VOLUME 24, ISSUE 4 JULY/ AUGUST 2010 CHICAGO AUDUBON SOCIETY 5801-C N. Pulaski Road Chicago, IL 60646-6057 Periodicals Navigating the world of birds and nature Gulf of Mexico BP Oil Disaster: How to Help he response to National Audubon’s call for volunteers has been enormous. Over 1,000 people a day are being added to the volunteer rosters. We encour- age everyone who is interested to please sign up immediately because main- taining a large pool of potential volunteers is very important to the success of the organizational needs in the Gulf coast area. Also, please be patient. National is in the process of sorting out the various types of volunteer skills that will be needed and matching them to people who will be available. It is very important that potential volunteers not travel to the Louisiana gulf areas on their own. Please wait until you are contacted. Your participation in the sign-up process is essential and there will also be opportunities to participate in long-term restoration efforts. We are including sign-up opportunities offered by other organizations. The more places you have signed with, the better your chances of being called into service. Audubon Volunteer Sign-up and How to Help: www.audubonaction.org/SpillResponse; National Wildlife Federation Volunteer Sign-up: www.nwf.org/Oil-Spill.aspx Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana: www.crcl.org Deepwater Horizon Unified Command (through World Wildlife Fund): www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com Cornell Lab of Ornithology How to Help: www.ebird.org/content/ebird/news/survey-gulf-coast-birds T US Fish & Wildlife with National Audubon and TriState Bird Rescue & Research: www.tristatebird.org The Ocean Conservancy: www.oceanconservancy.org/site/PageServer?pagename=program_gulfdisaster The Nature Conservancy: www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/louisiana/volunteer/ art31619.html State of Louisiana Volunteer Service: www.volunteerlouisiana.gov State of Mississippi Volunteer Service: www.mcvs.org State of Alabama Volunteer Service: www.211connectsalabama.org State of Florida Volunteer Service: www.volunteerflorida.org Environmental Defense Fund: www.edf.org National Resources Defense Fund: www.nrdc.org National Audubon anticipates volunteer activities will include: • Coastal Bird Survey: Collecting data and photos on bird resources and impacts across the coast according to specific scientific protocols. • Wildlife Transport Facilitator: Assisting USFWS and Tri-State Bird Rescue with volunteers scheduled in round-the-clock shifts in key locations for injured/ oiled wildlife recovery and transport operations throughout the coastal region. • Bird Capture and Rescue Materials: Volunteers are needed to make nets, cages and other materials to assist trained professionals in oiled bird rescue efforts. • Citizen Science Monitoring: Submitting electronic information on birds sightings at Important Bird Areas, refuges or sanctuaries to assess population impacts, numbers of target species or species of concern • Bird Hotline Operators: Providing on-site bird expertise for our Volun- teer Response Center as well as possibly in field offices of BP, Tri-State Bird Rescue and others involved in response efforts to address issues related to bird sightings, handling, species identification, etc. Audubon has been working for the health of the Gulf for years. We can help volunteers to make a difference now, when it’s needed the most. Together we can help the region grow even stronger long after the headlines fade. Interested volunteers may register as described above. Also, to follow more of National Audubon efforts, go to Audubon on Twitter and Facebook. The BP Oil Leak Disaster By Carolyn A. Marsh Chicago Audubon Society uring the winter days of January 15-17, National Audubon Society and the National Wildlife Federation hosted a workshop in New Orleans, Louisiana with Audubon chapter leaders from seven Mississippi River states. The purpose of the workshop was to gain knowledge of coastal land loss problems, threats of climate change, and restoration solutions. Coastal Louisiana restoration Chicago Audubon Society leaders, Christine Van Wassenhove, Ann Garrett, and Carolyn Marsh, were among 40 from Minnesota, Wiscon- sin, Illinois,Missouri, Arkansas, Mis- sissippi, and Louisiana that toured devastating impacts on the local communities caused by the British Petroleum oil leak. And it was where President Obama held a press conference. At Port Fourchon, birders learned about the recovery of nesting Brown Pelicans, the state bird of Louisi- ana, which had nearly disappeared in 1963. The Brown Pelican in the Pacific and Gulf Coast ranges were just removed from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Endangered Species List in November 2009. News photos of crude oil soaked Brown Pelicans are agonizingly painful to watch under incomprehensible circumstances. Audubon Louisiana Important Bird Areas Louisiana is the southernmost welcome center along the Mississippi River fly- way. Its coastal areas comprise barrier islands and headland beaches that are a critical link between North American nesting grounds and wintering areas in Latin America for many songbirds and other Neotropical migrants. The southeast coast also provides nest- ing grounds for Roseate Spoonbills, Royal and Caspian Terns, Black-necked Stilts, Great and Snowy Egrets, Tricol- ored Herons and Black Skimmers. Continued on page 2 the bayous, marshes, and beaches on the Gulf of Mexico. Attendees were informed of the urgent issues of the region, which enabled them to return to their organization and communities as advocates for coastal Louisiana restoration throughout the Mississippi River Basin. Included in the workshop was a field trip to Elmer’s Island Wildlife Refuge and Grand Isle State Park. Elmer’s Island is a 230-acre tract of barrier beachfront located on the southwest- ern tip of Jefferson Parish. Birders observed impressive numbers of Clapper Rails, Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrows, and Seaside Sparrows. On Grand Isle, Red Knot, Wilson’s Plo- ver, and the threatened Piping Plover were sighted scurrying among other shorebirds on the beach. These are the same bird habitats where heavy oil has washed up on the shore. Grand Isle is now the staging area for journalists that report on the .January 2010. Three very healthy Brown Pelicans in the Louisiana Marches. Photo by Carol Ann Garrett. January 2010. Chicago Audubon Board member Carl Ann Garrett and Vice President Chris Van Wassenhove attend a workshop hosted by National Audubon and the National Wildlife Federation. Photo by Carol Ann Garrett. January 2010. Louisiana marshes. Photo by Carol Ann Garrett, IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM NATIONAL AUDUBON -- HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO LOCALLY: If you normally feed birds, whether in your backyard or on a window sill or a patio, National Audubon is asking that you keep feeding the birds throughout the summer and all the way through Fall migration. If the birds begin their Fall migration journey with added body weight--which gives them added energy--they may not need to stop over and re-fuel as they normally would in the damaged areas of the Gulf. They may be able to make it all the way to South America without stopping. This is an extremely important request from National Audubon. Your efforts are essential to its success! Please pass the word to everyone you know and ask them to pass along the message. D
Transcript
VOLUME 24, ISSUE 4 JULy/ AUGUST 2010
CHICAGO AUDUBON SOCIETY5801-C N. Pulaski Road Chicago, IL 60646-6057
Periodicals
Navigating the world of birds and nature
Gulf of Mexico BP Oil Disaster: How to Help
he response to National Audubon’s call for volunteers has been enormous. Over 1,000 people a day are being added to the volunteer rosters. We encour-age everyone who is interested to please sign up immediately because main-taining a large pool of potential volunteers is very important to the success of the organizational needs in the Gulf coast area. Also, please be patient. National is in the process of sorting out the various types of volunteer skills that will be needed and matching them to people who will be available. It is very important that potential volunteers not travel to the Louisiana gulf areas on their own. Please wait until you are contacted. Your participation in the sign-up process is essential and there will also be opportunities to participate in long-term restoration efforts. We are including sign-up opportunities offered by other organizations. The more places you have signed with, the better your chances of being called into service.
Audubon Volunteer Sign-up and How to Help: www.audubonaction.org/SpillResponse; National Wildlife Federation Volunteer Sign-up: www.nwf.org/Oil-Spill.aspxCoalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana: www.crcl.org Deepwater Horizon Unified Command (through World Wildlife Fund): www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com Cornell Lab of Ornithology How to Help: www.ebird.org/content/ebird/news/survey-gulf-coast-birds
T
US Fish & Wildlife with National Audubon and TriState Bird Rescue & Research: www.tristatebird.orgThe Ocean Conservancy: www.oceanconservancy.org/site/PageServer?pagename=program_gulfdisaster The Nature Conservancy: www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/louisiana/volunteer/art31619.htmlState of Louisiana Volunteer Service: www.volunteerlouisiana.govState of Mississippi Volunteer Service: www.mcvs.org State of Alabama Volunteer Service: www.211connectsalabama.orgState of Florida Volunteer Service: www.volunteerflorida.orgEnvironmental Defense Fund: www.edf.org National Resources Defense Fund: www.nrdc.org
National Audubon anticipates volunteer activities will include: • Coastal Bird Survey: Collecting data and photos on bird resources and impacts across the coast according to specific scientific protocols.• Wildlife Transport Facilitator: Assisting USFWS and Tri-State Bird Rescue with volunteers scheduled in round-the-clock shifts in key locations for injured/oiled wildlife recovery and transport operations throughout the coastal region.• Bird Capture and Rescue Materials: Volunteers are needed to make nets, cages and other materials to assist trained professionals in oiled bird rescue efforts.• Citizen Science Monitoring: Submitting electronic information on birds sightings at Important Bird Areas, refuges or sanctuaries to assess population impacts, numbers of target species or species of concern• Bird Hotline Operators: Providing on-site bird expertise for our Volun-teer Response Center as well as possibly in field offices of BP, Tri-State Bird Rescue and others involved in response efforts to address issues related to bird sightings, handling, species identification, etc.
Audubon has been working for the health of the Gulf for years. We can help volunteers to make a difference now, when it’s needed the most. Together we can help the region grow even stronger long after the headlines fade.
Interested volunteers may register as described above. Also, to follow more of National Audubon efforts, go to Audubon on Twitter and Facebook.
The BP Oil Leak DisasterBy Carolyn A. Marsh
Chicago Audubon Society
uring the winter days of January 15-17, National Audubon Society and the National Wildlife Federation hosted a workshop in New Orleans, Louisiana with Audubon chapter leaders from seven Mississippi River states. The purpose of the workshop was to gain knowledge of coastal land loss problems, threats of climate change, and restoration solutions.
Coastal Louisiana restorationChicago Audubon Society leaders, Christine Van Wassenhove, Ann Garrett, and Carolyn Marsh, were among 40 from Minnesota, Wiscon-sin, Illinois,Missouri, Arkansas, Mis-sissippi, and Louisiana that toured
devastating impacts on the localcommunities caused by the British Petroleum oil leak. And it was where President Obama held a press conference. At Port Fourchon, birders learned about the recovery of nesting Brown Pelicans, the state bird of Louisi-ana, which had nearly disappeared in 1963. The Brown Pelican in the Pacific and Gulf Coast ranges were just removed from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Endangered Species List in November 2009. News photos
of crude oil soaked Brown Pelicans are agonizingly painful to watch under incomprehensible circumstances.
Audubon Louisiana Important Bird AreasLouisiana is the southernmost welcome center along the Mississippi River fly-way. Its coastal areas comprise barrier islands and headland beaches that are a critical link between North American nesting grounds and wintering areas in Latin America for many songbirds and other Neotropical migrants.
The southeast coast also provides nest-ing grounds for Roseate Spoonbills, Royal and Caspian Terns, Black-necked Stilts, Great and Snowy Egrets, Tricol-ored Herons and Black Skimmers.
Continued on page 2
the bayous, marshes, and beaches on the Gulf of Mexico. Attendees were informed of the urgent issues of the region, which enabled them to return to their organization and communities as advocates for coastal Louisiana restoration throughout the Mississippi River Basin.
Included in the workshop was a field trip to Elmer’s Island Wildlife Refuge and Grand Isle State Park. Elmer’s Island is a 230-acre tract of barrier beachfront located on the southwest-ern tip of Jefferson Parish. Birders observed impressive numbers of Clapper Rails, Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrows, and Seaside Sparrows. On Grand Isle, Red Knot, Wilson’s Plo-ver, and the threatened Piping Plover were sighted scurrying among other shorebirds on the beach.
These are the same bird habitats where heavy oil has washed up on the shore. Grand Isle is now the staging area for journalists that report on the
.January 2010. Three very healthy Brown Pelicans in the Louisiana Marches.Photo by Carol Ann Garrett.
January 2010. Chicago Audubon Board member Carl Ann Garrett and Vice President Chris Van Wassenhove attend a workshop hosted by National Audubon and the National Wildlife Federation. Photo by Carol Ann Garrett.
January 2010. Louisiana marshes. Photo by Carol Ann Garrett,
Important message From natIonal audubon --Here’s wHat you can do locally: If you normally feed birds, whether in your backyard or on a window sill or a patio, National Audubon is asking that you keep feeding the birds throughout the summer and all the way through Fall migration. If the birds begin their Fall migration journey with added body weight--which gives them added energy--they may not need to stop over and re-fuel as they normally would in the damaged areas of the Gulf. They may be able to make it all the way to South America without stopping. This is an extremely important request from National Audubon. Your efforts are essential to its success! Please pass the word to everyone you know and ask them to pass along the message.
D
COMPASSChicago Audubon Society
North Park Village5801-C N. Pulaski RoadChicago, IL 60646-6057www.chicagoaudubon.org
Editor: Skipper Joy WoltersLayout Artist: Noël Maguigad
The Compass is the official publication ofthe Chicago Audubon Society, a chapter ofthe National Audubon Society. The ChicagoAudubon Society, an Illinois non-profitcorporation, has been granted tax-exemptstatus by the federal government. TheCompass and the Chicago Audubon Societyare not responsible for the accuracy of allinformation published or for opinionsexpressed in this publication.
Compass (ISSN 1097-7899) is published bi-monthly by the Chicago Audubon Society,5801-C N. Pulaski, Chicago, IL 60646-6057.Distributed to membership ($5 allotted fromdues). Periodicals postage paid at Chicago,IL. Postmaster: send address changes toCompass, c/o Chicago Audubon Society,5801-C N. Pulaski, Chicago, IL 60646-6057.
COMMITTEE CHAIRSHotline: Doris Johanson, (847) 299-3505.Awards: Alan Anderson (see Nominatingbelow)Birdathon: Joe Lill, (773) 631-3154, [email protected] Chair: Joe Lill, (773) 631-3154 [email protected] Trips: Doris Johanson, (847) 827-5930Stewardship: Jerry Garden, (773) 545-4632, [email protected]: Alan Anderson, (847) 390-7437, [email protected]: Skipper Joy Wolters, (773) 539-6793, [email protected]: Bill Schwaber, (847) 475-4986,[email protected]
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We wish to thank the 163 birders who took part in the Cook County portion of the Illinois Spring Bird Count on May 5th.We covered more areas than ever before but there are still a number not yet covered. Please contact us if you wish toparticipate next year. Excellent work by all!
Cook County Spring Bird Count 2007
2007 2006 2005Some “regular” species numbers are fairly consistent:CANADA 781,2910,2120,2:ESOOG
257820,1030,1:DRALLAM646626275:TNAROMROC C-D
AMERICAN ROBIN: 2,567 2,544 3,212118,1688,1517,1:WORRAPS DETAORHT-ETIHW710,1770,1569:HCNIFDLOG NACIREMA
Some “regular” species fluctuated a bit (up or down):721 132934:TOOC NACIREMA81538264:NOREHTHGIN DENWORC-KCALB
Below are sample listings of 2007 Documented Species(written or photographed) from various areas, wherethey were found, and by whom:a) 1 ‘swan species’ (Trumpeter or Tundra) – MontroseHarbor, Tom Kelly, et al.b) 2 Green-winged Teal – Paul Douglas FP, Stan Stecc) 1 Little Blue Heron – Busse Woods FP, Alan Andersond) 2 Northern Harrier – Bartel Grasslands FP, Dick Riner,et al.e) i) 1 juv. Bald Eagle – Palos Hills area, John Duran
ii) 1 Bald Eagle -- Gillson Park, Evanston, ChetCresham
iii)1 juv. Bald Eagle – Bartel Grasslands, Dick Riner,et al.f) 1 Willet – Gillson Park, Evanston, Chet Greshamg) 12 Least Sandpipers -- Calumet area, Margaret Bakeret al.h) 2 Bonaparte’s Gull -- Gillson Park, Evanston, ChetGreshami) 1 Eurasian Collared-Dove -- River Forest, Jill Andersonj) 1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo -- Turtlehead Lake FP, GaryClinkmank) 1 E. Screech-Owl – Harms Woods FP, Jerry Gardenl) 1 Olive-sided Flycatcher – Cranberry Slough FP, JudyPollockm) 1 Loggerhead Shrike – Turtlehead Lake FP, GaryClinkmann) i) 1 Winter Wren -- LaBagh Woods FP, DavidBrenner
ii) 2 Winter Wren – Jackson Park, Paul Clyneo) i) 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet – Des Plaines, RobertJohanson, et al.
ii) 2 Golden-crowned Kinglet – Jackson Park, PaulClyne, et al.p) 1 Northern Mockingbird – Northerly Island, DavidWillard, et al.q) 1 Prothonotary Warbler – southern Chicago lakefront,Michael Dani, et al.r) 3 Connecticut Warbler – McClaughry Woods PF,Sharron Hart, et al.s) 1 Canada Warbler – LaBagh Woods FP, WalterKrawiec, et al.t) 1 Yellow-breasted Chat – Lincoln Park (Caldwell LilyPond), Steve Huggins
u) 1 Townsend’s Warbler – LaBagh Woods FP, firstobserved by Michal Furmanek, then by Janet and AnnPelligrini (for SBC); many observers the following 3 days.v) 1 Summer Tanager – Bemis Woods FP, Jeff Armstrongw) 1 American Tree Sparrow – LaBagh Woods FP, BudWagnerx) 3 Vesper Sparrow – south Cook FP’s along Des PlainesRiver, John Durany) i) 1 Dark-eyed Junco -- LaBagh Woods, DavidBrenner
ii) 8 Dark-eyed Junco -- Northerly Island, DavidWillard, et al.
iv) 1 Dark-eyed Junco – feeder, Francie Muraski-Stotzz) 1 LeConte’s Sparrow -- Jackson Park, RandyShonkwiler and Robert J. LeSeur aa) 1 Blue Grosbeak -- Turtlehead Lake FP, Gary Clinkmanbb) 1 Dickcissel – Bartel Grasslands FP, Dick Rinercc) 2 Rusty Blackbirds – Jackson Park, Amar Ayyash(NOTE: The documentation forms will be reviewed by stateSBC compiler Vernon Kleen before acceptance.)Species observed this year but not in 2006 include:REDHEAD, RING-NECKED DUCK, LESSER SCAUP,COMMON TERN, YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, E. SCREECH-OWL, WILLOW FLYCATCHER, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE,CERULEAN WARBLER, TOWNSEND’S WARBLER,HOODED WARBLER, CONNECTICUT WARBLER,AMERICAN TREE SPARROW AND RUSTY BLACKBIRD.Species not observed this year but that were recorded in 2006:AMERICAN BLACK DUCK, COMMON MERGANSER,COMMON LOON, WILD TURKEY, RED-SHOULDEREDHAWK, SEMI-PALMATED PLOVER, AMERICANWOODCOCK, WILSON’S PHALAROPE, BLACK-BILLEDCUCKOO, BARRED OWL, ACADIAN FLYCATCHER,WHITE-EYED AND BELL’S VIREO, HORNED LARK, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, and BREWER’S BLACKBIRD. APHILADELPHIA VIREO was reported anonymously. Thereport could not be verified and, therefore, unfortunately,could not be part of the official count.
NOTE: To see complete species totals for the years 2006, 2005,2003, please visit:2006:http://www.chicagoaudubon.org/webPDFs/2006/compass_vol20-4_2006.pdf2005:http://www.chicagoaudubon.org/webPDFs/2005/compass0405.pdf
2003:http://www.chicagoaudubon.org/webPDFs/2003/compass0703.pdf (If you have questions, please contact Alan Anderson, CookCounty Compiler for Spring Bird [email protected] or phone the Chicago Audubon officeat 773-539-6793.)
Report sightings to: (773) 539-6793
Report injured birds to Chicago Bird Collision Monitors: (773) 988-1867
The Compass is the official publica-tion of the Chicago Audubon Society, a chapter of the National Audubon Society. The Chicago Audubon Soci-ety, an Illinois non-profit corporation, has been granted tax-exempt status by the federal government. The Compass and the Chicago Audubon Society are not responsible for the accuracy of all information published or for opinions expressed in this publication.
Compass (ISSN 1097-7899) is pub-lished bi-monthly by the Chicago Audubon Society, 5801-C N. Pulaski, Chicago, IL 60646-6057. Distributed to membersship ($5 allotted from dues). Periodicals postage paid at Chicago, IL. Postmaster: send address changes to Compass, c/o Chicago Audubon Society, 5801-C N. Pulaski, Chicago, IL 60646-6057.
Editor: Skipper Joy WoltersLayout Design: Orca Graphics
Chicago Audubon SocietyNorth Park Village
5801-C N. Pulaski RoadChicago, IL 60646-6057www.chicagoaudubon.org
(773) 539-6793
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The BP Oil Leak Disaster continued from page 2There are 23 designed Audubon Important Bird Areas (IBA) in Louisiana. Three have been priori-tized as globally significant. A fourth IBA has been identified as continentally significant. Another is the Southeast IBA of the Barataria-Terrebonne Estuary where the occurrences of 410 different bird species were verified. Audubon’s IBA program recognizes and protects critical places that birds depend on as part of an international network which follows proto-col and criteria established by Birdlife International.
Audubon responseSince the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded 50 miles off the Louisiana shore on April 20th, the Audubon agenda radically shifted to cope amid the greatest environmental disaster in the history of the United States.
National Audubon organized an oil spill volunteer response action center (How to Help information: (www.chicagoaudubon.org), coordinating rehabilita-tion efforts through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ser-vice with Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research: (www.tristatebird.org). Tri-State was contracted by BP to provide wildlife assistance for species impacted by the oil leak. Chicago Audubon reached out to Illinois birders to coordinate any efforts by those interested in volun-teering to help with the clean up.
The onset of legal battles As oil plumes and tar balls extended into the gulf beaches, reaching into the Florida panhandle, myri-ad lawsuits were filed against BP and government.
Earthjustice, representing the Gulf Restoration Net-work and Sierra Club, filed seven lawsuits in
January 2010. Louisiana coastline. Participants at work-shop hosted by National Audubon and National Wildlife Federation. Photo by Carol Ann Garrett
A Victory at Indian Ridge MarshBy Walter Marcisz
fter many months of planning, the Chicago Department of Environment’s Indian Ridge Marsh Ecological Restoration Project is finally poised to take flight. Located in the Calumet Region of southeast Chicago, Indian Ridge Marsh (IRM) is well known for its nesting population of Illinois En-dangered Black-crowned Night-Herons, along with significant populations of other rare and threatened wetland birds.
Consultants from Tetra Tech and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers put together a 50% plan for the IRM Restoration Project in 2009. A good plan over-all, but a few conspicuous flaws became apparent when the proposed trail map was published. Public comments were welcome, so Chicago Audubon Society sent a letter of recommendations regarding the IRM Ecological Restoration Project to the U.S. Army Corps. The recommendations listed included removal of two trails, which had been placed very close to existing heron rookeries. Bird Conservation Network of Greater Chicago and Chicago Orni-thological Society also signed on to the CAS list of recommendations and sent their own letters of support. At a Calumet Projects meeting in August of 2009, consultants to the project embraced the CAS comments in the letter.
At a subsequent April 1, 2010 Calumet Projects meet-ing (attended by Carolyn Marsh and myself), we found that the CAS recommendation to remove a south trail from 122nd Street had been implemented, but a north trail which appeared to be dangerously close to the Black crowned Night-Heron rookery was still in place. After some discussion, a walk-through was scheduled for May 19, 2010.
The walk-through was well attended by many, includ-ing representatives of Chicago Department of Environ-ment, Tetra Tech, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Carolyn Marsh, Roger Shamley, and myself attended on behalf of the Chicago Audubon Society. The walk-through was an eye opener for many, providing views of nest-ing herons and Red-tailed Hawks at IRM, and a pair of nesting Ospreys at a cell tower on adjacent property. As part of the walk-through, we traced the route of the contested north trail, and after some debate it became clear to all relevant parties that the north trail simply offered too many opportunities for disturbance to the night-heron colony. There was more discussion, and ultimately the Chicago Department of Environment relented and agreed to remove the north trail from their plans.
A victory for the Birds—and for all of us!
A
Indian Ridge Marsh, southeast Chicago. Photo by Jerry Attere of WRD Environmental.
The May 19 walk-through at Indian Ridge Marsh, located in the Calumet Region of southeast Chicago. Attendees included representatives of the Chicago Dept of Envi-ronment, Tetra Tech, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Illinois Dept of Natural Resources, Chicago Audubon, and many others. Photo by Jerry Attere of WRD Environmental.
federal court against the U.S. Minerals Manage-ment Service. The first lawsuit challenges the federal agency’s illegal exemption of oil drilling companies from critical safety and environmental requirements. The latest lawsuit challenges the agency’s arbitrary approval of BP’s oil spill clean-up plan. Earthjustice has also filed a Freedom of Information petition aimed at uncovering what chemicals are in the dispersants being used to break up the oil trail.
Sidebar:In 2009, Chicago Audubon took a position against the mining of tar sands oil in Alberta Canada and against its refinement for gasoline at the BP Whiting Refinery. Carolyn Marsh was a petitioner with the Legal Environmental Aid Foundation of Indiana, Inc. that successfully challenged the low amount of pollution calculated in the air permit that In-diana and BP claimed would be emitted around Lake Michigan. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ordered Indiana to rewrite the air permit.
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COOK COUNTY SPRING BIRD COUNT – MAY 8, 2010Count Data, Recent Count Totals & Species Table
County: Cook Date: May 8, 2010Cook County coordinator/compiler: Alan Anderson, [email protected]
Research Committee, Chicago Audubon Society, www.chicagoaudubon.orgNumber of observers: 157 Number of parties: 73
[Number of areas/checklists submitted – (Cook Co. only*) = 70)]
Cook County Spring Bird Count from 2005 to present:Total numbers of participants, parties, checklists, and species reported each year.
A very BIG “Thank You” to all who participated and contributed data to the 2010 Illinois Spring Bird Count in Cook County on May 8th. Please note that a complete list of participants’ names is on our website: chicagoaudubon.org.
According to Vern Kleen (long-time prior statewide compiler), the all time record high-est species count in a county was 205 species in 1983 by Lake County. That is the same year that Cook County recorded its highest number of species of 204 (also, Monk Para-keet and Eurasian Collared Dove were not considered ‘countable species’ at that time).
2
COOK COUNTY SPRING BIRD COUNT - SPECIES RESULTSMay 8, 2010
*Total # Areas: This table shows how many checklists (out of 70 total) recorded each species, showing how widespread each species was spread over the county during count day.
Skokie Lagoons Workdays. 10:00 a.m. every second Saturday: Continuous throughout the year. The Chicago Audubon Society spon-sors regular monthly workdays at Skokie Lagoons every second Saturday of the month. Activities include buckthorn cut-ting, brush pile burning, and other man-agement activities. Wear work clothes. Meet at the Tower Road parking lot, east of the lagoon bridge. For further informa-tion, please call Dave Kosnik at (847) 456-6368. Everyone is welcome!
Montrose Point Magic Hedge Steward-ship Workdays to be held on the follow-ing Saturdays: June 12, July 10, August 7, September 11, October 2, and November 16. Volunteers are needed to help with weed-ing, mulching, planting native shrubs and trees. We are also establishing a prairie! Wear work clothes. To sign up and for di-rections, please contact David Painter: (773) 383-0721 or email at [email protected]. Everyone is welcome!
Wooded Island Birdwalks. Jackson Park. Every Wednesday at 7:00 a.m. and Every Saturday at 8:00 a.m. Continuous throughout the year. These wonderful walks will continue throughout the year up to New Year’s Day. 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. For details and directions, contact Pat Durkin at [email protected].
Chicago Audubon Birdwalks will start up again every Saturday in September and October for the Fall Migration at 8:00 a.m. North Park Village Nature Center. 5801 North Pulaski Road, Building D. Remember to put some of those Autumn dates on your calendar, especially if you weren’t able to join us this past Spring. Come and learn about birds and their habitats while walking through the woods surrounding the Nature Center. The walks are led by expert birders who wel-come questions from all levels of birders. For information or directions to the Nature Center, call the Chicago Audubon office (773) 539-6793. Everyone is welcome!
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COOK COUNTY SPRING BIRD COUNT – MAY 8, 2010Continued from page 3
Birdathon! 2010First 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 on May 15 and 16. The com-bined teams tallied 177 species in Cook County over the two-day period. As usual, each team man-aged to locate species found by no other team.
The teams, in order of finish were:Field’s Flickers with 157 species (John Bates, Nick Block, Jason Weckstein, Ben Winger). American Woodcocks with 145 species (Greg Neise, Randy Shonkwiler, Matthew Winks). Hudwits with 130 (Ira Sanders, Roger Shamley, Chris Van Wassenhove). Steel Belted Kingfishers with 126 (Mark Agnor, Joe Lill, Jeff Sundberg, Kris Sundberg).
A fine time was had by all! Please come join us next year! Joe Lill, CAS Birdathon Coordinator, Chicago, Cook County
To our readers: Please note that it is never too late to participate in Birdathon as a donor. If you missed the initial pre-event donation period, please feel free to contribute at any time. This is one of our primary fundraisers each year, and we rely on your support for our upcoming programs and goals. We have included a pledge form here with this issue or if you wish to make a donation using a credit card, please call our office at 773-539-6793. Thank you again for all your support!
• My tax-deductible gift of $ __________ is enclosed. Make check payable to: Chicago Audubon Society 5801-C N. Pulaski Road Chicago, IL 60646 Or credit card: Visa MasterCard Discover
