Openlands and Windy City Bird Lab are excited to share an important update about the future of Birds in My Neighborhood. Beginning in Spring 2026, the program will transition to Windy City Bird Lab, sponsored by the Illinois Audubon Society.
Windy City Bird Lab’s mission is to raise awareness of Chicagoland’s bird populations and to make environmental science more accessible through project-based and community learning. As Birds in My Neighborhood enters its next chapter, this mission-aligned home will allow the program to grow and thrive.
Since 2013, Birds in My Neighborhood has helped more than 16,000 students across our region explore nature in their own neighborhoods. Many of you will recognize J’orge Garcia, Founder and Director of Windy City Bird Lab and former Birds in My Neighborhood Coordinator at Openlands. With his experience, enthusiasm, and dedication to community science, J’orge and his team are poised to lead this beloved program forward.
“This transition reflects Openlands long history of incubating programs that grow into strong and independent organizations. Birds in My Neighborhood follows in the footsteps of initiatives like the Alliance for the Great Lakes and Friends of the Chicago River. We are proud to see BIMN continue its journey with an organization that is fully dedicated to birding and volunteer engagement,” said Daniella Pereira, Chief Operating Officer at Openlands.
“Connecting people to the birds and biodiversity in their own neighborhoods is at the heart of Windy City Bird Lab’s mission, and the Birds in My Neighborhood program will allow us to bring that to all ages. The program complements our other urban birding initiatives focused on hyper-local bird populations as they were inspired by Birds in My Neighborhood. This includes the Chicagoland Bird Migration Monitoring Network, Celebrate Urban Birds outings, and our role as Regional Editor for the Christmas Bird Counts in Illinois,” said J’orge Garcia. “Having served as the program’s coordinator at Openlands, I saw firsthand how our school visits transform a student’s relationship with their environment. Now, as stewards of the program, we can create direct pathways for young people to discover careers in conservation and contribute directly to ornithological research.”
With Birds in My Neighborhood now partnered with a new organization, Openlands can continue to focus on supporting and advancing bird conservation across the region. This includes land protection, policy advocacy for bird-friendly design standards, and ongoing habitat restoration work across the region, including at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie.
What Happens Next
- The program transition will be complete by the beginning of January 2026. School selection for the first-year pilot is now underway. Capacity is limited as the Windy City Bird Lab team lays the groundwork for the program, so the Lab is unable to accept additional schools this year. Schools interested in staying informed and receiving updates can register here.
- Volunteers are at the heart of Birds in My Neighborhood. If you are interested in continuing with the program in its new home, please complete this interest form.
- Volunteers are also invited to attend a Zoom Q&A session on Wednesday, January 21 from 4:00-5:00 pm with Windy City Bird Lab and Openlands, to learn more about updated logistics and what to expect this year.
Thank you for your enthusiasm, curiosity, and commitment to connecting young people with the natural world. Together, we have built a strong foundation for Birds in My Neighborhood and we are excited to see the impact soar to new heights.