Homewood is an Illinois Bird City

In the summer of 2024, Homewood met criteria to be recognized as a Bird City. It was the ninth municipality in the state to receive the recognition and the only one in the Chicago Southland. The designation was bestowed by the Audubon Council of Illinois for meeting criteria in several areas, including habitat, education & engagement and sustainability.

Volunteers with the village and Thorn Creek Audubon worked toward earning the recognition by “demonstrating an active and ongoing commitment to the protection and conservation of bird populations,” according to Bird City Illinois.

The goal of the Bird City program is to encourage all communities to implement sound bird-conservation practices by offering public recognition to those that succeed in enhancing the environment for birds and educating the public about the relationship between birds and people and how that contributes to a healthy community.

The Bird City program, inspired by the Arbor Foundation's Tree City USA Program, was started in 2009 by conservation and birding groups in Wisconsin. Since then, it has expanded to other states. The Audubon Council of Illinois launched its statewide program in 2022.

Birdwatching Hot Spots

In the village of Homewood, you’ll find a variety of natural habitats, including woodlands, wetlands and open fields, making it a vibrant location for birdwatching.

-      Homewood Izaak Walton Preserve is a scenic area with trails that pass through a variety of landscapes, making it ideal for bird spotting.

-      Irwin Park is a community park that provides ample green space and walking paths, popular for casual birdwatching enthusiasts.

-      Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve covers a wide range of habitats, including forests, prairies, savannas and wetlands. These rich ecosystems provide ideal opportunities for observing birds.

-      Ravisloe Country Club’s pristine grounds surrounded by lush greenery and abundant foliage make this public course a likely spot to witness a variety of birds.