River Forest is taking important steps to strengthen its reputation as a bird-friendly community. The Village plans to apply for “Bird City” designation through the Audubon Council of Illinois recognizing municipalities committed to protecting bird populations.
To qualify, communities must demonstrate strong conservation practices, public education, and resident involvement. River Forest hopes to join fellow Illinois Bird Cities like Evanston, Galena, and Normal. Residents can help in simple but meaningful ways: reduce exterior lighting during migration seasons (March–June and mid-August–November), limit pesticide use, and plant native species.
World Migratory Bird Day
World Migratory Bird Day officially is held each year on the second Saturday in May. Snce 1993 World Migratory Bird Day (formerly International Migratory Bird Day) has become a primary vehicle for focusing public attention on the nearly 350 species that travel between nesting habitats in our communities and throughout North America and their wintering grounds in South and Central America, Mexico, the Caribbean, and the southern U.S.
In celebration of World Migratory Bird Day, the Village has issued a proclamation recognizing Saturday May 9th as World Migratory Bird Day in River Forest and is sponsoring events to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day in partnership with the Forest Preserve District of Cook County and the River Forest Library.
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The Big Sit: World Migratory Bird Day: Saturday, May 9th 8 am–11 am - Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day with Trailside Museum and the Village of River Forest at a relaxing and welcoming Big Sit birding event! From 8:00–11:00 am, participants of all experience levels are invited to gather in one spot and observe as many bird species as possible as they pass through during spring migration. Trailside educators will be on hand to help with identification, share fascinating facts about migratory birds, and highlight ways we can protect critical habitats—bring binoculars, curiosity, and enjoy a morning of birdsong and community along the river.
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Bird Walk @ Thatcher Woods: Tuesday, May 19th 10 am-11:30 am - Come celebrate spring migration and make World Migratory Bird Day a month-long event! Join a naturalist-guided bird walk at Thatcher Woods Forest Preserve on Tuesday, May 19, from 10 am to 11:30 am. The walk will begin at Trailside Museum of Natural History outside the museum entrance. We will pass through several of the different habitats that make up Thatcher Woods, including an ongoing "no mow" grassland restoration and forest edge, bottomland hardwood forest, and recently burned oak woodland. Limited binoculars and portable identification guides available. This event is sponsored by the River Forest Sustainability Commission.
- Sustainability Commission is partnering with the River Forest Public Library to host Book Discussion on Thursday, May 28th from 7 pm to 8 pm. This summer, the River Forest Sustainability Commission is conducting a citizen science project to monitor a migratory bird (the Common Nighthawk) that spends its summers with us. To find out what citizen science is all about, and why it’s so important for birds like the Nighthawks of River Forest, join us for a discussion of the book Citizen Science: How Ordinary People Are Changing the Face of Discovery by Caren Cooper. Learn about how you, as an ordinary citizen, can contribute to scientific knowledge. A small number of print copies will be available at the circulation desk one month before the discussion, but an ebook version is also available through hoopla. Due to limited availability in print, we recommend using hoopla. For the discussion, special attention will be paid to chapter two (on ornithology), chapter three (on entomology), and chapter seven (on conservation biology), plus the introduction and conclusion
Reducing Light Pollution
Each year, the greater Chicago region serves as a major migratory corridor for approximately eight million birds from more than 250 species that travel between seasonal habitats. The busiest migration period in the spring is from mid-March through mid-June when excessive artificial lighting can interfere with birds’ natural navigation and increase the likelihood of collisions with buildings or windows. As part of this effort, the Village Board as adopted a proclamation encourging Lights Out During Peak Bird Migration. The Village encouages residents and businesses to turn off unnecessary exterior lights and using shielded fixtures to reduce light pollution and improve nighttime visibility - while lowering energy use.
As part of these efforts, a student volunteer from Roosevelt Middle School has developed a flyer that highlights simple steps to protect birds during nighttime migrations.
Commitment to Bird Habitats and Sustainability
The Village and the Sustainability Commission are further working to make River Forest a community committed to protecting avian wildlife by promoting ways to improve bird habitats and reduce threats to birds. In addition to light pollution, window collisions are a frequent threat to migratory birds. Additionally, pesticides and toxins create hazards for birds as well as their habitats. Conversely, native plants and trees provide both food and shelter to birds, who evolved alongside plants and receive ideal nutrition that is not provided by non-native plant species.
Student volunteers at Roosevelt Middle School have once again created a flyer outlining ways residents can help the local bird population.
The NWF also has a helpful guide for creating a Bird-Friendly Habitat in your hard. This two-page document with 11 easy tips can be found here.
As the Village's Bird City efforts progress, the Sustainability Commission will be introducing a citizen science project centered around monitoring the presence of a focal species. Further details, including how you can participate, will be provided this Summer.