About Us

Mission

To raise awareness of Chicagoland’s bird population and make environmental science more accessible through project-based community learning opportunities while providing technological support to local research and conservation efforts.

Vision

To raise awareness of Chicagoland’s bird population and make environmental science more accessible through project-based community learning opportunities while providing technological support to local research and conservation efforts.

Projects

  • Chicagoland Bird Migration Monitoring Network
    A growing network of Nocturnal Flight Call (NFC) recorders, launched in 2023 with foundational support from Cornell and Openlands. Now spanning 35 stations in collaboration with the University of Illinois, this project tracks migratory bird movement in across the Chicagoland region including the roof of the Willis “Sears” Tower.

  • Birds of the Windy City
    An accessible digital tool in development to make local bird sightings easy to explore. This dashboard helps newcomers and seasoned birders alike discover nearby species, microhabitats, and conservation opportunities.

  • Grosbeak NFC Monitor
    A specialized bioacoustic microphone aimed at making bioacoustic research more accessible and reliable across diverse environments.

  • Chicago Night Heron Decoys
    In collaboration with the Chicago Black-crowned Night Heron Project, Lincoln Park Zoo, and the University of Illinois, we designed and developed a decoy to encourage conspecific attraction and support nesting of this state-endangered species.

  • Urban Birding Festival: We helped organize this event, including designing the festival logo, to celebrate Chicago’s status as a top birding destination.

  • Illinois Christmas Bird Count: Serving as the state editor, we help coordinate North America’s longest-running citizen science project.

Long-Term Goals

  • Cultivate a Community of Practice: Support bird conservation through open-source technologies, maker education, and ongoing community engagement.
  • Establish an Environmental Technology Center: Create a dedicated space in Chicago for research, innovation, and the design of new tools that aid local and regional conservation efforts.
  • Expand Bird Awareness Campaigns: Develop educational materials and outreach programs that highlight the importance of bird populations, ultimately extending to broader regions across Illinois and the Chicago Wilderness Area.

People

  • J’orge Garcia – Director, Windy City Bird Lab
  • Benjamin M. Van Doren – Partner (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)
  • Sara Lipshutz & Madison Chudzik – Partners (Duke University)

Advisors

  • Sammy Cabindol – Forest Preserves of Cook County
  • Erick Masias – Chicago Birder
  • Jacob Drucker – Field Museum & University of Chicago
  • Grace Whitten – International Crane Foundation
  • Dan Meyers – Argonne National Laboratory

Fiscal Sponsor

Illinois Audubon Society
All donations are processed through Illinois Audubon Society, ensuring your contributions are fully tax-deductible.

Contact