Photo by Steve Hager ANNUAL REPORT April 1, 2018 - March 31, 2019 “The Illinois Audubon Society chapter system was established 55 years ago in 1964 — a lifetime for most organizations, but relatively recent for the Illinois Audubon Society.” Jim Herkert - Illinois Audubon Society Executive Director SOCIETY ILLINOIS AUDUBON 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT 2 MESSAGE FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CHAPTERS Throughout the year, Illinois Audubon Society chapters 2019 was the 121st year for the Illinois Audubon Society. And while conduct programs for members, area youth and the Society has been around for a long time our chapter system is interested persons. much younger. The Illinois Audubon Society chapter system was Birdsong, Dixon established 55 years ago in 1964 – a lifetime for most organizations, Emiquon, Havana but relatively recent for Illinois Audubon Society. When the decision Fort Dearborn, Chicago to form chapters was made the Society had long been known as an Hickory Hills, Hillsboro active conservation force in the state, but it was recognized that if Kane County, St. Charles we had a chapter system members could attend meetings and field Kaskaskia Valley, Red Bud trips around the state as well as enjoy local trips and meetings. It Lake-Cook, Highland Park was also recognized that chapter members would benefit from Little Wabash, Mode the opportunity to be informed, and involved with, both local and McHenry County, Woodstock statewide conservation issues. Middlefork, Danville Morgan County, Jacksonville Lake-Cook was the first chapter formed (1964), followed soon Ridgway, Olney after by McHenry County and Kane County. By 1970 there were 14 Shawnee, Carbondale chapters and the chapter system was off and running. Today our Springfield, Springfield chapter system remains the life blood of our organization. Fully two- Starved Rock, Ottawa thirds of our members are affiliated with local chapters. Western Prairie, Warsaw Chapters remain on the forefront of local conservation issues, but Will County, Joliet they also contribute to and support the statewide conservation work of the Society. Chapter activities vary as widely as the chapters do geographically. Some concentrate attention on environmental AFFILIATES issues, while others focus more on education, birding and social events. Another important function of chapters is providing Carlyle Lake Area Nature Society stewardship to Illinois Audubon Society Sanctuaries. In fact it would Champaign County Audubon Society have been difficult, if not impossible, for Illinois Audubon Society to Decatur Audubon Society have developed our sanctuary system without the support provided Dixon Park District by Chapters. Evanston North Shore Bird Club Hoffman Estates Park District In this year’s report we highlight our chapters and some of the Illinois Native Plant Society, Central Chapter exciting things they have undertaken in this fiscal year. Illinois Trappers Association John Wesley Powell Audubon Society Kankakee Valley Audubon Society Lee Co. SWCD Natural Area Guardians Peoria Audubon Society Quad City Audubon Society Executive Director Illinois Audubon Southern Illinois Audubon Society Society Springfield Bonsai Society Springfield Civic Garden Club Thorn Creek Audubon Society SOCIETY Wild Birds Unlimited Peoria P.O. Box 2547 Wild Birds Unlimited Springfield Springfield, IL 62708 3 www.illinoisaudubon.org BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE BOARD BOARD MEMBERS Sara Mathis President Francine Appleton Michael Campbell Jack Connelly Carl Daubach Hugh Gilbert Deb Carey Vice-President Dan Krefft Vernon LaVia Mark Luscombe Mike Miller Henry “Hank” Mulder Randy Schietzelt Secretary Grace Norris Cindy Owsley Chuck Peterson Kevin Richards John Rogner Francine Appleton Treasurer Colleen Smolik Doug Stotz Bob Szafoni Michael Wiant Allen Yow Shelly Knuppel Past President Christine Zeman STAFF Jim Herkert Jo Fessett Executive Director Assistant to the Executive Director Jodie Owen Kathy Andrews ON THE COVER Financial Accounts Wright Manager Editor, Illinois The Birdsong Chapter hosted the 2018 Spring Gathering with a program titled “Swamped Audubon Magazine with Birds.” Birding field trips included local areas, such as Gremel Wildlife Sanctuary and Amboy Marsh Nature Preserve. Over the weekend birders tallied 132 species, nearly one bird for every person registered. Photos by Steve Hager. ILLINOIS AUDUBON 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT 4 CHAPTER REPORT COMPILATION Chapter activities often are specialized based on the resources of the area and member interests Many chapters participate in coordinated statewide activities such as the Christmas Bird Count, Spring Bird Count, and some participate in the Winter Bald Eagle Survey. BIRDSONG Established 2012 By Deb Carey The highlight of the Birdsong Chapter’s year was hosting the 2018 Spring Gathering “Swamped with Birds,” a theme referencing the great historical swamps of the area. Tyler Mapes, who lived in and loved the swamps, was a special guest. Birding trips included numerous local areas. Funds generated were donated to the H & B Bremer Sanctuary for the purchase of a tractor, and to the Adams Wildlife Sanctuary for purchase of a utility vehicle. Birdsong also takes part in the International Crane Foundation Crane Count each year. A special treat is to watch our resident sandhills nest and rear their colts to adulthood. Other activities included an Owl Prowl, presentation on Glacier National Park and participation in “Earth Hour.” Chapter members participate work in days at both Gremel Wildlife Sanctuary and Amboy Marsh Nature Preserve. Established 1998 EMIQUON Photo by Lizanne Gray By Jo Fessett Emiquon Audubon Society will be hosting the annual Spring Gathering in 2020. This will be our second Spring Gathering since the chapter formed in 1998. Although it seems like there is plenty of time to plan, we’ve already been focusing on how to make this a great event for Illinois Audubon Society. Brainstorming on potential field trips, trip leaders and guest speakers are the main topics of discussion. Emiquon Audubon Society members are looking forward to having plans in shape to launch registration on January 1, 2020. FORT DEARBORN CHAPTER Established 1973 By Mark Luscomb Fort Dearborn Chapter is the Illinois Audubon Society’s chapter in the heart of Chicago. The first President was Kay Scharf, followed by Jeff Sanders, Margaret Murley, Wayne Svoboda and Mark Luscombe. Other long-serving officers include Vice-Presidents Nancy Casper and Susan Sullivan, Secretary Joe Lukascyk, and Treasurer Eva Haussner. One of our main activities is twice weekly bird walks during bird migration season at Lincoln Park Zoo and surrounding lakefront ponds and the sharing of those results with the Urban Wildlife Institute at Lincoln Park Zoo. This past year saw the passing of member Russ Gremel, who donated funds to help facilitate the purchase of the Gremel Wildlife Sanctuary. We helped WGN-TV in Chicago with the “Why Do Birds Sing So Loudly in the Morning?” program, which remains on their website. 5 www.illinoisaudubon.org HICKORY HILLS Established 1982 By Nancy Redman The September 23, 2018, “Let’s All Give a Hoot!” family program featured the four common owls that reside in Illinois. An informative slideshow presentation, complete with audio and video clips, started off the program. Owl digestion was discussed, and according to the attendees, the coolest part of the afternoon was the hands-on dissection of sterilized owl pellets. Donning rubber gloves and armed with tweezers and pick sticks, the participants eagerly dug into the regurgitated pellets of bones and fur. A nesting tube craft was constructed demonstrating the food chain, beginning with grass and ending with the top predator as an owl. KANE COUNTY Established 1966 By Chuck Peterson Kane County Audubon continues to be active in all areas of birding, from frequent walks and rambles in the Kane County area forest preserves to out of area trips to California, Arizona and Alaska. One of our members has been instrumental in starting a Young Birders Club and has held three events this past year. Through another member we were able to obtain funding for an osprey tower in one of the local forest preserves. Our programs continue to be interesting and diverse. Photo by Bob Andrini KASKASKIA VALLEY Established 1997 By Hugh Gilbert Kaskaskia Valley Audubon Society membership has been stable for the last few years at just over 60 members. Monthly meetings (January-May and September-December) are open Nuthatch by Chuck Hunnicutt to the public. An annual planning meeting is held in June and the December meeting includes a Christmas luncheon. Some of the chapter’s activities include recycling bins at Randolph County Conservation Area, Baldwin Lake and Peabody Fish and Wildlife Area; member representation at St. Clair County’s Student Earth Day; and a bird banding station. LAKE-COOK Established 1969 By Rena Cohen It was a busy year (as always!) for Lake/Cook Chapter. In addition to regular programs, field trips and planning for the May 2019 Spring Gathering, special activities included a June trip to southwest Michigan, a winter jaunt to Lincoln Park Zoo to learn about the zoo’s participation in the Puerto Rican Parrot recovery program, and helping children make pine cone bird feeders at Heller Nature Center’s Autumn Fest. Other highlights included the purchase of 10 binoculars for elementary school bird walks sponsored by a local nonprofit and funding of a songbird cognition research project at DePaul University