areas where volunteers are still needed to help in Cook County for May 9th Spring Bird Count

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ALAN ANDERSON

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May 2, 2026, 4:34:22 PMMay 2
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The Illinois Spring Bird Count this year is next Saturday, May 9th.
 
See the first link below for lists for state county compilers, count history, past results, volunteer forms and much more.
 
 
I’ve already heard from many birders who have helped on past Spring Bird counts in Cook County areas.  Many can help again in the same areas they have done in the past.  But a number of birders who have helped in past years have various conflicts where they are unable to help this year.
 
So there are still a number of really good birding areas that we don't any have current volunteers to visit those areas, to contribute what birds are at those areas.
 
Below are two sets of locations in Cook County, where we could still use volunteers to help survey the bird species, and abundance, on count day.
 
The first set are those areas that are very important bird migration areas, and that past volunteers are unable to help visit on May 9th this year:
 
Major Cook Co. SBC Priority areas (past volunteers unavailable this year):
 
  • Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe
  • Baker’s Lake and Ron Beese Park
  • Deer Grove East FP and Deer Grove West FP
  • Paul Douglas Woods FP/Grassy Ridge Meadow, Hoffman Estates
  • River Trail Nature Center and Allison Woods
  • Wolf Lake Conservation Area
  • Big Marsh Park, Chicago
  • Deadstick Pond and Heron Pond (122nd and Stony Island)
  • Indian Ridge Marsh Parks (north and south/Park 597)
  • Marian Byrnes Natural Area
  • Washington Park, Chicago
The second section contains a lot of areas that are a bit lower on the priority list. A number of them have been covered in the past, but aren't 'spoken for' yet this year.
 
And a few of them (mainly far south Cook Co.) have been covered only once in a while but not often.
 
Less priority, but could use volunteers to cover:
  • Bode Lake FP, Streamwood (2 areas, west and east)
  • Shoe Factory Road preserves (Route 59 to Higgins Road
  • Barrington Conservancy (Bartlett Road N of Higgins)
  • Turnbull Woods and Glencoe lakefront park
  • Tower Road Beach
  • Any Chicago lakefront parks Foster Avenue north to Loyola Park
  • Linne Woods FP
  • Paul Woods FP
  • Harms Woods FP (North and South)
  • Glenview Woods FP
  • Lake Glenview
  • Wayside Woods
  • Lions Woods, Des Plaines
  • Northwestern Woods and Campground Road Woods
  • Robinson Woods
  • Canal Origins Park and Park 571 (Bubbly Creek)
  • South Shore Nature Sanctuary, Chicago
  • Ottawa Trail Woods
  • Portage Woods
  • Cermak Woods
  • Spears Woods
  • Cranberry Slough Nature Preserve
  • Arie Crown and Theodore Stone Forests (LaGrange Road)
  • Wampum Lake, Brownell Woods, Glenwood Woods South
  • King’s Grove Woods (west side woods and east side grasslands)
  • Sauk Trail Woods FP and Lake (numerous entries)
  • Schubert’s Woods
  • Mary Bernat (mbe...@fastmail.com) can use help in her west Palos sections including around Lemont, Black Partridge Woods and trails off from Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center
Cemeteries that can attract birds:
  • Memorial Park Cemetery (Skokie)
  • Maryhill Catholic Cemetery
  • Adalbert Cemetery, Niles
  • Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Evanston
  • Irving Park Cemetery and Acacia Park Cemetery
  • Elmwood and St. Joseph Cemeteries, Elmwood Park
  • Carmel Cemetery, Hillside
 
If you are able to volunteer to cover any of these areas, please contact me via email, so I can keep track of, and follow up as needed.
 
How to help, if you are able to:  Enter your findings into an eBird Hotspot is the best way to record data – and I will be able to see your results later (let me know the checklist number or send me the report after ‘emailing yourself’.   If you don't use eBird, you can use the form found here:
 
 
and fill out and mail to me* by May 25th if possible.
 
 
Thank you to all who have helped for many years, and new volunteers also!
 
Sincerely,   Alan
 
 
Alan Anderson, Cook County Compiler for Illinois Spring Bird Count, May 9th.
 
 
*1633 Howard Avenue, Des Plaines, 60018
 
note: the information above can also now be seen on the Chicago Bird Alliance website at:
 
 
and priority areas at:
 
 
 
 
 
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