World Migratory Bird Day Paddles Celebrate Chicago’s Birds

Friends of the Chicago River celebrated World Migratory Bird Day on October 3 with our annual paddles, bringing participants together to explore the river system and observe the many bird species that call these waterways home and those that pass through during fall migration. Chicago sits along one of the major bird migratory routes in North America, the Mississippi Flyway, so during spring and fall there are hundreds of species flying through the region. Our rivers and habitats provide key points of rest and food for millions of individual birds along their journeys south for the winter.

Heavy rains earlier in the week required a few changes to the plans. The North Branch paddle moved from Linne Woods Forest Preserve to the Skokie Lagoons, while the Calumet paddle at Kickapoo Woods Forest Preserve changed to a walk at Whistler Woods Forest Preserve. Despite the changes, participants had a great opportunity to get outside, explore these important natural areas, and see migratory and resident birds. The events were made possible with support from the Forest Preserves of Cook County.

Volunteer birding experts from the Chicago Ornithological Society joined both groups to help identify and track the birds spotted along the way. Their expertise makes these events even more meaningful and we are so grateful for their partnership.

The two groups each recorded an impressive 26 species. Seventeen species were spotted at both sites, including bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, great egrets and three species of woodpeckers. Each location also had nine species unique to their site, showing just how much bird diversity can be found across the Chicago-Calumet River system.

For birders who want to compare the sightings, the eBird lists from both events offer a closer look at the species observed at each location.