BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG
Here are some crazy numbers about LaBagh Woods. Birders have recorded more than 220 bird species (according to eBird) in only 80 acres of natural areas and 80 acres of picnic groves at this beloved nature spot (Entrance: N. Cicero Avenue, north of W. Foster Avenue, Chicago, IL 60630). Even crazier is that this relatively tiny area is bordered by I-94 to the west, busy Foster Avenue to the south, and the Sauganash neighborhood to the north. Not exactly Lamar Valley in Yellowstone or a David Attenborough–narrated nature paradise. Happy 100th birthday to him by the way!) But this birding mecca is both a testament to the wide range of habitats that exist near and along the North Branch of the Chicago River and the paucity of protected natural areas on the North Side. (With much of the protected land found along the Des Plaines and Chicago Rivers.)
Bird species sighted at LaBagh include American bitterns, hooded warblers, indigo buntings, Tennessee warblers, belted kingfishers, grebes, Canadian warblers, blue gray gnat catchers, Baltimore orioles, black crowned night herons, great horned owls, red-bellied woodpeckers, downy woodpeckers, red-headed woodpeckers, pileated woodpeckers, sandhill cranes, turkey vultures, and ospreys.
In addition to birds, you can view many other types of wildlife at LaBagh Woods. Friends of the Chicago River reports that 20 mammal species (including mink, coyote, beaver, and fox), 30 species of butterflies, 22 types of dragonflies, four turtle species, and two types of snakes are found at the preserve. There are also 200–300 native plant species and 70–90 mushroom species.
A few weeks ago, I took a short hike at LaBagh on dirt trails that traveled through the woods to the Chicago River. In just 10 or so minutes, I saw three deer, many robins and sparrows, and one wood duck. I also saw large clumps of Virginia bluebells, some spring beauty, and one or two trout lily. Unfortunately, I also saw the beginnings of considerable growths of lesser celandine (a nasty invasive plant). But volunteers are hard at work restoring this area, removing buckthorn, honeysuckle, and other invasives and planting native plants and trees. During your visit, you’ll see many native plantings that are surrounded by protective wire enclosures (to keep them away from hungry deer). Click here and here to volunteer at LaBagh.
Last week, I returned to LaBagh to view its well-known oxbow slough, which is a stagnant body of water that formed when a wide bend of a river (the North Branch of the Chicago River in this instance) is cut off from the main channel. At times, LaBagh’s oxbow slough is filled with water and home to many birds, frogs, turtles, and other creatures. In drier times, the wildlife and plants diminish. The slough reminded me of the wetlands of southern Illinois (minus the bald cypress). As soon as I arrived at the slough, I saw a single big blue heron poised in the water waiting for an unsuspecting fish. Big blue herons are such beautiful birds. They’re the largest herons in Illinois, and adults can reach 42 to 52 inches in height. I also saw a family of wood ducks—also very stunning. Audubon reports that the wood duck “population declined seriously during the late 19th century because of hunting and loss of nesting sites. Its recovery to healthy numbers was an early triumph of wildlife management.” It’s nice to hear some good news in a time in which our environment is under attack by the current presidential administration and, in many instances, corporate America.
On both visits, I hiked (more like “rambled”) on the dirt trails that wind their way through forests of swamp white, red, and bur oaks; maples; and cottonwoods and along the river. For such a small area, you’ll encounter a wide range of ecosystems—including the river and its floodplain, the swampy slough, woodlands, savannas, and sedge meadows. The sounds of the highway and busy streets, as well as airplanes heading to and from O’Hare, are constant at this preserve, but that’s the cost of visiting a beautiful nature area in the third-largest city in the United States.
Interesting Facts About LaBagh Woods
A broad-billed hummingbird—an avian species that is typically found in Mexico and in a small area of southern New Mexico and Arizona—was spotted at LaBagh Woods in 2021. Another rare bird sighting was that of the Swainson’s Warbler, which is only found in the southern United States and farther south.
The oldest recorded great blue heron was sighted in Texas, according to AllAboutBirds.org. It was at least 24 years, 6 months old.
LaBagh Woods was named for Ella LaBagh (1856–1945), a member of the Irving Park Woman’s Club who worked to establish forest preserves on Chicago’s North Side. The Chicago Tribune reported that “while riding her bicycle along the Chicago River’s north branch in 1901, LaBagh observed lumbermen cutting down trees. Her anger at the sight turned her into a tireless conservation campaigner.”
At LaBagh Woods, you can also park your car, jump on your bike, and enter the North Branch Trail System, which offers paved and unpaved trails along approximately 20 miles of the North Branch of the Chicago River. Forest Preserves of Cook County calls the North Branch Trail System (which you can take all the way north to the Chicago Botanic Garden) “a premier biking route in the northern suburbs.” Click here for a map of the trail system.
Final Thoughts:
I’m lucky to live only 2.5 miles from LaBagh Woods, but I don’t visit it as regularly as I should given my proximity. Writing this blog and my Nature in Chicagoland book (and its next edition) takes me all over the six-county Chicago metropolitan area and beyond, and it’s easy to overlook hyperlocal areas. But my recent visits to LaBagh Woods remind that amazing nature spots can be found in often-forgotten or overlooked locations. I plan to visit LaBagh more frequently than I’ve done in the past.
Are there hidden gems like LaBagh in your area? If so, check them out and show them some love. And tell me about your favorite places, too, at andy morkes @ gmail.com.
Before You Visit:
There are four picnic groves at LaBagh Woods. Click here for a map.
I started my hikes by parking at Picnic Grove #1 (near picnic shelter #1) and then walked toward the river and slough. You can enter areas of the preserve through the other picnic groves, but I like the Picnic Grove #1 option the best. Also, I often see people birding in the actual picnic groves and near the edges of the wooded areas of the preserves. And some visitors park at the Irene C. Hernandez Family Picnic Grove on the far southeastern edge of the preserve. The grove can be accessed from Foster Avenue.
Open year-round, sunrise to sunset.
Dogs allowed (on-leash only).
Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are good options for winter fun at LaBagh.
Indoor bathroom(s) are open by Memorial Day in spring through Labor Day in the fall, weather permitting.
Visit the following Facebook page for some great photos of the preserve: My Years Birding at LaBagh Woods.
Nearby Nature Preserves:
West Ridge Nature Preserve: An Oasis in Chicago
North Park Village Nature Center: An Oasis in the City
Try “The Ted” if You’re Looking for Some Nature in the Time of COVID-19
Copyright (text, except quoted material): © Andrew Morkes
Copyright (photos): © Andrew Morkes; except the following animal photos:
American White Pelican: © Ryan Moehring, US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
Black-crowned Night Heron: © Sandra Uecker, USFWS
Nashville Warbler: © David True, USFWS
Scarlet Tanager: © Michael Schraam, USFWS
Coyote: © Tom Koerner, USFWS
Looking for some other great nature destinations in Chicagoland? If so, check out my book, Nature in Chicagoland: More Than 120 Fantastic Nature Destinations That You Must Visit. It features amazing destinations in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Click on the title to learn more. The book has 306 pages and 210+ photos and is only $19.99.
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ABOUT ANDREW MORKES
I’ve been a writer and editor for more than 30 years. I’m the founder of College & Career Press (2002); the author and publisher of The Morkes Report: College and Career Planning Trends blog; and the author and publisher of Hot Health Care Careers: 30 Occupations With Fast Growth and Many New Job Openings; Nontraditional Careers for Women and Men: More Than 30 Great Jobs for Women and Men With Apprenticeships Through PhDs; They Teach That in College!?: A Resource Guide to More Than 100 Interesting College Majors, which was selected as one of the best books of the year by the library journal Voice of Youth Advocates; and other titles. They Teach That in College!? provides more information on environmental- and sustainability-related majors such as Ecotourism, Range Management, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Built Environment, Sustainability Studies, and Sustainable Agriculture/Organic Farming. I also served as a member of the parent advisory board at my son’s school for five years.
In addition to these publications, I’ve written more than 80 books about careers for other publishing and media companies including Infobase (such as the venerable Encyclopedia of Careers & Vocational Guidance, College Readiness: The Vault Guide for High School Juniors and Seniors, the Vault Career Guide to Consulting, and many volumes in the Careers in Focus, Discovering Careers, What Can I Do Now?!, and Career Skills Library series), Lerner Publishing, and Mason Crest (including those in the Careers in the Building Trades, Hands-On Careers, Social Media Today, Woman in STEM Careers, Getting Started, and Cool Careers in Science series).
Here’s a list of the environmental- and clean energy-focused titles that I’ve written or co-written:
- Nature in Chicagoland: More Than 120 Fantastic Nature Destinations That You Must Visit
- Wind Turbine Technicians (Great Careers Without a Bachelor’s Degree series)
- Environmental Scientists (Cool Careers in Science series)
- Renewable Energy Careers (Cool Careers in Science series)
- Environment (Getting Started series)
- Solar Power Technicians (Careers in Infrastructure series)
- Women in Environmental Sciences (Women in STEM Careers)
Articles about my work have appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Practical Homeschooling, and other publications. My photographs of musicians, artists, and the natural world have been published in several books. My poetry has been published in Cadence, Wisconsin Review, Poetry Motel, Strong Coffee, and Mid-America Review. As an amateur artist, I’m pleased to say that four of my paintings were included in the 2025 Beverly Art Walk.
