Micole Birdwalk

Get a bird’s-eye-view of the beauty of Lincoln Park and the Chicago skyline.

Time of Year: April-November
Location: Level 3

Located on the top floor of the Nature Museum building, the Micole Birdwalk overlooks the Deb Lahey Nature Trails, North Pond, and the Nature Museum Ravine while providing an uninterrupted view of downtown Chicago’s famous skyline.

Equipped with binocular stations and benches, visitors can get a tree-top view of local wildlife, enjoy the beauty of the park, and even get a glimpse of local bird species. Informative panels lining the railing give helpful bird identification tips, sustainable energy practices, bird call examples, and more. Try out your bird observation skills, and more from the Micole Birdwalk.

Access to this exhibit is included with Museum admission.

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A Closer Look

The Micole Birdwalk is situated above a few of the various bird habitats located around the museum building. While each habitat is unique in its features, they each have to be able to provide a few essentials for the birds that life there, including shelter and food.

Let’s take a closer look at a few of the birds you might spot, the habitats they call home, and the places they spend their time!

In The Air

All of the native bird species in Illinois can fly, but only a few are true aerial acrobats. Some of these species will hunt, chase, catch, and consume their prey in flight, and some even bathe in flight! Here are a few high-flying species you might spot in the air.

Untitled 1024 1024 px — American kestrel

Untitled 1024 1024 px 1 — Peregrine falcon

In The Trees

Looking out into the trees and shrubs around the Museum, you’ll likely see birds rustling in the leaves. Some of them might be taking a quick break, ducking away from a predator, or guarding a nest. There are also birds that spend almost all of their time in the trees because it’s where they find their food. Here are a few species you might spot in the trees.

Untitled 1024 1024 px 14 — Cedar waxwing

Untitled 1024 1024 px 15 — Downy woodpecker

Untitled 1024 1024 px 16 — Black-capped chickadee

In The Water

Looking out over North Pond, you might see many different birds in the water. Some rest on the water because it deters the vast majority of predators. There are also birds that find most or all of their food in the water. These are just a few birds you might spot on the water.

By The Water

Numerous bird species find their food in water without actually swimming in it! Wading birds walk around the water’s edge hunting for seeds, aquatic invertebrates, and small fish. Others stand motionless in the shallows, stalking fish and amphibians that they snatch with their spear-like beaks. You might spot these bird species near the water.

Untitled 1024 1024 px 10 — Great blue heron

Untitled 1024 1024 px 9 — Black-crowned night heron

In The Prairie

From food to housing, the prairie plants growing around the Museum provide all of the necessary resources for many birds. Fruits, seeds, and nectar are plentiful thanks to the wide variety of plants in the area. Comfortable nesting materials, like grasses and fluffy milkweed seeds, are also found in abundance. Some of the more secretive birds use the tall grasses for cover as they hop around at ground level. Others choose the highest vantage point in the area to defend their territory. When temperatures start to fall, the prairie continues to be indispensable to birds by providing thick ground cover and protection from the cold.

Untitled 1024 1024 px 4 — Red-winged blackbird

Untitled 1024 1024 px 5 — American goldfinch

Untitled 1024 1024 px 6 — Dark-eyed junco

Keep Exploring

Surrounded by trees, the Micole Birdwalk is an incredible location to do some birdwatching. But how do you start birdwatching? And what are some common birds you might spot from that rooftop perch? Check out this episode of Curious By Nature, featuring birder Geoff Williamson, to find out!