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Birds

A tree swallow shows off its iridescent blue back.
June’s Colorful Marvels: South-Wintering Songbirds Nest and Nurture Young in the Midwest

Jun 03, 2024 ● By Sheryl DeVore

While many of the migratory songbirds that pass through in April and May are breeding farther north, some have remained to raise young in the Chicago region.

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Palm Warbler
County Board Passes Groundbreaking, Bird-Friendly Building Design Policy

Jun 03, 2024

The primary aim of the policy is to mitigate hazards for birds posed by the building environment, particularly from collisions with glass surfaces.

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June 2024 cover of Natural Awakenings magazine, Chicago edition, with two chairs sitting on the beach with the sun setting.
Natural Awakenings Chicago ~ June 2024

May 31, 2024

We’re excited to share the JUNE issue of Natural Awakenings Chicago with you, featuring a focus on Men’s Health Month, but as always, designed to nourish everyone’s mind, body and spirit. Whether it’s tips on building healthy muscle, supporting emotional well-being, learning about summer birds in Chicago or trying a seasonal recipe using fresh farmers market produce, we hope you find inspiration within these pages.

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Baltimore Oriole.
World Migratory Bird Day: Celebrating Nature’s Great Journeys

Apr 29, 2024

Pollination, seed dispersal and pest control are just some of the reasons people from around the world have a shared responsibility for conservation and good stewardship of available resources.

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A bluebird rests on a sumac tree.
Winter Food For Birds Berries, Nuts and Seeds are Available in Yards and Natural Areas

Oct 31, 2023 ● By Sheryl DeVore

In fall, a cornucopia of berries and nuts are available outdoors to feed wild creatures, but beginning in December, the outdoor banquet may seem to mostly have disappeared.

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Jane Seitz, executive director of the Illinois Raptor Center, shows off a turkey vulture to a group of children and residents who came out to learn more about birds of prey as part of a Wild about Wildlife presentation hosted by the center and Ameren Illinois.
Illinois Raptor Center and Ameren to Provide Education

Aug 07, 2023

The IRC provides an invaluable service to the community, not only by retrieving and rehabbing injured birds, but also by providing education about wildlife and the environment.

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Bird City Network logo.
Bird City Network Expands Avian Conservation

Jun 30, 2023

The Bird City Network serves as a collaborative platform designed to promote sustainable urban planning, create bird-friendly communities and raise awareness about the vital role people play in supporting bird populations.

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Birdbath a bronze sculpture of a bird in a garden.
Plan, Plant and Enjoy a Bird-Friendly Garden in the Midwest

Mar 31, 2023 ● By Melinda Myers

Seeing and listening to birds has been shown to boost our spirits. These visitors also help manage a variety of insect pests, as 96 percent of North American terrestrial birds consume insects and feed them to their young. Garden expert Melinda Myers tells us how to plant a bird friendly garden in your backyard.

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Redpoll bird
Great Backyard Bird Count Helps Birds and People

Jan 31, 2023 ● By Sheryl DeVore

The bird count, which anyone can do either in their yard or a chosen spot, runs from February 17 to 20 this year.

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Bald Eagle
Learn About Birds of Prey at Will County Eagle Watch

Dec 30, 2022

Now that winter’s colder temperatures have arrived, eagles will be gathering near the open waters at the Four Rivers Environmental Education Center, in Channahon.

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Prairie Falcon
Birdwatchers Are Stumped

Sep 14, 2022

The Magic Stump, a new documentary film short, features a Coles County tree stump that has attracted at least a half-dozen species of wintering birds of prey, including two rare prairie falcons. It will make its Chicago debut 6 p.m., October 2

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A cartoon drawing of a bird in flight.
Volunteers Needed for Annual Chicago Area June Bird Count

May 06, 2022

For the past 20 years, these surveys have provided vital information for understanding the population trends of the key species. Most importantly, this detailed data is used by forest preserve districts and other land managers to identify their properties’ most critical preservation and restoration needs.

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Balrimore Oriole in a tree.
Will County Forest Preserve District Hosts Spring Migration Celebration

Apr 29, 2022

Participants can learn the secrets of these birds’ extraordinary journeys during guided hikes, family activities and presentations.

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Baker’s Lake rookery
Northeast Illinois Rookeries Show Real Lives of Local Herons, Egrets and Cormorants

Apr 29, 2022 ● By Sheryl DeVore

Senior wildlife biologist Chris Anchor has been studying rookeries—places where egrets, herons and cormorants nest communally—for decades. Like no other species in the region, these birds offer humans a chance to watch them court, build nests and raise young, says writer Sheryl De Vore.

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The male northern cardinal sings to attract a mate in late January and February.
Birdsong Begins in Mid-Winter

Jan 31, 2022 ● By Sheryl DeVore

Birdsong returns to the Chicago region in late January and February, even when it’s cold and snowy and the deciduous trees are leafless. Cardinals and other birds let us know that spring is on the way, says Sheryl DeVore.

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March 2025 Issue

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March 2025 Natural Awakenings Chicago cover
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