Doug Stotz (Douglas Stotz) with a gull specimen collection from the Field Museum.

Yesterday, an annual cold-weather tradition & as usual DBC member reunion: the IOS Gull Frolic at North Point Marina! Multiple lovely Iceland Gulls, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Horned Grebe, Ruddy Duck, Bufflehead, & Red-breasted Merg were highlights in the harbor. #WinterBirding

This really is a great group of people for this board; it includes my colleague from Field Museum, Laura Milkert @lmmilkert. This marks a huge important step forward for native gardening in Chicago.

Species diversity in golf courses and cemeteries inside the city are actually almost the same as forest preserves outside the city, whereas city parks have roughly half the species. Did you know we have flying squirrels in Chicago? I’ll give you one guess where you can find them.

Today's Chicago bird of the day is the Burrowing Owl. Way off track its normal range, last seen in Chicago in 2012.

Female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. She started in Central America, Mexico, or the Caribbean, made it all the way to Chicago, and was needlessly killed by a Chicago window. The 4 to 6 babies she was to have will never be born.

Wasn't really thinking about swifts the way you are, but saw my 1st of spring just now over my house And you're right, it makes me happy.

BREAKING: Imani is back at Montrose!!! 📸: Matthew Dolkart

Had our first yard cicada yesterday. But many more have come out in the last 24 hours. It has begun.

Great front page story in Chicago Sun-Times by Dale Bowman about the Chicago Piping Plovers and what they have done more generally for conservation chicago.suntimes.com/outdoors/2024/…

It doesn't seem like fall to us, but it does to the birds. In less than two weeks, we have found over 100 injured and over 150 dead birds in downtown Chicago. Wednesday was a particularly difficult day, with 70 rescues and over 100 dead birds.

September 1, 2024 marks the 110th anniversary of Martha’s death, the day on which the most abundant bird in North America and the world. Author Joel Greenberg, of "A Feathered River across the Sky: The Passenger Flight To Extinction". #BirdCallsRadio birdcallsradio.com/episode-098-jo…

Sunday night birds were gifted helpful winds. Millions took to the wing, eager to begin their long journey home. Unfortunately, Chicago stood in their way. We rescued 80+ injured and salvaged 160+ dead birds Monday morning. It doesn't have to be this way. Mayor Brandon Johnson

This along with changes to the lighting regime at McCormick Place has the potential to be a huge game-changer. In the first month of fall migration, the number of birds dying at McCormick has been reduced by more than 90% from last fall. Thank you, McCormick for taking action.

Led a field trip today for Illinois Audubon to Dixon Waterfowl Refuge The Wetlands Initiative . 65 bird species including 13 ducks. No. Pintail most common with 1500. Am. Black Duck and Blue-winged Teal most interesting. Best birds were 8 Eurasian Tree Sparrows and a Peregrine Falcon

The Chi Botanic Garden & Chi Park District are at the forefront of research into the best lawn alternatives. Oooh, the mowers could go silent! Chicago Botanic Garden Chicago ParkDistrict #RethinkingLawns Becky Barak Dr. Lauren Umek @chase_prairie news.wttw.com/2024/11/11/tur… news.wttw.com/2024/11/11/tur…

Changes in lighting & putting a film with a pattern of little dots on windows at McCormick Place in Chicago reduced bird mortality from window collisions by more than 95% this fall. Huge victory at previously very dangerous building. This should be emulated at other buildings.

Bird-Friendly Glass at McCormick Place is Working as Deadly Collisions Drop by 95%, Data Shows | Chicago News | WTTW news.wttw.com/2025/01/09/bir…

New York Times article documenting the huge reduction in bird Strikes at Chicago's McCormick Place with a window film put in place. No excuse for other buildings not to do the same thing nytimes.com/2025/05/20/cli…

Nice story by Patty Wetli on 2 Snowy Owls dazzling birders and non-birders alike all week on pier at Chicago's Montrose Beach. I saw them yesterday with 75 of my closest friends. People have been well-behaved for the most part. news.wttw.com/2025/11/21/sno…