winter birdwatching is lackluster in comparison to spring or fall, in the absence of all the migrating species and their flashy colors or interesting songs. But, it actually may be a perfect time for other beginners to develop and practice their bird identification skills.
Coffee, burgers, and toilet paper - they don’t seem like they have anything to do with birds, but they do: they all require land to grow, and so do birds! This month we’re going to explain how these common products are produced and how their production often hurts birds. Most importantly, we’re going to give you bird-friendly alternatives.
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