Book excerpt: “100 Things to Do in Chicago Before You Die”

It isn’t only humans who look to Chicago as a popular travel destination. Birds love it here too. During spring and fall migration, Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary is quite the hot spot. Birders flock to “The Magic Hedge" to catch a glimpse of the hundreds of bird species making a short stopover in Chicago.

In 2001, the city began to focus on returning the sanctuary to its native vegetation. Time, money, and effort have created luxury accommodations for our winged visitors. The seemingly wild and unkempt plantings give the area an enchanted feel. Even when the birds are hiding in the trees, their songs can be heard throughout the area.

If you’re looking for a guided bird watching experience, you’re in luck. The Chicago Ornithological Society hosts early morning walks around Lincoln Park’s North Pond every week during the fall.

Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary

Bio:
Molly Page is a freelance writer and digital strategist. She considers herself lucky because her work often feels more like play. After falling madly in love with her adopted hometown, Chicago, she wrote a book about it, 100 Things to Do in Chicago Before You Die. When she's not hard at play, she can be found snapping pictures and adding to the list of foods she’s tried that would make you gag. Shrimp heads, anyone? Follow her adventures via Twitter or Instagram @mollypg.