CHICAGO — Scott Judd understands the three most important aspects of birding (and real estate): location, location, location.
Judd's yard in Rogers Park lately has been filled with dozens of species of birds, including several kinds of warblers, scarlet tanagers, American redstarts, American kestrels and other birds now migrating through Chicago.
He lives near the lake — a prime spot for the migration of hundreds of thousands of birds — and his yard features big trees that he said attract an "amazing diversity of migrating birds to our yard during migration."
Since moving from Logan Square to Rogers Park about 1½ years ago, Judd said he's documented nearly 70 bird species in his yard.
"I've seen 20 warbler species in the yard as of [Tuesday], and I'm approaching 70 species total for the site since moving here less than two years ago," Judd said. "I expect these numbers will grow as I put more time and effort into monitoring seasonal migration activity from year to year, but I have no idea where they will top out."
Judd said he's been a birdwatcher since the early 1970s growing up in southern Connecticut. He really got into the hobby after discovering the Illinois Beach State Park Hawk Watch and Illinois Birders Exchanging Thoughts groups.
He began photographing birds about three years ago, which he said "has been a great tool for learning and generates lots of positive feedback from my friends and fellow bird lovers."
Hundreds of bird species are migrating their way through the city currently, making their way north while stopping at many of Chicago's bird paradises. That includes Montrose Point, Big Marsh and countless other spots along Lake Michigan's shoreline and even in the city's interior.
Check out some of the bird photos Judd has taken in the slideshow above.
