Rockford was named one of Illinois’s first three “Bird Cities” in late December 2021 by the Audubon Council of Illinois. The city earned this designation because it met the six qualifications of:
- Habitat creation, protection, and monitoring
- Limiting or removing threats to birds
- Education and inclusion
- Focusing on climate and sustainability
- Hosting World Migratory Bird Day events
- Agreeing to a Bird City Resolution
We have compiled a list of ways to embrace our local birds to celebrate this major accomplishment!
- Visit the Audobon Mural Project art installations
- Try decorating a tree with treats for the birds
- Watch birds from the library at Severson Dells Nature Center
- Become a bluebird monitor for the Forest Preserves of Winnebago County
- Try patch birding in your yard or a local park
- Watch the Peregrine Falcon Next Cam that live streams a falcon nest on the Rockford Register News Tower
- Volunteer with the Sand Bluff Bird Observatory
- Watch for water birds at Nygren Wetland Preserve
- Join the Birders Nygren Wetland Preserve Facebook group to keep up to date on what birds are visiting Nygren Wetlands
- Join the Rockford Birders Facebook group to see what other birders are spotting
- Visit some spots along the Rock River Birding Trail
- Download the Merlin Bird ID app to help identify birds
- Contribute data for better understanding of our local bird populations by participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count, February 18-21
Please let us know if you have any other suggestions for this list. Happy birding!
