Chicago Audubon Society - Navigating the World of Birds and Nature

To download our bimonthly newsletter, the Compass, just click on "COMPASS" in the above menu! You can download a pdf of most every issue dating from the year 2000 right up to 2010, including the most current issue, July/August 2010.

CHICAGO'S LINCOLN PARK ALERT: BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS

Photo of an immature Black-crowned Night-Heron by Bob Kusel

Federally protected Black-crowned Night-Herons – an endangered species in Illinois – are nesting south of the Lincoln Park Zoo’s South Pond. Young birds leave their nests and land on grassy areas, benches and paths below trees in this part of the Chicago Park District. Signs and fencing are attempting to provide awareness and a buffer zone for these young birds that are vulnerable while on the ground. Always follow city ordinances to keep your dog on leash. Do not allow your dog or children to approach these birds. Be aware that causing harm to one of these birds is a serious offense. Contact the Lincoln Park Zoo or Chicago Bird Collision Monitors (773 988 1867) if you have a concern for the welfare of one of the Black-crowned Night-Herons. It is a privilege for Chicago to provide a home for these birds. Please give them a chance to grow up safely and undisturbed.

CAS PROGRAM - "Opposable Chums" - A DVD Screening

Thursday, October 7, 2010
North Park Village Nature Center
5801 N. Pulaski, Chicago, IL

"Opposable Chums" - Guts and Glory at the World Series of Birding -- a film by Jason Kessler. This will be a screening of a 65-minute DVD which takes you inside of New Jersey's annual World Series of Birding competition. A must-see for anyone who's done, or even thought about, a Birdathon or a Big Day!
"Opposable Chums" takes you along for the ride, with all of its camaraderie, competitiveness, and compassion, featuring David Sibley, Pete Dunne and Kenn Kaufman. Questions or need directions, call Chicago Audubon office at 773-539-6793.

NORTH PARK VILLAGE BIRDWALKS RESUME SEPTEMBER 4th!

Chicago's North Park Village.
5801 N. Pulaski, Chicago, IL
Every Saturday at 8:00 a.m. during September and October.

Bring binoculars, field guides, and dress for the weather. Meet at the entrance to the Nature Center. Parking is free, as are the birdwalks. Don't yet have binoculars? Don't worry, we'll have some there for those who need them.

Questions? Contact the Chicago Audubon office at 773-539-6793.
All levels of birders are welcome!

DELTA DISPATCHES: The latest news on efforts to restore Coastal Louisiana

National Audubon, among other organizations, co-sponsors Delta Dispatches, an online newsletter that keeps us abreast of current environmental updates regarding Coastal Louisiana. Here is a link to their site:

http://tinyurl.com/34ujrap

BIRDATHON 2010! (It's never too late to donate!)

CAS President Roger Shamley (center) presents the Beecher Cup to Jason Weckstein (left)
and Nick Block (right) of the winning Field's Flickers Birdathon team.
(photo taken at Lou Malnati's, July 15, 2010)

Saturday and Sunday.
May 15th and 16th, 2010.

First things first: many thanks to all who birded, pledged or otherwise supported the efforts of the four teams that competed in the Chicago Audubon Society Birdathon during the past weekend. The combined teams tallied 177 species in Cook County over the two-day period. As usual, each team manged to locate species found by no other team.

The teams, in order of finish:
157 - Field's Flickers (John Bates, Nick Block, Jason Weckstein & Ben Winger; 5/16/10)
145 - American Woodcocks (Greg Neise, Randy Shonkwiler & Matthew Winks; 5/16/10)
130 - Hudwits (Ira Sanders, Roger Shamley & Chris Van Wassenhove; 5/16/10)
126 - Steel Belted Kingfishers (Mark Agnor, Joe Lill, Jeff Sundberg & Kris Sundberg; 5/17/10)

A fine time was had by all; come join us next year!

For a list of species seen click here.
Want to contribute? Download a pledge form pdf here

COOK COUNTY SPRING BIRD COUNT RESULTS - May 8th, 2010

Compiled by CAS Research Committee Chair Alan Anderson, you can access a pdf with all of the data, observers and species totals by clicking here. Thanks go out to all who participated!

CITY OF CHICAGO "BIRD'S-EYE VIEW" WEBSITE

The City of Chicago's Department of Environment put together a great birding website, with text in both English and Spanish. Educational materials, helpful links, and more! CAS has "inherited" the site and, with the help of Greg Neise (founder of the Illinois Birder's Forum), we will continue to make this site available to the public. There will be updates along the way, so check back from time to time at:
http://www.ilbirds.com/Environment/BirdMigration/

We'd like to thank Sarah Abu-Absi of the DOE for offering this site to the environmental community!

WOODED ISLAND BIRDWALKS

Chicago's Jackson Park.
Every Wednesday at 7:00 a.m. & every Saturday at 8:00 a.m.
Continuous throughout the year.

Bring binoculars, field guides, and dress for the weather. Many species of songbirds and water birds are seen. Meet at Clarence Darrow Bridge, just south of Museum of Science and Industry.

Directions to Darrow Bridge: From Lake Shore Drive turn west on Science Drive, which is the stop light at 5800 South. Turn left at the stop sign. Travel through the parking lot to the west end where you'll find Darrow Bridge. Parking is free, as are the birdwalks.

Questions? Contact Pat Durkin at pat.durkin@comcast.net. All levels of birders are welcome!

Birds of Chicago by Chris C. Fisher and David B. Johnson

Birds of Chicago is the perfect lightweight easy-to-carry volume intended to serve as both a bird identification guide and a bird appreciation guide and presents a balance between the familliar and the noteworthy--an excellent companion whether you are on a birdwalk or just a stroll through the park. Price: $15 (includes postage). To order over the phone, call the Chicago Audubon office at (773) 539-6793 or send a check to: Chicago Audubon Society 5801-C North Pulaski Road, Chicago, 60646.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR AWARDEES!
Chicago Audubon Biennial Environmental Awards Banquet
Thursday, November 5, 2009

On Thursday, November 5, Chicago Audubon held its Biennial Environmental Awards Banquet at the Silver Stallion Restaurant in Des Plaines to honor those who have made contributions to conservation and birding in the Chicagoland area. The Chicago Audubon Board of Directors chooses final Award recipients. For a list of past recipients click here.

At the banquet, CAS also thanked three people for their decades of service
to Chicago Audubon:

- Richard Biss, who managed the CAS Rare Bird Alert for more than 25 years

- Carol Nelson, who served on the CAS Board of Directors, on the Conservation Committee,
led trips, gave programs and so much more, for many years.

- Doug Anderson, our longest serving board member ever (since 1973), who also led bird walks at Jackson Park’s Wooded Island for more than 30 years.

CAS Hotline Highlights!

Among our honorees at the recent CAS Awards Banquet (see below) was Richard Biss, who managed the CAS Rare Bird Alert for over 25 years. For some after-dinner entertainment he put together a collation of "highlights." Some commentary from Rich: "Some of it is difficult to understand, as the recordings are old and were on microcassette tapes. Its amazing how the technology has changed over the years from huge bulky tape machines, to smaller tapes, to microcassette tapes, to digital. Laurie Binford is the person giving the funny Botanic Garden Reports. The first message was the first message that I received when running the hotline. It was from Jim Landing, who jokingly started with saying my voice was sexy! At the end of the recordings is Jim Landing leaving a difficult to understand but funny message from his dog Bull, which I assume many of you may remember. Chris Williamson (Phillips then) has her ovenbird central message, and Dave Johnson give his rendition of Summer Tanager from Jack Benny Center of the Arts in Waukegan. Danny Diaz saw the injured Warbler (not really injured, but the name was funny), and there are a few other people who may recognize someone on the recording."

The mp3 file of the "Highlights" can be listened to by clicking here. Thanks again, Rich, for 25 years of great work!

SKOKIE LAGOONS WORKDAYS

10:00 a.m. every second Saturday of the month. Continuous throughout the year.

The Chicago Audubon Society sponsors regular monthly workdays at Skokie Lagoons every second Saturday of the month. Activities include buckthorn cutting, brush pile burning, and other management activities. Wear work clothes. Meet at the Tower Road parking lot, east of the lagoon bridge. For further information, please call Dave Kosnik at (847) 456-6368. Everyone is welcome!

MONTROSE POINT MAGIC HEDGE STEWARDSHIP WORKDAYS

Workdays to be held on the following Saturdays:
March 6, April 10, May 8, and June 12.
Volunteers are needed to help with weeding, mulching, planting native shrubs and trees. We are also establishing a prairie! Wear work clothes. To sign up and for directions, please contact David Painter, 773-383-0721, or email dvdpaint@yahoo.com. Everyone is welcome!

LIGHTS OUT!!!

Now that spring migration is here, our nationally-known program, Lights Out! also resumes. With the cooperation and support of the Mayor's Nature and Wildlife Committee and the Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago (BOMA), lights in many of downtown Chicago's tall buildings are turned out during the overnight hours in order to avoid attracting migratory birds, which can otherwise become disoriented and crash into the buildings. For more information, please click here!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO HELP SAVE THE BIRDS!

Chicago Bird Collision Monitors (CBCM) is looking for volunteers to assist in their conservation and rescue efforts for migratory birds in downtown Chicago and outlying areas. Help rescue the birds! For further information, please call (773) 988-1867.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW CAS BOARD MEMBERS

The downside to the departure of Christine and Stephen Lee to their new Colorado home is that it leaves us with openings on the CAS Board. We're looking for people with a passion for nature who want to "act locally." If you're interested in being nominated for the Board please contact Joe Lill at 773-631-3154 or trptjoe@aol.com.