Wings Over the Lagoon: Humboldt Park Welcomes Spring's First Migrating Birds — and a Growing Flock of Birders

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Humboldt Park · March 22, 2026

Spring is quietly announcing itself at Humboldt Park — and if you know where to look, the lagoon is already alive with it. On March 15, nineteen neighbors and nature lovers gathered at the park's iconic Boathouse Gallery for a Sunday Social Bird Walk hosted by the Chicago Ornithological Society, led by COS Board Member Chris Holden. Even a passing rain shower couldn't dampen the excitement: the group spotted 23 species in a single morning, including several early migrants making their seasonal return to the West Side.

The walk kicked off with a scene straight out of a nature documentary — a bold Canada Goose flew up from the lagoon to perch on the boathouse railing just feet from the group and honked its arrival. Holden explained that geese were already staking out breeding sites and defending territory, a sure sign that the seasons are turning. The morning's star sighting was a Tree Swallow performing aerial acrobatics over the lagoon — one of the earliest migrant species to return to the Chicago area each spring.

With the Chicago Park District's spring programming at the Humboldt Park field house launching the week of March 30 — including new Monday and Friday sessions for all ages — there's never been a better time to reconnect with the 197-acre green gem at the heart of your neighborhood. Whether you're a seasoned birder or just curious about what's flying overhead, the lagoon trail is open and welcoming. Follow the Chicago Ornithological Society at chicagobirder.org to find the next community bird walk near you.

Sources:
1. https://www.chicagobirder.org/blog/2026/3/16/field-trip-recap-sunday-social
2. https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/humboldt-alexander-von-park