Tarik Shahzad’s newfound passion led him to an extraordinary achievement. Just two years after picking up birdwatching as a hobby, he set a Cook County record by spotting 294 species in a single year.
Shahzad’s passion for birdwatching began in 2022 when he joined a field trip with the Chicago Ornithological Society to observe the fall migration.
“It was absolutely spectacular. From that moment, I was hooked,” said Shahzad, 27, who lives in Evanston. “Here in Chicago, we’re lucky to have such diverse bird species migrating along an ancient flyway that has existed for thousands of years.”…