The Chainlink

Gauging interest - birding by bike

So, along with being obsessed with cycling, I'm also a birder, albeit not a super hardcore life-lister-type birder. I've been toying with the idea of getting some like-minded cycling folks together for a ride out through some birding hotspots to maybe see what we can see, what with Fall migration getting underway. Anybody else up for something like this? All you'd need would be a bike, binoculars, and the bird guide of your choice.

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Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on September 25, 2012 at 6:21am

I just read that the Shedd Aquarium built a garden on the lake side that is intended to attract birds on the fall migration.  I could manage that :-).

Permalink Reply by Anne B. on September 25, 2012 at 8:03am

This would be so cool! I'm really busy these days but would try and make it to this. 

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on September 25, 2012 at 9:08am

For a moment I thought this was going to be post #4 of that Wall Street Journal type of bicyclist article...

Birding is fun.  When I was in Peru we spent a week in the Amazon and one of the other guests was a professional ornithologist on vacation (studied hummingbirds) which was really fun to have as a resource.  He was pointing out all sorts of different and rare birds all of the time wherever we went.  My wife would always ask him when something flew by on the river, "what is THAT one?"  and he'd usually reply, "that's ANOTHER Kingfisher again..."

Permalink Reply by Steven E Gross on September 25, 2012 at 9:45am

I've been birding all week by bike.  The first day I walked with it at the magic hedge.  After that I brought a lock.  Great birding right now at the hedge. Today I didn't bird, instead I just kept riding.

Permalink Reply by Anne B. on September 25, 2012 at 10:07am

I think there's a rack right by the western entrance to the hedge FYI. On the side near the harbor.  

Permalink Reply by Gene Tenner on September 25, 2012 at 11:48am

As a closeted newbie birder (thanks to House Sparrows at My House) I am coming out. In addition to the Hedge at Montrose Point the Bill Jarvis Bird Sanctuary is jsut south of the Waveland Clock Tower and even has an observation deck. The McCormick Bird Sanctuary in Burnham Park has 6 acres and is just south of McCormick Place. Another is at 63rd Street Beach, and still one more is at Osterman Beach just north of Hollywood.  Seems like enough for a good ride for birding along the lakefront.

Permalink Reply by Zoetrope on September 26, 2012 at 1:14pm

Birding is something I've wanted to get at least a little familiar with for a while now.  I'd be down for this for sure.  

Permalink Reply by Crazy David 84 Furlongs on September 26, 2012 at 1:16pm

It gets busy on weekends, but the North Park Nature center is pretty good as well.   You are more likely to see other Woodland creatures, but its close in and rather nice.  (Essentially Bryn Mawr and Pulaski (or is it Cicero))

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on September 26, 2012 at 4:30pm

The entrance is at the stoplight on Pulaski between Bryn Mawr and Peterson.

David crZven said:

It gets busy on weekends, but the North Park Nature center is pretty good as well.   You are more likely to see other Woodland creatures, but its close in and rather nice.  (Essentially Bryn Mawr and Pulaski (or is it Cicero))

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on September 26, 2012 at 4:34pm

Living near the far southwest corner of the city, I'm fortunate to live on the migration path for sandhill cranes between Wisconsin (Horicon Marsh and thereabouts) and Florida.  I expect to be seeing them before too long.

In the spring, warmer than average weather worked to my advantage.  Since I was spending more time gardening and out on my bike, I happened to be outdoors when many flocks were passing through, so I saw a lot more of them than in a typical year.

Permalink Reply by william on September 27, 2012 at 8:47pm
I'd like to get into birding. Recommendation for a good book of this area?
Permalink Reply by Anne B. on September 27, 2012 at 9:18pm

Hey William, I just use a beat up national birding book that I got at Salvation Army. Maybe check out the offerings at the library and then pick based off of that? The Sibley guides are always good. 

Anyone know of good websites about local bird sightings, birding photos, etc? I got spoiled living in the NW- lots of good birding blogs and resources out there but I'm less familiar with stuff here. Also, if anyone knows of any blue heron colonies accessible for viewing by bike, let me know. 

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