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Illinois' unique geographic location combined with its geologic past creates conditions ripe for a rich and diverse landscape, and thus, a rich and diverse bird life. The state spans 378 miles, and as a result, bird life varies greatly from the top to the bottom of the state. Northern Illinois attracts irruptive winter species such as Northern Shrikes and Snowy Owls, while southern Illinois, with its cypress swamps and hilly terrain, is reminiscent of a Louisiana bayou. A natural boundary between the moist forests in the eastern United States and the drier prairies of the West passes through Illinois. Situated along one of the nation's major flyways, the Mississippi, Illinois is bounded on the west by the Mississippi River, the east by Lake Michigan and the Wabash River, and the south by the Ohio River, perfect entry and exit points for migratory and breeding birds. Illinois attracts massive numbers of migrating waterfowl, shorebirds (waders); loons (divers); raptors, and passerines including an astounding passage of warblers in spring and fall. The state also hosts one of the largest wintering populations of Bald Eagles in the United States. These American icons winter along the state`s rivers, and their breeding numbers are rising. Illinois once harboured expansive grasslands. Today, less than one percent of Illinois' native prairies exist. But people are working to preserve them and protect breeding grassland species including Bobolinks, Grasshopper and Henslow's Sparrows, Dickcissels, Upland Sandpipers, and Eastern and Western Meadowlarks Scattered among the prairies are wetlands in the north and prairie potholes in the central part of Illinois. The state-endangered Black-crowned Night-Heron, Pied-billed Grebe, and other birds confined to marshes still find places to nest in Illinois. Growing among the prairies, too, are woodlands, where Wood Thrushes and Scarlet Tanagers breed. The patchwork nature of Illinois's woods today, due to development, has created a major problem for breeding forest birds, which are being parasitised by Brown-headed Cowbirds, which lay their eggs in other birds' nests. West-central Illinois once contained a collage of sloughs, wetlands, and woods where millions of migratory waterfowl and other birds fed or rested. Restoration has returned some of the natural floodplains within the Mississippi Flyway along the Illinois River. Lake Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge is designated as an internationally important shorebird migratory stopover. This region attracts thousands of shorebirds annually including dowitchers, phalaropes, yellowlegs, sandpipers & plovers, as well as many duck species. The southernmost part of the state remained ice-free during Illinois' last ice age. Instead, geological action beneath the earth uplifted the ancient seabed to create the Shawnee highlands, what is now the Shawnee National Forest. Here, bald cypress swamps attract herons, egrets and Pileated Woodpeckers. Prothontoary Warblers nest in cavity holes overlooking the rivers. High in the trees, are breeding Northern Parula, Yellow-throated and Cerulean Warblers. River bottomlands provide habitat for breeding Louisiana Waterthrushes and Acadian Flycatchers. Some places in the southern part of the state have attracted 19 species of breeding warblers. Because of its variety in climate, ecosystem, and geological landscape, Illinois is growing in importance as a birding state, one where rare birds can be protected if humans will help. Sheryl De Vore is the Chief Editor of Meadowlark, A Journal of Illinois Birds, and author of Birding Illinois, published in March 2000 by Falcon Press, and Northern Flights: Tracking the Birds and Birders of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, published by Mountain Press in June 1999. |
Number of bird species: 439
Birding Illinois
Sheryl De Vore Series: FALCON GUIDE SERIES 368 pages Falcon Press 2000ISBN: 1560446897
Buy this book from NHBS.com
Birds of Illinois
Sheryl de Vore, Steven D Bailey and Gregory Kennedy 376 pages Lone Pine Publishing due 2007ISBN: 1551053799
Buy this book from NHBS.com
Southern Illinois Birds
An Annotated List and Site Guide Douglas W Robinson 480 pages, illus. Southern Illinois University Press 1996ISBN: 0809320320
Buy this book from NHBS.com
State Bird
Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis
Audubon Society in Illinois
WebsiteInteractive lists of societies etc...
Champaign County Audubon Society
WebsiteNational Audubon is carrying out several campaigns, with regular newsletters coming to each chapter of the Audubon Society. The most recent newsletter for the Wildlife Refuge campaign reminds us how important our national wildlife refuges are for conserving our wildlife heritage, yet despite this importance they continue to be vulnerable to numerous threats. The closest National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is at Chautauqua on the Illinois River, with 6 more being on the Mississippi River and one at Crab Orchard Lake...
Chicago Ornithological Society
WebsiteThe Chicago Ornithological Society, or COS, is a modern birding club that promotes the scientific and educational aspects of ornithology in the greater Chicago, Illinois area. Many COS members are serious birders, but the club`s programs, field trips and birding classes and workshops appeal to and educate a broad spectrum of bird lovers, from the casual backyard feeder watcher to the fanatical lister. Birders of all levels participate in and enjoy COS`s activities.
Chicago Audubon Society
WebsiteA new URL with very much more information...
Decatur Audubon Society
WebsiteDecatur (Illinois) Audubon Society is a chapter of the National Audubon Society. We are located in Macon County, in the heart of Illinois farmland. Decatur is known as the soybean capital of the world, but in spite of being surrounded by cornfields and soybean fields, this region does have natural areas in which to bird. The Sangamon River flows through the center of Macon County, creating havens for birds and other wildlife along its tree-lined corridor. Within Macon County and adjoining counties there are many parks, several conservation areas and even a few nature preserves. Trails and greenways are being expanded and will connect many of these natural areas.
DuPage Birding Club
WebsiteThe basic purpose of the club shall be to promote birding as an avocation, and to educate its members and the general public. This purpose shall be served by meetings and other means of communication, by group field experiences, and by projects designed to enhance opportunities for birding in the west suburban Chicago area...
Evanston North Shore Bird Club
WebsiteAn organisation devoted to wild birds and their habitats. It is committed to sharing this devotion with anyone interested in the natural world.
Illinois Audubon Society
WebsiteThe Illinois Audubon Society was organized as an independent, state-wide, educational and scientific organization, incorporated April 10, 1897, by the State of Illinois. The Society has no connection with the National Audubon Society, which was formed several years later...
Illinois Ornithological Records Committee
WebsiteThe Illinois Ornithological Records Committee (IORC); founded in 1985, evaluates the evidence for records of birds that are rare or unusual in Illinois. As a standing committee of the Illinois Ornithological Society, IORC strives to improve the quality of submitted ornithological field data in Illinois both through example and dissemination of pertinent information and techniques.
Illinois Ornithological Society
WebsiteIOS is dedicated to promoting an increased awareness of birds in Illinois. IOS is for everyone! Founded in 1992, the organization has grown to number more than 700 amateurs and professionals interested in birds and birding in Illinois.
John Wesley Powell Audubon Society
WebsiteWecome to the John Wesley Powell Audubon web site. JWP Audubon is a chapter of the National Audubon Society and is an affiliate of Illinois Audubon. Our chapter area includes Bloomington/Normal, Illinois; surrounding McLean County; and parts of adjacent central Illinois communities. We take our chapter name from John Wesley Powell; 19th Century explorer, geologist, naturalist, anthropologist, ethnologist and teacher...
Lake County Audubon Society
WebsiteThe Mission of the Lake County Audubon Society is Education, Conservation and Restoration of natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, and other wildlife and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity...
Nature Conservancy in Illinois
WebsiteAnother excellent NC site this one with a changing photo and a map to click to take you to very good info on different (p)reserves...
North Central Illinois Ornithological Society
WebsiteThe Rockford Bird Club [aka North Central Illinois Ornithological Society] website was created to help connect area birders with each other to increase the enjoyment of birding in Northern Illinois. Here you will find information about area birding events, recent bird sightings...
Northwest Illinois Audubon Society
WebsiteThe Northwest Illinois Audubon Society is dedicated to the cause of good stewardship of planet Earth. The society's strongest commitments are in the areas of environmental education, habitat preservation, pollution control, wildlife protection and resource conservation...
Peoria Audubon
WebsiteFounded in 1930, Peoria Audubon is a chapter of the National Audubon Society with memberships in the Audubon Council of Illinois and the Peoria Academy of Sciences. It is also an affiliate of the Illinois Audubon Society. All National Audubon Society members are automatically members of the Peoria Audubon Society. Peoria Audubon Society serves the Central Illinois River Valley as a source for environmental education, bird and butterfly monitoring and conservation advocacy and action.
Prairie Woods Audubon Society
Facebook PageThe mission of the Prairie Woods Audubon Society, as a chapter of the National Audubon Society, is to conserve the environment, to preserve wildlife and natural habitats, and to provide opportunities for education, nature appreciation, and fellowship...
Rockford Bird Club
WebsiteThe North Central Illinois Ornithological Society [aka Rockford Bird Club] website was created to help connect area birders with each other to increase the enjoyment of birding in Northern Illinois. Here you will find information about area birding events, recent bird sightings...
Sinnissippi Audubon Society
InformationPO Box 7544, Rockford, IL 61126
Thorn Creek Audubon Society
WebsiteThe mission of the Thorn Creek Audubon Society is to promote the enjoyment and appreciation of birds, to educate adults and children concerning our natural environment, topreserve, protect, and restore wildlife habitat, and to create awareness of local conservation issues...
Vermillion County Audubon Society
WebsiteThe Vermilion County Audubon Society is members of the community dedicated to promoting environmental awareness. We work to preserve and restore natural habitats for birds and other wildlife. We support conservation and education programs locally, nationally, and internationally...
Illinois Raptor Center
ObservatorySatellite View
The Illinois Raptor Center is a non-profit wildlife and environmental education center located near Decatur in central Illinois.
Draper Museum of Natural History
WebsiteOrnithology - One of the best known of the Academy collections, consisting of 12,000 skins and over 1,000 mounted specimens. An important addition in 1965 was the donation of 3,600 specimens from S S Gregory, which includes ivory-billed woodpeckers and Carolina parakeets. In all, 583 species of North American birds are represented. Fully 30% of the birds were collected before 1900, including important Illinois specimens from Robert Kennicott and Benjamin T. Gault. There is also a valuable collection of nearly 1,000 Alaskan skins.
Field Museum (Chicago)
http://fm1.fieldmuseum.org/birds/The Field Museum was founded to house the biological and anthropological collections assembled for the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893. These objects form the core of the Museum's collections which have grown through world-wide expeditions, exchange, purchase, and gifts to more than twenty million specimens. The collections form the foundation of the Museum's exhibition, research and education programs, which are further informed by a world-class natural history library of more than 250,000 volumes. There are interesting collections of books relating to the history of Ornithology in Columbia.
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
http://www.naturemuseum.org/index.php?id=86Nature. It's closer than you think. In fact, it's just steps away from Lake Shore Drive in Chicago's chic Lincoln Park. Here, you'll find a natural oasis, conveniently located right here in the city. Discover the mysteries of nature – up close...
Lake Calumet Wetlands
WebsiteSatellite View
The Calumet region, covering southeast Chicago, some south suburbs, and northwest Indiana, is a place to experience nature like nowhere else in Chicago. Despite past environmental abuse and neglect, a variety of wildlife, including rare birds and flowers, has not given up on the Calumet Wetlands...
Lake Renwick Preserve - Copley Nature Park
WebsiteSatellite View
Located on U.S. Route 30, Copley Nature Park is a small, 3-acre preserve that provides year-round viewing into Lake Renwick Heron Rookery Nature Preserve. Fixed viewing scopes allow for up-close bird watching from a completely different vantage point than is seen from the Lake Renwick Heron Rookery viewing area...
Midewin Tallgrass Prairie
WebsiteSatellite View
The tall-grass prairie supported abundant wildlife including bison, elk, wolves, black bears, and hundreds of species of birds...
This section sponsored by: 
2000 [May] - Nikolas Haass - Chicago Area
Reportmore a checklist with sites
2001 [June] - Lynea Hinchman
ReportWe began with a special trip to Calumet Park on the far southside of Chicago. This stop gave us a chance to bird at a more aesthetically pleasing lakefront site. As I had anticipated, migrants were almost non-existent. However, we did manage to find the following noteworthy species: Chimney Swift, Eastern Kingbird, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Philadelphia Vireo, White-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, and American Redstart.
This section sponsored by:
Birding Pal
InformationLocal birders willing to show visiting birders around their area...
Hidden Lake B&B
AccommodationNestled amongst twelve acres of woods and gardens, Hidden Lake Bed & Breakfast welcomes you to a show put on by feeding birds...
Sassafras Ridge Retreat
AccommodationPeace and quiet at the end of a country lane. Birds, deer, raccoons, wild turkeys, and stressed-out travelers find refuge in our Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary. Swing in the antique wicker swing in our garden room and let the world go by...
IBET
Mailing ListTo subscribe to list:Q4BIRDS@aol.com
subscription is manual, so send a note asking to be put on the IBET list and include Your Name and e-mail address
Mailing List – Discussion Group - Illinois Birders Exchanging Thoughts. Discussion of birds in Illinois...
Illinois Birder's Forum
ForumA Forum for Illinois Birders…
Birdfreak Birding BLOG
BlogBirdfreak's mission is to promote the well-being and enjoyment of the world’s approximately 10,000 species of birds by encouraging young people to partake in the great natural discovery that is birding...
Birding is NOT a crime
BlogA blog about birders and birding, from a decidedly pro-birder perspective...other subjects may follow. Kicking ass and taking names (and keeping lists)since July 17, 2005...
Chet Gresham - Earth Household
BlogMy blog is fairly diverse but focuses mainly on birding, science news, and poetry...
My Avian Friends
BlogLearning to bird in Chicago!
Walk with Me
BlogWalk with me on my photographic journey through the Illinois River Valley…
Birds of Fermilab
WebsiteThese pages present the results of an ongoing survey of the bird life found on the 6,800 acre site of the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory which is located just west of Chicago, Illinois, USA. The diverse habitat to be found on Fermilab`s 6800 acres and the relative lack of disturbance combine to make Fermilab one of the best bird-watching locations in the entire Chicago area. The list of birds seen at Fermilab boasts 252 species including 83 confirmed breeding species and a further 7 which have probably bred there but for which actual confirmation has not yet been obtained. A variety of habitats are found on Fermilab grounds and include upland forest, flood plain woods, oak savannah, restored prairie, grasslands, pasture, croplands, fence rows, scrub, and a variety of lakes, streams and wetlands.
Birds of the Great Lakes Region
WebsiteAn excellent site with links to lots of others around the great lakes. Information on the areas rarities and endangered birds as well as lots more.
Carlyle Lake Bird Report
WebsiteThe lake is mostly frozen. Large rafts of goldeneye and mergansers can be found in the thin strips of open water. On Wednesday, a Least Sandpiper and a Killdeer were seen standing on the ice near the Dam West Boat Launch...
Checklist
WebsiteChicago and Illinois Net-birding
WebsiteUrs Geiser's definitive site. It is just a totally excellent and incredibly comprehensive site covering just about every aspect of birds and birding in Illinois State and, in particular, Chicago...
Chicago Bird Collision Monitors Site
WebsiteHelping Migratory Birds Safely Navigate the Loop…
Gadwall Birding Page
WebsiteThis page, sponsored by The Gadwall Group, is a collection of information about birding in the Chicago area, as well as information that is a little more global in scope. This guide has been created to assist those visiting Chicago in finding some of the best places to bird. It is NOT comprehensive. The content is based strictly on our personal experiences and lore that we`ve learned. We`ve used available published material to supplement the enormous gaps in our knowledge. Some content was prepared by others and is indicated.
Hyde Park Parakeets
WebsiteWelcome to the Hyde Park Parakeet Page! My goal is to promote knowledge of this beautiful alien species residing in our neighbourhood, and hopefully to allow others to experience the birds on the net and also in person.
Illinois Natural History Survey
WebsiteThis site contains a set of profiles and distribution maps of bird species occurring in Illinois, along with a few other selected species. This site is presented jointly by the Illinois Natural History Survey and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Natural Editions
WebsiteWe write books, articles, and chapters; edit magazines and articles; perform research; take photos; present nature programs; support conservation; and watch birds. Join us to learn, share, enjoy, and connect about nature and the environment in the midwestern United States...
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This site was last updated on Sunday, 29th January 2012.
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