Places to Explore / Illinois

Baker’s Lake
& Younghusband Prairie

An island full of nesting birds. Ospreys above the prairie. A lake worth taking a closer look at.

Near Barrington, IllinoisLake · Prairie · Oak savannaPhotographs from Brian’s past visits
A wide view of the lake, with the island rookery and wooded shoreline in the distance. Baker Lake Younghusband Prairie, Illinois.
A wide view across Baker’s Lake toward the island rookery.

From my photo archive

Baker’s Lake Younghusband Prairie is one of the Illinois places I used to visit with my camera. These photographs bring together the birds, prairie scenes, and smaller discoveries from those visits.

The photographs show past visits, rather than current conditions. Visitor information and research links were checked in October 2026.

Waterbirds perched across the wooden nesting structures on the rookery island. Baker Lake Younghusband Prairie, Illinois.
Wooden nesting structures give the rookery its distinctive appearance.

The main attraction

A rookery in the middle of the lake

A rookery is a place where birds nest together in a colony. Baker’s Lake’s island supports nesting herons, egrets, and cormorants. The conspicuous wooden structures were added in 2000 to provide nesting space.

Late spring and early summer are especially rewarding; the Forest Preserves highlights June for breeding activity. Bring binoculars or a spotting scope for views from shore.

Source: Forest Preserves of Cook County

Above the prairie

The Osprey story

My older photographs show Ospreys using an artificial nesting platform here. Friends of the Chicago River also documented an adult pair and three nestlings at Baker’s Lake in 2020.

There is recent evidence of Ospreys visiting the lake: a Chicago Ornithological Society trip recorded a perched bird on April 13, 2026.

Is the nest still active?
I haven’t confirmed the platform’s current condition or nesting activity in 2026. The recent sighting confirms an Osprey was present, but does not establish that the nest was occupied.
Two Ospreys standing at a nest on an artificial nesting platform. Baker Lake Younghusband Prairie, Illinois.
Ospreys at the nesting platform during a past visit.
A summer prairie filled with grasses and purple wildflowers. Baker Lake Younghusband Prairie, Illinois.
Summer grasses and purple wildflowers at Younghusband Prairie.

Look beyond the water

Prairie views & smaller discoveries

The lake is only part of this photo collection. Common Yellowthroats, an American Goldfinch, a Northern Cardinal, and even a small snail appear among the prairie photographs.

Nearby Baker’s Lake Savanna adds another habitat to the area. Citizens for Conservation describes ongoing restoration of its oak-hickory woods and seasonal wildflower displays.

Read about Baker’s Lake Savanna →

Through my lens

Photographs from past visits

Pelicans, eagles, songbirds, and life around the lake. Select a photograph to open the larger image.

American White Pelicans resting together on a low perch in the lake. Baker Lake Younghusband Prairie, Illinois.
American White Pelicans
Adult and immature Bald Eagles gathered on a low perch in the lake. Baker Lake Younghusband Prairie, Illinois.
Bald Eagles on the Lake
A male Common Yellowthroat with a black facial mask perched on a stem. Baker Lake Younghusband Prairie, Illinois.
Common Yellowthroat — Male
A pair of Ruddy Ducks floating on the lake. Baker Lake Younghusband Prairie, Illinois.
Ruddy Ducks
A male Northern Cardinal perched on a bare branch against a blue sky. Baker Lake Younghusband Prairie, Illinois.
Northern Cardinal
A male American Goldfinch perched on a dried seed head. Baker Lake Younghusband Prairie, Illinois.
American Goldfinch
A Double-crested Cormorant swimming near the reed-lined shore. Baker Lake Younghusband Prairie, Illinois.
Double-crested Cormorant
An American Coot swimming across rippled green water. Baker Lake Younghusband Prairie, Illinois.
American Coot
View 20 more photographs
Two Ospreys standing at a nest on an artificial nesting platform. Baker Lake Younghusband Prairie, Illinois.
Ospreys at the Nest
Ospreys gathered on a tall nesting platform above the trees. Baker Lake Younghusband Prairie, Illinois.
Ospreys on a Nesting Platform
An Osprey perched among budding tree branches. Baker Lake Younghusband Prairie, Illinois.
Osprey
An Osprey looking out from a stick nest on an artificial platform. Baker Lake Younghusband Prairie, Illinois.
Osprey Nest
An open prairie with a distant Osprey nesting platform beside the trees. Baker Lake Younghusband Prairie, Illinois.
Prairie and Osprey Platform
A wide view of the lake, with the island rookery and wooded shoreline in the distance. Baker Lake Younghusband Prairie, Illinois.
Lake and Rookery Panorama
A view across the lake toward the wooden nesting structures of the island rookery. Baker Lake Younghusband Prairie, Illinois.
Island Rookery
Waterbirds perched across the wooden nesting structures on the rookery island. Baker Lake Younghusband Prairie, Illinois.
Rookery Nesting Structures
Caspian Terns resting near the island rookery, with egrets and cormorants behind them. Baker Lake Younghusband Prairie, Illinois.
Caspian Terns
Caspian Terns gathered along a low perch in front of the island rookery. Baker Lake Younghusband Prairie, Illinois.
Caspian Terns by the Rookery
An American White Pelican standing on a low perch near the rookery. Baker Lake Younghusband Prairie, Illinois.
American White Pelican
American White Pelicans resting together beside the water. Baker Lake Younghusband Prairie, Illinois.
American White Pelicans Resting
Adult and immature Bald Eagles flying low over the lake. Baker Lake Younghusband Prairie, Illinois.
Bald Eagles in Flight
An immature Bald Eagle flying low above the lake with its feet lowered. Baker Lake Younghusband Prairie, Illinois.
Immature Bald Eagle
A group of waterbirds gathered on a low perch above the water. Baker Lake Younghusband Prairie, Illinois.
Waterbirds on the Lake
A female Common Yellowthroat perched among green prairie vegetation. Baker Lake Younghusband Prairie, Illinois.
Common Yellowthroat — Female
A small brown-shelled snail resting on a green leaf. Baker Lake Younghusband Prairie, Illinois.
Snail on a Leaf
Purple wildflowers blooming among green prairie plants. Baker Lake Younghusband Prairie, Illinois.
Prairie Wildflowers
A summer prairie filled with grasses and purple wildflowers. Baker Lake Younghusband Prairie, Illinois.
Summer Prairie
Green prairie vegetation beneath a cloudy sky, with trees and a nesting platform in the distance. Baker Lake Younghusband Prairie, Illinois.
Prairie Landscape

Plan your visit

Two entrances to know

Younghusband Prairie

The prairie entrance and parking are on East Dundee Road, west of Glencrest Drive.

Baker’s Lake Overlook

The north-side overlook has parking at East Hillside Avenue and South Eastern Avenue. This is a separate access point for lake and rookery viewing.

The Forest Preserves lists sunrise-to-sunset hours and no fishing. Check its current maps, alerts, and area-specific rules before visiting.

Official visitor information & maps

Sources & further reading

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