Illinois Audubon Society today announced a three-year, $384,000 capacity-building partnership to support the growth and development of the Chicago-based Windy City Bird Lab. These funds were made available by a generous bequest from Pamela Vawter, intended for the study and support of birds in Northeastern Illinois.

Windy City Bird Lab was founded in 2024 by J’orge Garcia to broaden access to birds and bird research across Chicago’s urban landscape. Drawing on his experience in STEM education and human-centered design to develop tools and learning environments, Garcia is now building a hub in the West Loop for tangible, community-centered work in urban bird conservation and research.

“J’orge’s fresh and innovative voice is a timely and valuable addition to the landscape of bird advocacy, and we are thrilled to help amplify it through our support of the Windy City Bird Lab,” said Jo Fessett, Executive Director of Illinois Audubon Society.

This new investment marks a significant milestone for Windy City Bird Lab and enables Garcia to transition the Lab into a new era led by a collaborative team of experienced nature educators and strategic leaders. Projects housed at Windy City Bird Lab include the Bird Migration Monitoring Network, the Grosbeak Bioacoustics System, and the Birds in My Neighborhood program.

“The growing demand to expand our services made it clear there was a real need for this work,” said J’orge Garcia, Executive Director of Windy City Bird Lab. “Partnering with Illinois Audubon Society allows the project to grow strategically and collaborate with Deja Perkins of Naturally Wild LLC and trusted environmental science educator Dave Bild to shape the future of our work.”

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“This recent investment in Jasper County will further the conservation and restoration of our native grasslands,” remarked Nathan Goldberg, Director of Conservation Science. “I’ve visited nearby Prairie Ridge State Natural Area many times over the years, and the stark difference in flora and fauna between restored properties and nearby agricultural land is quite apparent. Breeding birds including Sedge Wrens, Henslow’s Sparrows, and Northern Bobwhite will certainly benefit from this new acquisition, as well as many wintering raptors including Short-eared Owls and Northern Harriers. As someone who calls the Prairie State home, it brings me joy to know that Illinois Audubon Society is firmly committed to re-wilding our landscapes, and returning land back to native prairie.”

Illinois Audubon Society’s legacy of assisting with land protection at Prairie Ridge State Natural Area began in 2000. This most recent purchase adjoins a 30-acre restored prairie acquired by the Society in 2003. With the addition of this latest parcel, the Society has now protected 1,175 acres with an investment of $5.4 million within the PRSNA boundaries.

Deb Carey, Chair of the Lands Protection and Stewardship Committee, remarked, “Acquiring wildlife habitat, like this recent purchase of an 80-acre parcel in Jasper County, is one way to increase biodiversity. Other methods we utilize include: instigating scientific research on native flora and fauna, inspiring people to work together on land stewardship, and educating young and old on the intricacies of Nature. Share our passion for the planet by joining us on our journey.”

The mission of the Illinois Audubon Society is to promote the perpetuation and appreciation of native plants and animals and the habitats that support them. The Society is an independent, statewide, member supported, not-for-profit organization. Founded in 1897, the Society is Illinois’ oldest private conservation organization. The Illinois Audubon Society has protected 7,400 acres by investing $21 million to protect land and water throughout Illinois.

Northern Bobwhite photo by Leroy Harrison

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Introduction
One question that interviewers often ask bird advocates is, “Why? Why birds?” There might be no better city in the Nation than Chicago to explore this question.

Chicago sits at the heart of North America’s busiest migratory flyway, making it one of the most important urban landscapes for birds. Once known as the most dangerous city for migratory birds, Chicago has emerged as a leader in urban bird conservation, research, education, and community engagement.

It can be difficult to explain the joy and elation that comes from observing birds in urban environments. As author Jonathan Franzen noted, “Birds are our last readily available connection to the wilderness around us. They’re accessible without being ingratiating.” Beyond the personal gratitude hundreds of people get from birding every day, birds provide measurable economic benefits to all environments, including metropolitan areas like Chicago.

The city’s vibrant birding community spans diverse neighborhoods and demographics, supported by programs like the Urban Birding Festival, Chicago Bird Collision Monitors, Birds in My Neighborhood, and research projects like the Chicago Bird Migration Monitoring Network. These grassroots efforts demonstrate that birds are not merely an ecological amenity, but an economic asset that brings communities together while generating measurable value that is worthy of protection and investment.

Chicago currently lacks a comprehensive study establishing the annual dollar value of birds in its urban environment. This report highlights the various sources of economic value that birds provide to the city, the strategic advantage for Chicago to focus on bird conservation, as well as analogous studies in other urban environments, all demonstrating the opportunity for Chicago to pursue research in this area. A comprehensive study of the annual dollar value of birds in Chicago would empower city leaders, nonprofits, and businesses to make informed investments in conservation and urban planning.

Executive Summary
Chicago’s bird population generates substantial economic value through tourism attractions, ecosystem services, community engagement, and participation in the rapidly growing $107.6 billion national birding economy. The local birding community is vibrant and diverse, anchored by world-class locations such as Montrose Point, the most birded hotspot in the U.S., and a network of grassroots organizations, educational programs, and conservation initiatives.

Bottom line: By investing in bird habitat, infrastructure, and safety, Chicago can grow its share of the national birding economy while improving quality of life for its residents.

Read the entire report here

Photo of Connecticut Warbler taken at Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary by Matthew Dolkart

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The records involved are summarized below. For each record, we indicate the species or form, with number of individuals in parentheses if greater than one, followed by date or date range, location, and county. The record number is indicated in parentheses, followed by, for accepted records, names of the documenters. If multiple documenters are listed, those understood by IORC to have been the original finders of the bird(s) are listed first and separated from the others by a semicolon. IORC thanks all the documenters, for accepted and unaccepted records alike, for their submissions. All documentation is maintained in the IORC archives so that there is a permanent record of all these observations. Documentation, regardless of the Committee’s decision, is a valuable part of the record of bird life in Illinois.

Records Accepted

• Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (8), 13 July 2020, Hampshire, Kane County (2020-187; Ryan Oddo).
• Whimbrel (37), 25 May 2025, South Unit of Illinois Beach State Park, Lake County (2025-017; Brendan Rattin).
• Tricolored Heron, 27 to 29 April 2025, Trumpet Road Marsh, Lake County (2025-006; John Sikora).
• Cassin’s Kingbird, 23 May 2025, North Unit of Illinois Beach State Park and nearby Hosah Park, Zion, Lake County (2025-016; Eric Johnson; John Ter Louw).
• Fork-tailed Flycatcher, 26 to 28 April 2025, Horseshoe Lake State Park, Madison County (2025-005; Julie Bryson).
• Say’s Phoebe, 12 April 2025, western Jackson County (2025-009; David Goodward).
• Vermilion Flycatcher, 18 May 2025, Sag Quarries, Cook County (2025-014; Lili Duan).
• Mountain Bluebird, 20 to 24 April 2025, Chicago, Cook County (2025-004; Christopher Holden; Scott Judd, Yonatan Simkovich, Peter Tolzmann, Geoffrey A. Williamson).
• Spotted Towhee, 10 December 2024 to 27 April 2025, Anna, Union County (2024-074; Mark Vukovich).
• Swainson’s Warbler, 25 to 26 April 2024, Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge (Hickory Bottoms), Union County (2024-075; Keith McMullen, Mark Seiffert).
• Kirtland’s Warbler, 15 to 17 May 2025, Polk Bros Park portion of Navy Pier, Chicago, Cook County (2025-012; Woody Goss; Geoffrey A. Williamson).
• Western Tanager, 10 to 11 March 2025, Valmeyer, Monroe County (2025-003; Donna Vogt; Mike Avara).
• Painted Bunting (2), 29 April 2025, Grayville, White County (2025-015; Steve Hartsock).

Records Not Accepted

• Long-billed Curlew (2), late spring/early summer 2024, near IL-173 and I-94, northern Lake County (2024-076).
• Common Redshank, 26 April 2025, Van Patten Woods, Lake County (2025-008).
• Great Gray Owl, 18 April 2023, Hampshire Forest Preserve, Kane County (2023-125).
• Ivory-billed Woodpecker, 10 April 2025, Rockford, Winnebago County (2025-010).
• Prairie Falcon, 29 July 2023, McHenry Prairie Trail southwest of McHenry, McHenry County (2023-124).
• Violet-green Swallow, 29 April 2025, Algonquin, McHenry County (2025-011).
• Cave Swallow, 22 November 2024, Illinois Beach State Park, North Unit, Lake County (2024-065).
• MacGillivray’s Warbler, 29 May 2024, Montrose Point in Chicago’s Lincoln Park, Cook County (2024-077).

The post IORC Update, 15 August 2025 appeared first on Illinois Audubon Society.

As Director of Conservation Science, Nathan will be responsible for implementing the Illinois Audubon Society Conservation Science Program to conduct, coordinate, and support research on Society properties in conjunction with the Society’s mission of protecting Illinois’ native plants, animals, and the habitats that support them. We look forward to having Nathan on our team and are excited to broaden our reach and programs with his support.

Nathan began birding in Chicago back in 2009. His early passion for birds took him to the Field Museum where he interned in the Bird Department over his High School summers, and then on to Cornell University, achieving a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with minors both in Biological Sciences and American Indian and Indigenous Studies.

His connections to Illinois and Chicago led him back home after graduation. He served on the Board of Directors for the Chicago Ornithological Society from 2020-2023, and joined the Board of the Illinois Ornithological Society (IOS) in 2021, becoming their Vice President in 2023.

Nathan has been committed to Illinois birds and birding for over a decade and a half, and recently joined the Illinois Ornithological Records Committee and is a statewide eBird Reviewer and Hotspot Editor. He’s birded numerous times in all 102 counties, and forged relationships across the state. In 2020, Nathan also set the Illinois Big Year Record, totaling 341 species seen that year across the state – a record that still stands today.

Nathan’s passion for non-profit work began early in his professional career, working for the Adopt-a-Beach program at the Alliance for the Great Lakes, and later joining the staff at Bostrom Corporation, an Association Management Company that works with many smaller-scale member and trade non-profit associations.

Following the pandemic, he shifted his professional focus to birds and worked as a Tour Leader and Guide for three years at Red Hill Birding, a Chicago-based domestic and international birdwatching tour company.

The recent merger of IOS and the Illinois Audubon Society has been a major focus of his over the last 8-10 months, and he’s been working hard to ensure the transition is smooth and handled with care.

Nathan will operate remotely from his home in Chicago and can be reached at ngoldberg@illinoisaudubon.org. His appointment is effective as of July 1, 2025.

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Red Hill Birding will lead several field trips and Vic Berardi will share a mini-master class on Raptor identification as part of the 26th annual Illinois Beach Hawk Watch. Great food, great birding, trivia contest with prizes, silent auction, and an opportunity to network with great birders, join us as we celebrate a joyful weekend of bird watching and camaraderie. This event is open to members and non-members. September 26-27, 2025, Illinois Beach State Park, Zion, Illinois.  More information and registration here.

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That is why the Board of Directors of both the Illinois Ornithological Society (IOS) and Illinois Audubon Society (IAS) have agreed to combine our organizations to maximize our community reach and impact, and to emerge as a new, premier birding and conservation organization in Illinois. This exciting change takes place immediately.

Through this organizational combination, we will be aligning our existing programs, projects, events, publications, and membership benefits – all of which have been carefully and thoroughly assessed.

IOS and IAS have a long history together and, in recent years, have partnered on a variety of programming and projects. Now, by combining our efforts, current IOS members can look forward to membership in an organization that will provide more benefits to Illinois’ birds and birders, alike.

Transitioning to this new partnership will include merging information from both organizations into one membership system and IOS members will begin receiving quarterly issues of Illinois Audubon magazine. For those of you who currently hold dual membership with both organizations, only one annual payment (when due) will be necessary. Payments and renewal notices will continue to be processed through IAS.

We firmly believe that by coming together, we are entering a new chapter for Illinois birds and birdwatchers. There will be more opportunities than ever before for our joint community to support birds, scientific research, and the habitats they love and need. Our combined membership base and unified voice will be a unique and powerful force for birds across the state.

For more information, please consult this FAQ document. Please do not hesitate to reach out to either of us if you have questions.

Sincerely,
Andrea Tolzman, President, Illinois Ornithological Society
Kevin Richards, President, Illinois Audubon Society

Northern Cardinal photo by Bryan Hix

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Members of IOS can expect to receive an announcement letter, along with a facts and questions document to learn more. If you have any questions, please contact andrea@illinoisbirds.org.

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The records involved are summarized below. For each record, we indicate the species or form, with number of individuals in parentheses if greater than one, followed by date or date range, location, and county. The record number is indicated in parentheses, followed by, for accepted records, names of the documenters. If multiple documenters are listed, those understood by IORC to have been the original finders of the bird(s) are listed first and separated from the others by a semicolon. IORC thanks all the documenters, for accepted and unaccepted records alike, for their submissions. All documentation is maintained in the IORC archives so that there is a permanent record of all these observations. Documentation, regardless of the Committee’s decision, is a valuable part of the record of bird life in Illinois.

Records Accepted

• Brant, 12 November 2024, Chicago’s Park No. 566, Cook County (2024-060; Tarik Shahzad; Woody Goss, Demond McDonald).
• Mottled Duck, 7 October to 8 December 2024, Lake Springfield, Sangamon County (2024-049; Nathan Goldberg, Dennis Oehmke). Originally found by H. David Bohlen.
• Harlequin Duck, 18 December 2024 to 28 January 2025, Fox River from Algonquin south to West Dundee, Kane and McHenry counties (2024-069; Paula Mitchell; Geoffrey A. Williamson).
• Anna’s Hummingbird, 17 October 2024 to 14 January 2025, Princeton, Bureau County (2024-051; Scott Harp; Nathan Goldberg, Steve Zehner).
• Clapper Rail, 27 September to 9 October 2017, Waukegan Beach, Lake County (2017-090; Steve Mulhall; Annette McClellan, William McClellan). First state record.
• Purple Gallinule, 4 October 2024, Forest Park, Cook County (2024-058; Valda Vitton; Nathan Goldberg).
• American Golden-Plover, 30 December 2024, northeast of Mermet Lake, Massac County (2024-073; Rhonda Rothrock, Mark Vukovich).
• Pacific Loon (2), 12 November 2024, Lake Michigan off Chicago’s Lincoln Park, Cook County (2024-061; Mike McBrien).
• Pacific Loon, 23 to 24 November 2024, Lake Springfield, Sangamon County (2024-064; H. David Bohlen; Colin Dobson, Alyssa Rod).
• Short-tailed Shearwater, 8 December 2024, Montrose Point in Chicago’s Lincoln Park, Cook County (2024-068; Demond McDonald, Tarik Shahzad, Phillip Stosberg). First state record for the species, genus, family, and order.
• Wood Stork, 12 October 2024, Gulfport, Henderson County (2024-048; Brian Fox Ellis; Tom Doig).
• Wood Stork, 3 to 6 November 2024, Carlyle Lake, Clinton County (2024-056; Keith McMullen). Originally found by Mark Seiffert.
• White-faced Ibis (2), 23 October to 4 November 2024, Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, St. Clair County (2024-053; David Becher; Amy Rangel, Mike Thelan, Christopher Tomera).
• Prairie Falcon, 2 November to 26 February 2025, “Magic Stump” area, southwest of Arcola, Coles County (2024-057; Tyler Funk).
• Prairie Falcon, 3 January 2025, Gorham, Jackson County (2025-001; David Goodward).
• Prairie Falcon, 18 January 2025, Venice, Madison County (2025-002; Seth Winkleman).
• Common Raven, 11 November 2024, Chicago’s Park No. 566, Cook County (2024-059; Demond McDonald; Sarah Vogel).
• Cave Swallow, 18 November 2024, North Point Marina in Winthrop Harbor, Lake County (2024-062; Adam Sell).
• Cave Swallow, 22 November 2024, Ft. Sheridan Forest Preserve, Lake County (2024-066; Adam Sell; Stephen Hurst).
• Varied Thrush, 27 October 2024, Schroeder Nature Sanctuary, Heyworth, McLean County (2024-052; Paula Aschim).
• Chestnut-collared Longspur, 22 October 2024, Chicago’s Park No. 566, Cook County (2024-044; Demond McDonald; Matt Zuro).
• Great-tailed Grackle, 1 December 2024 to 26 February 2025 (2024-067; Susan Zelek). Likely the same individual that was involved in record 2024-029 and several other earlier records.
• Summer Tanager, 23 December 2024, Carbondale, Jackson County (2024-072; Jyothi Sastry).

Records Not Accepted

• Long-tailed Jaeger, 17 September 2023, Rainbow Beach, Chicago, Cook County (2023-084).
• White-faced Ibis, 18 September 2024, Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge, Fulton County (2024-047).
• White-faced Ibis, 24 to 30 October 2024, Pyramid State Park, Perry County (2024-054).
• White-faced Ibis, 26 October to 1 November 2024, Clinton Lake, DeWitt County (2024-055).
• Cassin’s Vireo, 12 to 19 October 2024, Colored Sands Forest Preserve, Winnebago County (2024-063).
• Swainson’s Warbler, 25 May 2022, Washington County State Recreation Area, Washington County (2022-042).

The post IORC Update, 15 March 2025 appeared first on Illinois Audubon Society.

Throughout 2024, our energetic and dedicated staff of talented professionals have worked diligently to accomplish many behind-the- scenes tasks as well as supporting activities for the public and for conservation throughout the state. Nature Talks, a new speakers bureau was launched, 175 people attended our Adventures field trips and an additional 50 participated in our annual gathering in Savanna, Illinois. Thirty-six new Bird & Butterfly Sanctuaries were certified, totaling 65 acres of wildlife habitat.

Illinois Audubon Society was a key partner in acquiring numerous parcels to expand our land protection over the last 12 months. Highlights include the following:

• Provided financial support to assist the Community Development Corporation of Pembroke-Hopkins Park with the purchase of 30 acres of high-quality, rare black oak savanna in Kankakee County.
• Purchased 106 acres at Prairie Ridge State Natural Area in the Marion County unit where industrialization pressures have been impactful.
• Helped purchase 985 acres in Richmond, Illinois, which will be part of the Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge. With our financial assistance, this land purchase will connect several existing conservation areas, creating a continuous 5,600-acre macrosite in McHenry County.
• Acquired 60 acres of grassland bird habitat in our Green River Lowlands Preserve (Lee County) where we have now protected a total of 1,027 acres.

To the many Illinois Audubon Society volunteers, I extend a heartfelt “thank you.” Volunteer stewards donate countless hours at our sanctuaries providing stewardship, education, outreach and financial support to our conservation efforts.

Your continued support is important in helping the Illinois Audubon Society further its mission and continue to be a leader in conservation in the state of Illinois.

Please consider making a tax-exempt, year-end gift, to one of the following areas of need:

• Land Protection & Stewardship: Land purchases, stewardship and restoration costs.
• Education & Outreach: Magazine costs, field trips, youth programs, annual events, chapter support and educational brochures.
• General Support: Funds that help us operate. Expenses such as salaries, supplies, utilities, annual fees for services, maintenance, repair and legal fees.

On behalf of the Illinois Audubon Society Board of Directors and staff, thank you for your continued support in 2024 and into the future.

Have a wonderful and safe holiday season,

Kevin Richards, President
Illinois Audubon Society Board of Directors

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