The Ridgway chapter of the Audubon Society intends to “promote the perpetuation and appreciation of native plants and animals and the habitats that support them.”

The chapter meets about seven times a year. Meetings are open to the public and can be found on the Ridgway Chapter Facebook page.

Typical annual activities include:

• Illinois Natural History Survey Spring Bird Count
• Illinois Ornithological Society Christmas Bird Count
• Bird Haven Cleanup
• Spring Wildflower Walks
• Visit to a local Blue Heron Rookery
• Program Speakers

The Ridgway Chapter’s namesake Robert Ridgway was a great American ornithologist that retired to our town of Olney, Illinois, after a long career working at the Smithsonian Institution. In his lifetime, he was unmatched in the number of North American bird species that he described for science. He used his own paintings and outline drawings to complement his writing. He also published two books that systematized color names for describing birds, A Nomenclature of Colors for Naturalists (1886) and Color Standards and Color Nomenclature (1912). Ridgway also acquired a tract of 18 acres in Olney, to be called Bird Haven, which he developed as a private nature reserve for birds and as a nursery for cultivation of non-native plants. Some of Bird Haven remains today open to the public.

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We are fortunate to have a great system of forest preserves in Will County as well as in surrounding counties. The Des Plaines and Kankakee Rivers join to form the Illinois River just a short distance away and together with the Des Plaines Conservation Area, Goose Lake Prairie, and Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie offer abundant birding opportunities. Lake Renwick Rookery Nature Preserve near Plainfield, IL is also a favorite.

We also have a long history of those who came before us and the desire to carry on the tradition of introducing the public to the joys of birding.   Also, because of past achievements, the realization that we can make a difference in conservation causes.

Most recently, our Chapter worked to connect the Joliet Park District with Illinois Audubon Society to successfully add 80 acres of property to Pilcher Park. Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation and Illinois Audubon made it all possible and people in our community are excited about the long-sought after addition to this Illinois Natural Areas Inventory site.

We were proponents for the preservation of the Lake Renwick Rookery and every breeding season about 25 of our members act as interpreters at the site. We have been volunteering there since 1990 and both our group and many of our members have been recognized by the Forest Preserve District of Will County for their service. We have supported Scouts in projects, providing funds for wood duck boxes along Lily Cache Creek near Lake Renwick and a new bird viewing blind at Pilcher Park. We also belong to the Bird Conservation Network in the Chicago Region.

Read the Will County Audubon Society Chapter Focus

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Our regular monthly chapter meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at the community room in Macomb City Hall. Meetings are free and open to the public. They begin at 7pm. Programs typically follow chapter meetings, starting between 7:30 & 8pm.

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These days, the Springfield Chapter currently:

• Presents programs on natural history and conservation – Programs are held at the Adams Wildlife Sanctuary, 2315 Clear Lake Ave., on the third Thursday of the month at 6 pm, October through December and February through May.
  Works with other conservation groups to protect local habitats.
• Monitors the legislative and administrative actions of government. Sponsors letter writing campaigns to affect local issues.
• Offers a wide range of activities for birders of all levels: Birding 101; field trips to exceptional birding areas; national bird counts.
• Annual meeting in January features a program and potluck.
• Assists the Illinois Audubon Society with projects and programs at the Adams Wildlife Sanctuary.

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We enjoy 10 monthly programs held at the Heller Nature Center in Highland Park. See programs here.

We also offer about 25 field trips. Most are in Lake and Cook County. Our location in northeastern Illinois offers us varied habitat including Great Lakes lakefront, inland lakes, mixed forests, marshes and savanna. However, we also schedule overnight visits to unique habitats throughout Illinois and other states.  See field trips here.

Most events are free and open to the public. Some events have capacity limits with member priority. Some events have user fees for guides, facilities, etc.

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