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Bill Jarvis Migratory Bird Sanctuary, one of several Chicago Park District bird sanctuaries, sits along the city's lakefront and provides eight acres of essential woodland and wetland habitat for migratory and resident birds. Each spring and summer, millions of migratory birds spot over in Chicago to rest and refuel on their route from northern breeding grounds to southern wintering grounds.

More than 150 different species of birds have been seen at the sanctuary, including herons, bitterns, wood ducks, snipes, hawks, yellow-billed cuckoos, hummingbirds, thrushes, vireos, warblers, native sparrows, and many more. Trees, shrubs, and herbaceous vegetation of the sanctuary support the diverse array of insects, fruit, and seed that birds feed on. Also, the sanctuary supports many small mammals such as rabbit, raccoon, opossum, and the occasional fox or coyote.

Although a fence prohibits visitors from entering the sanctuary itself, a viewing platform and peripheral wood-chip path provide ample viewing opportunities for bird watching. Additionally, during the summer months, visitors can see purple martins flying around and bringing food to their young at the six adjacent purple martin houses. At dusk, look for bats entering the newly installed bat house near the viewing platform.

A dedicated group of community volunteers helps maintain the ecological health of the site by regularly collecting and scattering native seed, removing invasive species, planting native species, and monitoring vegetation, birds, and insects. For a list of upcoming volunteer days, please check the Chicago Park District Web site.

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