From raptors and waterfowl to warblers and sandhill cranes, the Forest Preserves of Cook County are full of fall migrating birds! To encourage residents and visitors to fully immerse themselves in fall migration, the Forest Preserves is hosting a Bird the Preserves Big Month Birding Competition.

Birders of all skill levels will take to the woods, wetlands and grasslands of the Forest Preserves to see how many birds they can spot. As was the case for the 2016 Big Year, teams will adopt a preserve and compete against other preserves. During the Big Month, there will be three ways to compete:

? See the greatest number of bird species

? Have the highest percentage of bird species seen compared to the historical totals

? Have the greatest number of checklists

Interested participants can form or join a team, attend a field trip, or bird on their own. They will visit their competition preserve and log all bird sightings in the eBird app. The competition runs from October 1 to October 31, and is a great way for participants to challenge themselves and explore a local preserve, make new friends and experience what birding is all about. To learn more about the Big Month competition, visit fpdcc.com/big-month.

In addition to participating in the Bird the Preserves Big Month Birding Competition, there are numerous was ways to enjoying birding in the Forest Preserves throughout the year, including programs and guided hikes at Nature Centers, educational programs and more. For a full list of events and programs, visit fpdcc.com/birding.