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.”

The post Three-Year Capacity-Building Partnership to Support Chicago’s Birds 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.

The post Director of Conservation Science Announced appeared first on Illinois Audubon Society.

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.

The post Registration Now Open for 2025 Annual Gathering appeared first on Illinois Audubon Society.

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

The post IAS & IOS Combine to benefit birds and birders 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

The post Message from President Kevin Richards appeared first on Illinois Audubon Society.

The parcel lies adjacent to the 130-acre Queen of the Prairie tract (purchased in 2022) where volunteer stewards are currently restoring a 40-acre former agricultural field to grassland habitat. Deb Carey, Illinois Audubon Society Board of Directors and Chair of Illinois Audubon Society’s Land Protection and Stewardship Committee reports, “Nesting Lark Sparrows, Eastern Meadowlarks and more have already found it to their liking. This work would not happen without the efforts of dedicated volunteers.”

The latest purchase will also be targeted for grassland restoration; volunteer stewards have already reported finding New Jersey tea and prairie drop seed on the property.

According to Carey, “Southern Lee County’s sand ridges and marshes hold a multitude of amazing life forms: glass lizards, poppy mallow, cream indigo, and blue racers, just to name a few. Now, with the majority of the county in row crop agriculture, many of the native plants and animals no longer thrive due to a lack of sustainable habitat.It is the goal of the Illinois Audubon Society to protect representative examples of intact native ecosystems and unique natural features that persist and provide habitat for native plants and animals.”

Green River Lowlands is a river of sand, eolian sands, sand dunes and sand ridges because the landscape was once covered over by outwash from the receding of the Wisconsin glaciation. Subsequent post-glacial winds had used the most portable component of this outwash, sand, to shape the dune and swale topography seen today.

Studies of the substance, structure and orientation of sand deposits in the area, indicate that winds from west to northwest had largely completed this work by about 17,000 years ago.

The late botanist Henry Allan Gleason referred to the vegetation of the Green River Lowlands in his extensive study of Illinois sand deposits. Gleason studied a site near Amboy on August 21,1910. He noted: “This name – the Amboy area – is given to the irregular complex of sand ridges and marshes along the Green River in Lee County, well-illustrated in the vicinity of Amboy. The drainage of the whole valley is poor, and two large marsh areas, known as the Inlet Swamp and the Winnebago Swamp, are, as yet, not entirely reclaimed”.

Both the Inlet and Winnebago “swamps” were eventually drained and converted to row crop agriculture by the very early 1900s and Gleason witnessed the final bloodletting of the swamp. But the sand remains.
“Oh, what a delight it would have been to walk with him as he investigated the remains of the great swamps,” added Carey.

As the late, great naturalist and author Aldo Leopold reminded us “the first rule of intelligent tinkering is to keep all the pieces”.

This newest tract is one of those vital pieces.

Photo by Bob Schifo, Middlefork Audubon Society

The post Illinois Audubon Society expands Green River Lowlands Preserve with 60-acre Acquisition appeared first on Illinois Audubon Society.

“This addition to the Prairie Ridge State Natural Area is adding one more critical piece to the jigsaw puzzle,” remarked Deb Carey, Chair of the Illinois Audubon Society’s Land Protection and Stewardship Committee. “Natural areas in Illinois are fragmented and the Illinois Audubon Society is working diligently to knit together parcels into sustainable sanctuaries for native flora and fauna. A visitor to the site will be mesmerized by the ballet-like flight of Short-eared Owls and Northern Harriers. Oftentimes the beautiful charismatic species are noted, but it is the thousands of insects, soil organisms, plants, and fungi that support the entire earth and provide habitat for everything, including humans.”

Todd Strole, Assistant Director, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, remarked, “Illinois Audubon has been a long-time partner in this landscape and the impact is real. When an organization pairs its financial abilities with a clarity of purpose, good things happen and it is making a difference for all grassland wildlife in the area.”

Bob Gillespie, Site Manager at Prairie Ridge State Natural Area said, “This addition to the Loy Land and Water Reserve (LWR) increases that 216-acre site by approximately 100 acres. The original Loy LWR was purchased by the Illinois Audubon Society in December of 2010. This welcome opportunity to expand the preserve will allow for more prairie reconstruction. The newly acquired property will provide for the development of populations of imperiled species including the state-threatened eryngium stem borer moth (Papiapena eryngii), state-endangered royal catchfly (Silene regia), and state endangered prairie rose gentian (Sabatia campestris). Bird species such as the Northern Harrier, Short-eared Owl, and Barn Owl will be common visitors as the newly planted prairie flourishes in the next few years.”

Gillespie added, “This property is a necessary addition to Prairie Ridge State Natural Area. The tract increases the acreage of the Marion County unit of Prairie Ridge, especially in the northern extent of the project where industrialization pressures have been impactful. Buffering the Loy LWR, and adding acreage in the geography of the Perbix tract of PRSNA, provides continuity to the preserve and decreases the fragmentation of habitats. One hundred acres of additional prairie will provide habitat for grassland birds and areas to expand populations of state listed plants and animals. This is a fantastic incremental step in closing gaps in preserve design and creating additional grassland at Prairie Ridge State Natural Area.”

Photo by Paul Rossi

The post Land Acquisition Expands Prairie Ridge State Natural Area appeared first on Illinois Audubon Society.

The property is the core of a proposed 60-acre Okàn Savanna Land and Water Reserve. It qualifies for inclusion in the Illinois Nature Preserves system because the high-quality savanna provides a home for the state-endangered highbush blueberry, state-threatened ornate box turtle, and regal fritillary butterfly.

“A beautiful time has come!” remarked Johari Cole-Kweli, clearly not containing her enthusiasm, “We closed on October 1st.” And her team’s long effort to protect a vital parcel of the rarest black oak savanna in the Kankakee Sands region has come to fruition. Cole-Kweli is the President and Managing Director of the CDC-PHP.

Other notable wildlife species documented there include slender glass lizard, red-headed woodpecker, whip-poor-will, plains pocket gopher, and two dozen more Species in Greatest Conservation Need according to IDNR’s State Wildlife Action Plan. Pembroke Township has also been designated as an Important Bird Area.

Kim Roman, Natural Areas Preservation Specialist, for the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission, is equally excited about the acquisition of Okàn Savanna, “This project is the culmination of the growing partnerships within Pembroke-Hopkins Park and will be a huge asset to the community.”

The site also includes a 6000 square-foot building (a former daycare facility) that will become a vital hub for the community, a meeting place with office space, a center for environmental education, after-school programs, and a nature center and trailhead for the public. It is adjacent to another 15 acres owned by CDC-PHP and 20 acres owned by The Nature Conservancy. The local school, library, senior center, and community park are all within walking distance.

Okàn Savanna sits within the heart and soul of this rural township.

Partners include Illinois Audubon Society, Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, Openlands, and the Pembroke Preservation Alliance.

Community Development Corporation of PHP was forged from grassroots activism, driven by the voices and determination of concerned residents to reclaim and direct our land conservation and community development to make Pembroke Township a better place for all. In 2015 we formed a voluntary task force, and in 2018 we continued our civic commitment as a charitable Community Development Corporation (CDC). By inspiring local leadership, we aspire to rebuild and restore our community to greatness with innovative and sustainable programs and development opportunities to improve the condition of our underserved, protect our sacred environment, and bring pride to the next generations. Our mission is to advocate for community-based leadership, sustainability, and enrichment within Pembroke-Hopkins Park [PHP] and preserve and protect its cultural, historical, and environmental legacy.

The mission of the Illinois Audubon Society is to promote the perpetuation and appreciation of native flora and fauna and the habitats that support them. The Society is an independent, statewide, member supported, nonprofit organization. Founded in 1897, the Society is Illinois’ oldest private conservation organization with 2,200 members, 17 chapters and 19 affiliate groups. The Illinois Audubon Society has protected 7,200 acres by investing $18 million to protect land and water throughout Illinois. Find out more at illinoisaudubon.org

The mission of the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission is to assist private and public landowners in protecting high quality natural areas, habitats of endangered and threatened species, and lands with significant archeological resources, in perpetuity, through voluntary dedication or registration of such lands into the Illinois Nature Preserves System. The Commission, established in 1963, promotes the preservation of these significant lands and provides leadership in their stewardship, management, and protection. Illinois was the first state to create such an innovative land protection program and became a national model for many other states. There are currently 419 dedicated nature preserves and 210 registered land and water reserves – 629 sites altogether – in Illinois’ System, comprised of 123,000 acres.

Founded in 1963, Openlands protects the natural and open spaces of northeastern Illinois and the surrounding region to ensure cleaner air and water, protect natural habitats and wildlife, and help balance and enrich our lives. As Chicago’s regional land trust, Openlands connects and energizes the region through strategic collaboration and local partnerships. We work closely with government agencies and policymakers to develop new environmental conservation plans and practices created with all individuals in mind. From establishing city parks and trails to stewarding large-scale landscapes and waters in Northeastern Illinois and the surrounding region, Openlands is committed to advancing nature-based solutions to mitigate the threats of biodiversity loss and climate change and create access to nature for all. For more information, please visit openlands.org.

The Pembroke Preservation Alliance is a partnership of public and private organizations wishing to sustain Pembroke’s cultural, historical, and ecological landscape by adopting a holistic approach to conservation within the human communities of Pembroke. Alliance members, including the CDC-PHP, Friends of the Kankakee, Field Museum, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Illinois Nature Preserves Commission, The Nature Conservancy, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, commit to ongoing communication, transparency, community engagement, and collaboration to bring resources to Pembroke Township and to foster thriving relationships between people, community, and nature.

The post Partners Work Together to Preserve High-quality Oak Savanna in Pembroke Township and Hopkins Park appeared first on Illinois Audubon Society.

Gift yourself, gift a friend. Show your support for Illinois Audubon Society, the oldest conservation organization in Illinois.

We are offering this selection of t-shirts, hats and tote bags to you at our cost; we take the term non-profit to heart.

Use this SHOP HERE link to see the selection.

The post Illinois Audubon Society Logowear Shop appeared first on Illinois Audubon Society.

Creates Third Largest Conservation Landscape in Chicago Region

Updated: March 22, 2:30pm

The Conservation Fund, Illinois Audubon Society, and Openlands announced today the partnership’s acquisition of Tamarack Farms in Richmond, Illinois for Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge (Hackmatack). Straddling the Illinois-Wisconsin border, the federally designated Refuge protects vital habitat for the region’s biodiversity while offering extensive recreational opportunities for the 12 million residents of the greater Chicago, Rockford, and Milwaukee metropolitan areas.

At 985 acres, Tamarack Farms is the largest single property located within Hackmatack’s approved boundary, where the average property size is only 63 acres. According to the Prairie State Conservation Coalition, which maintains a database of all conservation properties in Illinois, Tamarack Farms is the largest conservation acquisition in the Chicago region since the creation of Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie in 1996. Additionally, Tamarack Farms will connect several existing conservation areas, creating a continuous 5,600-acre macrosite — the third largest in the six-county metro region behind Midewin and the Palos Preserves of the Forest Preserves of Cook County.

“Since the Tamarack Farms property was under threat of development, protecting it has been a top conservation priority for decades. Through patient negotiations over the course of years, this once-in-a-generation opportunity has been realized.” said Emy Brawley, Illinois State Director for The Conservation Fund. “Thanks to our collaborative partnership, and steadfast leadership from advocates, local government, and our congressional delegations, Tamarack Farms will enable the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to dramatically expand public land access for residents and visitors of the region.”

Established in 2012 by then-Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge protects wildlife habitat within the Nippersink Creek watershed in McHenry County, Illinois and Walworth County, Wisconsin. As envisioned, Hackmatack aims to create an 11,200-acre natural landscape by connecting four conservation core areas with wildlife-friendly migration corridors through a combination of acquisitions and private land conservation agreements. A map of the Refuge’s existing land holdings is available here from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), the managing agency of the refuge.

National Wildlife Refuges serve joint purposes of biodiversity conservation, public recreation, and education. Hackmatack is also an urban wildlife refuge, a special designation within the National Wildlife Refuge system, which enhances its recreational and educational mission. When open to the public, recreational opportunities will include hiking and walking, canoeing and kayaking, birding and wildlife viewing, biking, and wintertime recreation, as well as volunteer stewardship events. The property will also provide unique public access opportunities via an adjacent rails-to-trails path that connects with Wisconsin to the north and the Grand Illinois Trail network to the south.

“High-quality public land is a boon to McHenry County, as it would be for other parts of the region with natural assets like Tamarack Farms. From the emergence of Hackmatack in 2005 as an idea, Openlands has championed, with partners, the value proposition of a National Wildlife Refuge right here in our own metro,” said Michael Davidson, President and CEO of Openlands. “McHenry County is already seeing results of accessible open space. Between 2021-2022, visitors to the county spent over $336 million, a 26% increase in spending from the previous year. Clearly, the economy benefits from our need to get outside and care for our physical and mental health. We hope this acquisition can lead to further investment in connecting our region’s natural lands.”

The acquisition of Tamarack Farms will further protect high-quality wildlife habitat on the property, including remnant oak woodland, habitat for nesting grassland birds and waterfowl, cold-water springs, a 70-acre open water wetland, and multiple feeder streams to the nearby Nippersink Creek, one of the highest aquatic quality streams in the region. Over 200 species of birds, 70 species of fish, 30 species of reptiles and amphibians, 35 species of mammals, and hundreds of plant species have been recorded within the refuge boundary.

“Large-scale conservation such as this project is critical to ensure species’ resiliency in the face of climate change, and Tamarack Farms will provide a natural sanctuary for both people and wildlife,” said Jo Fessett, Executive Director of Illinois Audubon Society. “This exceptional addition to the Refuge will not only create habitat for numerous threatened and endangered species of plants and wildlife, but also present the perfect opportunity to enhance public interaction and appreciation of nature.”

Tamarack Farms remains under an active farm lease and public access will be limited until the property is opened for recreation by USFWS.

The property was purchased from a willing private seller with the stated intention of adding it to Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge, resulting in the protection of nearly 10% of the land within the Refuge’s approved boundary.

The acquisition was financially supported by The Conservation Fund, Illinois Audubon Society, and Openlands, with additional support from the Bobolink Foundation, James and Elizabeth Bramsen, Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Hamill, Nancy Hamill Winter, the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, and the McHenry County Conservation Foundation. The Conservation Fund and Openlands will hold the property in trust until it can be conveyed to the USFWS as funding from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund becomes available.

“In many ways, acquisition of Tamarack Farms represents a ‘dream realized’ for a small group who first came together over two decades ago to advocate for its protection as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system,” said Steve Byers, Chair of Friends of Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge. “Protection of Tamarack Farms, with its majestic oak woodlands, dynamic wetlands, and opportunities for prairie restoration, is a historic leap forward for the Refuge and brings it closer to its goal of 11,200 acres of protected land. It also demonstrates the power of dreams and of a shared vision with committed partners in building a landscape that benefits our natural world and the residents of the region alike.”

Those interested in experiencing the Refuge are encouraged to visit the Friends of Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge website, to learn about educational and volunteer opportunities, or to visit several of the USFWS or McHenry County Conservation District conservation areas within the Refuge boundary.

Correction: Additional support for the Tamarack Farms acquisition and Hackmatack advocacy efforts was provided by the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation. 

About The Conservation Fund
The Conservation Fund protects the land that sustains us all. We are in the business of conservation, creating innovative solutions that drive nature-based action in all 50 states for climate protection, vibrant communities and sustainable economies. We apply effective strategies, efficient financing approaches, and enduring government, community and private partnerships to protect millions of acres of America’s natural land, cultural sites, recreation areas and working forests and farms.

About Illinois Audubon Society
The mission of the Illinois Audubon Society is to promote the perpetuation and appreciation of native flora and fauna and the habitats that support them. The Society is an independent, statewide, member supported, nonprofit organization. Founded in 1897, the Society is Illinois’ oldest private conservation organization with 2,200 members, 17 chapters and 19 affiliate groups. The Illinois Audubon Society has protected 6,200 acres by investing $17 million to protect land and water throughout Illinois.

About Openlands
Founded in 1963, Openlands protects the natural and open spaces of northeastern Illinois and the surrounding region to ensure cleaner air and water, protect natural habitats and wildlife, and help balance and enrich our lives. As Chicago’s regional land trust, Openlands connects and energizes the region through strategic collaboration and local partnerships. We work closely with government agencies and policymakers to develop new environmental conservation plans and practices created with all individuals in mind. From establishing city parks and trails to stewarding large-scale landscapes and waters in Northeastern Illinois and the surrounding region, Openlands is committed to advancing nature-based solutions to mitigate the threats of biodiversity loss and climate change and create access to nature for all.

The post Nearly 1,000 Acres Protected for Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge In Largest Regional Conservation Acquisition In 28 Years appeared first on Illinois Audubon Society.