Pinned
Bob Dolgan
@twibchicago.com
· Apr 21
Thanks very much @neilsteinberg.bsky.social for featuring our birding outing in his column today. Getting out to some of the lesser-known mudflats in the Chicago suburbs was a ton of fun! What can you do in these times? Go birding. 🪶
This year hasn't been about the rarest birds or the getting the best photos. Here's a brief look back!
www.twibchicago.com/p/six-birds-...
www.twibchicago.com/p/six-birds-...
December 29, 2025 at 3:41 PM
This year hasn't been about the rarest birds or the getting the best photos. Here's a brief look back!
www.twibchicago.com/p/six-birds-...
www.twibchicago.com/p/six-birds-...
How it started, how it’s going. First photo from a Christmas bird count two weeks ago (-1 F), second from this morning’s count (55 F and a downpour).
December 28, 2025 at 9:46 PM
How it started, how it’s going. First photo from a Christmas bird count two weeks ago (-1 F), second from this morning’s count (55 F and a downpour).
One of my avian highlights of the year, filming young Great Blue Herons in a nest in walking distance of home. Forgive the quality—filmed with an iPhone through a scope—birds were about 300’ away but a neat experience. 🪶
December 23, 2025 at 8:26 PM
One of my avian highlights of the year, filming young Great Blue Herons in a nest in walking distance of home. Forgive the quality—filmed with an iPhone through a scope—birds were about 300’ away but a neat experience. 🪶
A Cooper’s Hawk took out a Rock Pigeon on my street a few days ago. Murder bird! 🪶
December 13, 2025 at 12:09 AM
A Cooper’s Hawk took out a Rock Pigeon on my street a few days ago. Murder bird! 🪶
In addition to being a novelist, yes, he is a birder (as anyone who's read Freedom can attest)!
NEWS: The Newberry will honor Jonathan Franzen, acclaimed author and winner of the National Book Award, with its annual Newberry Library Award in recognition of Franzen's achievement in the humanities. The award celebration will take place on April 10 at the Drake.
www.newberry.org/news/jonatha...
www.newberry.org/news/jonatha...
Jonathan Franzen to Receive the Newberry Library Award
www.newberry.org
December 12, 2025 at 4:46 PM
In addition to being a novelist, yes, he is a birder (as anyone who's read Freedom can attest)!
Today's post is an appreciation of artist and Chicago icon Tony Fitzpatrick. Tony and I weren’t great friends, and I’ll be the first to say I didn’t really know him that well. I only benefited from his generosity and absorbing some of his world view.
www.twibchicago.com/p/the-birdma... 🪶
www.twibchicago.com/p/the-birdma... 🪶
The Birdman of Chicago
A tribute to Tony Fitzpatrick.
www.twibchicago.com
December 1, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Today's post is an appreciation of artist and Chicago icon Tony Fitzpatrick. Tony and I weren’t great friends, and I’ll be the first to say I didn’t really know him that well. I only benefited from his generosity and absorbing some of his world view.
www.twibchicago.com/p/the-birdma... 🪶
www.twibchicago.com/p/the-birdma... 🪶
Amazing how many of these still exist in some form or another!
Re-visiting this early 20th century postcard--and some nearby Chicago hotels--on the busiest travel weekend of the year. From our Curt Teich Postcard Collection. #historysky #chicago @pastpostcard.bsky.social
November 26, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Amazing how many of these still exist in some form or another!
It was fun catching with maybe the only local birding columnist in the Chicago area recently. Jeff's written for the Daily Herald for 20-plus years and has a new book available.
www.twibchicago.com/p/a-conversa...
www.twibchicago.com/p/a-conversa...
A conversation with...Jeff Reiter
New book features The Best of Words on Birds.
www.twibchicago.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:00 PM
It was fun catching with maybe the only local birding columnist in the Chicago area recently. Jeff's written for the Daily Herald for 20-plus years and has a new book available.
www.twibchicago.com/p/a-conversa...
www.twibchicago.com/p/a-conversa...
Me with Ben Hecht’s Oscar last week @newberrylibrary.bsky.social. He won it as screenwriter for 1927’s Underworld. Yes, he used it as a doorstop. #filmsky
November 20, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Me with Ben Hecht’s Oscar last week @newberrylibrary.bsky.social. He won it as screenwriter for 1927’s Underworld. Yes, he used it as a doorstop. #filmsky
“It was a national tragedy and one that bound the Great Lakes together. The ship was funded by a company from Wisconsin, built in Michigan, laden with taconite from Minnesota, and staffed by a crew from Ohio. The troubadour who told its story was from Ontario.” www.twibchicago.com/p/in-the-roo...
'In the rooms of her ice-water mansion'
The Edmund Fitzgerald, Gordon Lightfoot, and the Great Lakes.
www.twibchicago.com
November 11, 2025 at 12:51 AM
“It was a national tragedy and one that bound the Great Lakes together. The ship was funded by a company from Wisconsin, built in Michigan, laden with taconite from Minnesota, and staffed by a crew from Ohio. The troubadour who told its story was from Ontario.” www.twibchicago.com/p/in-the-roo...
Who doesn’t want to curl up for a nap on a gloomy fall day? 🌱 🪴
November 8, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Who doesn’t want to curl up for a nap on a gloomy fall day? 🌱 🪴
Always be birding and you might see something new! These House Sparrows were rummaging and scratching through some leaves just like a White-throated Sparrow might do. Not sure what they were finding - worms? seeds? - but it must have been delicious. On a very urban corner here in town. 🦉
November 5, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Always be birding and you might see something new! These House Sparrows were rummaging and scratching through some leaves just like a White-throated Sparrow might do. Not sure what they were finding - worms? seeds? - but it must have been delicious. On a very urban corner here in town. 🦉
Asters still in bloom at Montrose Beach Dunes, Chicago, last week. 🌱 🪴
November 5, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Asters still in bloom at Montrose Beach Dunes, Chicago, last week. 🌱 🪴
A long time before Monty and Rose, Chicago had a very different connection with plovers. Introducing Plover Joe. www.twibchicago.com/p/plover-joe
Plover Joe
“He may be Italian or Corsican, but he’s a Napoleon in his art.”
www.twibchicago.com
November 3, 2025 at 10:54 PM
A long time before Monty and Rose, Chicago had a very different connection with plovers. Introducing Plover Joe. www.twibchicago.com/p/plover-joe
I believe this was Odell, IL, and you can hear I-55 in the background.
Throwback to a very foggy day on Halloween three years ago. I was passing through a small town and there was a merry go round spinning and spinning and no one in sight. 😱
October 31, 2025 at 11:46 PM
I believe this was Odell, IL, and you can hear I-55 in the background.
Throwback to a very foggy day on Halloween three years ago. I was passing through a small town and there was a merry go round spinning and spinning and no one in sight. 😱
October 31, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Throwback to a very foggy day on Halloween three years ago. I was passing through a small town and there was a merry go round spinning and spinning and no one in sight. 😱
Spotted cucumber beetle. 🪲 🪴 🌱
October 31, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Spotted cucumber beetle. 🪲 🪴 🌱
Trying out a new lens on a backyard marigold. 🪴 🌱
October 27, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Trying out a new lens on a backyard marigold. 🪴 🌱
Then there’s Ben Johnson, the sprinter! 🇨🇦
Plus there was Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson who is an Olympic medalist from 1984, despite him being stripped of the gold in 1988. He’s a good example of there is no such thing as a former Olympian.
Ben Jonson was “the second greatest playwright” after Shakespeare, and Ben Johnson is the new Bears head coach who has everyone excited. Just to clear up any confusion 👇
September 4, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Then there’s Ben Johnson, the sprinter! 🇨🇦
Ben Jonson was “the second greatest playwright” after Shakespeare, and Ben Johnson is the new Bears head coach who has everyone excited. Just to clear up any confusion 👇
September 4, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Ben Jonson was “the second greatest playwright” after Shakespeare, and Ben Johnson is the new Bears head coach who has everyone excited. Just to clear up any confusion 👇
Goodbye to the Damen Silos and a connection to a previous era in Chicago and the Midwest. Always a great place to go birding, around Bubbly Creek, Canalport Riverwalk and more. #canadagoose
July 19, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Goodbye to the Damen Silos and a connection to a previous era in Chicago and the Midwest. Always a great place to go birding, around Bubbly Creek, Canalport Riverwalk and more. #canadagoose
Thank you WGN and Spotlight Chicago for the opportunity to talk about the Newberry and the Winging It exhibition today. We covered a lot including Monty and Rose, the prairie chicken (should be Illinois state bird) and protecting endangered species. Thanks to hosts Sarah Jindra and Ji Suk Yi.
July 11, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Thank you WGN and Spotlight Chicago for the opportunity to talk about the Newberry and the Winging It exhibition today. We covered a lot including Monty and Rose, the prairie chicken (should be Illinois state bird) and protecting endangered species. Thanks to hosts Sarah Jindra and Ji Suk Yi.
A surprising visitor to the Newberry last week! A young peregrine falcon spent more than a day around the parking lot and the 2nd floor. Chicago Peregrine Program said there was nothing to worry about with Lizzy, which is the name of this young female. She was just out testing her wings. 🪶
July 3, 2025 at 2:15 PM
A surprising visitor to the Newberry last week! A young peregrine falcon spent more than a day around the parking lot and the 2nd floor. Chicago Peregrine Program said there was nothing to worry about with Lizzy, which is the name of this young female. She was just out testing her wings. 🪶
Hi all, the Winging It exhibition I’ve curated opens tomorrow and I’m looking forward to sharing it with the world. I’ll be in the gallery as much as possible tomorrow and Saturday from about 10am-4pm. I hope you have a chance to visit, runs through September 27 at the Newberry Library.
June 19, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Hi all, the Winging It exhibition I’ve curated opens tomorrow and I’m looking forward to sharing it with the world. I’ll be in the gallery as much as possible tomorrow and Saturday from about 10am-4pm. I hope you have a chance to visit, runs through September 27 at the Newberry Library.
Handsome house sparrow portrait.
House sparrow, mourning dove and... huh, that's a weird bird
May 3, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Handsome house sparrow portrait.