Identifying more than 250 top sites for birding within a 65-mile radius from downtown Chicago, this useful guide provides maps, directions, and other information essential for discovering the birds of the area in their natural habitats. The most thorough guide of its kind, it covers nineteen counties of the greater Chicago area.

A Birder's Guide to the Chicago Region includes detailed descriptions of local habitats and maps that show where to find birds in nearby Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan, as well as Illinois. Here readers can discover little-known sites where unusual species may congregate, in addition to reliable favorite spots, such as Chicago's "magic hedge". Equally valuable are the suggestions for locating birds during each month of the year and a checklist of the species that can be found near Chicago.

While providing a wealth of practical information, A Birder's Guide to the Chicago Region is also enriched with insightful accounts of the natural history and ecology of particular areas. We learn about the rote of geology and the region's rivers -- such as the Calumet, the Des Plaines, the Illinois, and the Fox -- in creating a natural environment that attracts various species of wildlife and birds. Descriptions of the nature centers in the area will enhance readers' appreciation of their environment.

An essential guide for either beginning or experienced birders, A Birder's Guide to the Chicago Region will appeal to anyone who appreciates nature and wants to learn more about the natural history, ecology, and especially the birds of the Chicago area.