Northerly Island Prairie (in Burnham Park)

Northerly Island is a 91- acre peninsula located just south of the Adler Planetarium and east of Soldier Field near Chicago's Musuem Campus. This site of the former Miegs Field Airport was partly converted to a 30 acre-prairie in 2004 and is now dedicated to nature-based and passive recreation activities such as bird watching, fishing, and cycling. The young prairie was planted with 40 native species of prairie grasses and wildflowers.

Given its proximity to Lake Michigan the site is a popular spot for migratory and resident birds including warblers, sparrows, dicksissels, eastern kingbirds, killdeer, kestrels, and owls. A coyote has also been spotted roaming behind the concert venue at the northern end of Northerly Island. The prairie was burned for the first time in spring 2007 to manage invasive plants and encourage native prairie grasses and forbs. In the fall of 2007, the Chicago Park District installed over 300 shrubs native to Illinois such as downy serviceberry, hazelnut, nannyberry viburnum, and sumac to enhance bird habitat at the site. In 2008, a new purple martin house and kestral box were installed to provide homes for these feathered friends.