National Bird Day: Spotlight on Illinois

• Illinois
• Animals

Jan. 5 is National Bird Day and Illinois has good reason to celebrate. Though some may take these feathery fauna for granted, birds are a key part of Illinois’ environment and deserve recognition.

As of 2024 there are 457 bird species in Illinois, of which 29 bird species are on the state threatened and endangered list. Birds make up several key niches in the ecosystem and are an important part of the food chain. Illinois has taken steps to protect her bird species with programs like the Illinois Beach State Park Shoreline Stabilization project on Lake Michigan. As a part of protecting the stability of the shoreline ecosystem, the project creates new potential nesting sites for three types of coastal bird species: the piping plover, common tern and Caspian tern. 

But it’s not just people from northern Illinois who appreciate birds. There are bird watching groups in the Metro East that flock to the Mississippi River every year to view bald eagles on the limestone bluffs. Hundreds of American Bald Eagles come through the Alton/Grafton area every winter and can be seen during special eagle watching programs.

Finally, National Bird Day cannot be complete without mention of the Illinois state bird, the cardinal. The males’ bright red plumage gives them away and they are often the first to visit feeders in the morning. Illinois was the first of seven states to adopt the cardinal as their state bird and it can be seen commonly statewide. The cardinal was selected by Illinois schoolchildren from a list of potential candidates in 1929.

Restaurant week is back!

Kick off the new year by exploring flavors of food scenes in cities across Illinois this month.

With hundreds of options from casual eateries to fine dining establishments, Illinois restaurant week celebrations offer options for every taste and budget and provide the opportunity to find your new local favorite.

Aurora Restaurant Week

Aurora will be hosting its first-ever restaurant week, highlighting the city’s rapidly growing and diverse culinary scene. Aurora Restaurant Week will run from Jan. 21 through Feb. 4. View a list of participating restaurants here. 

Champaign-Urbana Area Restaurant Week

The 9^th annual Champaign-Urbana Area Restaurant Week will be held Jan. 24 through Feb. 1. The nine-day celebration will feature restaurants serving cuisines from across the world. View a list of participating restaurants here.

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Our Top 10 articles

I Like Illinois is a one stop shop to see all the great things Illinois has to offer. Regularly sharing artists, inventions or activities, we have enjoyed highlighting what we like about Illinois.

As 2024 comes to an end, we wanted to share our top 10 articles! From cicadas to artists, check out what you loved about Illinois this year:

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Snow parks in Illinois

Though not as snowy as states like Wisconsin and Colorado, Illinois is still a northern state and the ground turns white several times a year. Whether you’re with your friends or family, Illinois has many snow parks to enjoy during the wintery months. Whether you’re into sledding, tubing, or throwing snowballs, this list of snow parks is sure to fill your winter recreation needs:

Alpine Hills Adventure Park (Rockford)

Polar Peak's tubing lanes stay snowy all season thanks to snowmakers. A conveyor lift whisks you back to the top, so you can enjoy run after run without the hike.

Alpine Hills Adventure Park & Golf Center | Enjoy Illinois | Enjoy Illinois

Mount Hoy (Blackwell Forest Preserve)

Join the weekend fun when snow blankets this natural hill. Inner tubes are available for rent on-site, making it a convenient and affordable winter outing.

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