eBird Hotspot: West Ridge Nature Park, Cook County, IL, US
Found at 5801 N. Western Ave. Chicago, this 21-acre site, opened in 2015, was originally part of Rosehill Cemetery, a wildly overgrown tangle of vegetation around a hidden pond, treasured by birders in-the-know. The Chicago Parks Department acquired the property, fenced it in and transformed it into a park, with naturalized plantings and walking paths. It's still a good place to bird, especially during spring and fall migration.
A good size pond attracts waterfowl and wading birds, appealing to birders and photographers. The area at the northeast corner, which borders the cemetery, is good for passerines, especially warblers and sparrows. The wooded area to the south of the entrance is also good for passerines.
If time allows, check out the 350 acres of trees, shrubs, lawn and pond of Rosehill Cemetery proper.