A mixed-sparrow group in Lincoln Park

New World sparrows (bird species in the family Emberizidae) can often be difficult to identify. The distinguishing features on these small, brown birds can be difficult to notice, and many of these birds don’t stay still long enough for you to get a good look at them with binoculars.

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Zoo researchers Kelvin Limbrick and Mason Fidino conduct their daily bird count.

To see how urbanization has affected Lincoln Park’s birds, zoo scientists are doing daily counts to compare today’s species with those surveyed more than 100 years ago. In his latest post, President and CEO Kevin Bell shares their latest findings, including sightings at Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo.

Zoo scientists are building specialty nest boxes to encourage black-capped chickadees to nest at Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo.

It’s been almost three years since the creation of Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park. The native plant community has become well established, creating natural habitat for many different species right here in the heart of Chicago.

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Wildlife sightings at Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo slow down in winter, but the zoo's urban wildlife biologists still survey the site daily...and make some interesting finds. Here are a couple highlights shared by Coordinator of Wildlife Management Mason Fidino.

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A Cooper's hawk in flight at Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo. Photo by Mason Fidino.

Many bird species are adapted to urban environments. Pigeons, house sparrows and robins exploit niches within urban ecosystems and are more abundant because of it. In some aspects of life these urban adapters may be a bit of an irritation—leaving droppings on your freshly cleaned car or nesting near the window next to your bedroom.

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