Location:
Lakefront Trail
Chicago, IL 60616
Located Within:
Burnham (Daniel) Park
Features:
Prairie, Woodland, ADA Path, Birding Area, Nature Trail
Is Accessible
Note:
An accessible wildlife overlook is present on the east side of the natural area.
Hours Notes
Natural areas are open from dawn to dusk daily.
Description
The McCormick Bird Sanctuary is one of several areas that make up the Burnham Wildlife Corridor, a 100-acre ribbon of urban wilderness running through Burnham Park. The bird sanctuary, composed of 9 acres of native prairie and woodland, features a created prairie atop of an underground parking garage, which can be viewed from an overlook off the Lakefront Trail. Crushed gravel and stone paths wind from the overlook through a woodland, past a small pond, and into an open prairie.
The sanctuary provides an integral resting ground to thousands of birds during the migratory season including songbirds, such as kinglets, warblers and thrushes, that migrate through the night to avoid hawks and other predatory birds, which migrate during the day. Chicago is a stopover between their Canadian breeding grounds and winter habitat in Central and South America.
The prairie includes a variety of plants such as the prairie grasses little bluestem (Schizachryium scoparium), sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), and prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis). Prairies like this once covered the drier upland areas of the Chicago region, although this one covers an underground parking garage. Outside the fenced prairie, drifts of native hazelnut, spicebush, serviceberry, and groves of trees provide valuable cover for wildlife. Throughout the growing season, native grasses and wildflowers provide a succession of colorful blooms. Many blossoms attract insects, and a variety of resident and migrating birds feed on the insects and seeds.
Help keep wildlife wild, safe, and healthy by following posted signage and Natural Areas Rules and Regulations. For questions regarding Chicago Park District Natural Areas, email nature@chicagoparkdistrict.com.