[BCNnet] Your Sightings Can Help

[bobolnk at ix.netcom.com]

News flash ... Many common birds in steep decline ... Except where BCN is active...


Dear greater Chicagoland birders,

This would be a great year to contribute to the BCN Census - if you're not already.  Many successful projects are improving bird habitats and increasing bird populations because local birders are sharing what they know with the people who manage our public lands.

Our birds need you to let decision makers know where they are.  It's never been easier.  You can have a one-morning-a year fling, or perhaps quite a few mornings, and a more satisfying relationship? It's up to you.   Enter your data on line, or mail it to us and we'll enter it for you.

Here are just a few achievements of local birder/monitors:

-Initiated habitat restoration projects at Bartel Grassland, Jarvis Bird Sanctuary, McCormick Place Bird Sanctuary, Spring Creek Preserves and others

-Major contributors to projects at Springbrook Prairie, Orland Grassland, Rollins Savanna, Wooded Island,  Montrose Point, and others

-Discovered West Nile Virus's impact on chickadees

-Provided solid data for analysis of Chicago-Wilderness wide trends.

-Produced inventories of grassland and shrubland birds in the region that are changing the ways some Forest Preserve Districts manage their lands.

-Brought grassland habitat improvements to Midlothian Meadows, Kings Grove, Paul Douglas and other Cook County preserves

We have so many interested and receptive public agencies just waiting for you to share what you know.

You are invited to attend a BCN Census workshop this spring to learn about this project.  We are holding 5 scattered throughout the region.  Workshops include instructions for new and prospective monitors and much more: brush-up sessions on songs and calls; discussions of best practices by some of our most experienced monitors; planning for cooperation between monitors, land managers, and stewards; county updates about on-the-ground projects -- and more. These workshops should prove valuable to anyone interested in bird habitat conservation.

All workshops take place from noon to four - and offer great birding on site in the morning if you want to arrive early.

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Kane County, March 1, 2008, Aurora West Forest Preserve, Aurora.

Sponsored by Kane County Audubon, the Bird Conservation Network (BCN), Dundee Township and the Forest Preserve District of Kane County.

Presenters and key participants:
Matt Williamson, Drew Ullberg and, Julia Borque, Forest Preserve District of Kane County Restoration Ecology and Volunteer Coordination staff; Ann Haverstock, Birding by Ear; Margaret Mechtenberg, Cheryl Hayes, Liz Gerity, BCN monitors, Judy Pollock, Audubon Chicago Region

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DuPage County, March 8, 2008 Morton Arboretum, Lisle.

Sponsored by The DuPage Birding Club, the BCN, the Forest Preserve Districts of DuPage County and the Morton Arboretum.  

Presenters and key participants: Geoff Willliamson, Birding by Ear; Cindy Hedges, Scott Meister, Forest Preserve District of Cook County; Bob Andrini, Jody and Jerry Zamirowski, BCN bird monitors; Joe Suchecki, steward; Judy Pollock, Audubon Chicago Region

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Lake County, Illinois, March 15, 2008. Ryerson Woods Welcome Center, Deerfield,

Sponsored by the BCN, Lake Cook Audubon, Lake County Audubon, Evanston North Shore Bird Club, Liberty Prairie Conservancy, Citizens for Conservation, the Forest Preserve District of Lake County, and the Park District of Highland Park.

Presenters and key participants: Geoff Willliamson, Birding by Ear; Gary Glowacki, Forest Preserve District of Lake County; Donnie Dann, BCN bird monitor; Rebecca Grill, Theresa Greinig, Park District of Highland Park; Lee Ramsey, BCN

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Cook County North, March 29, 2008.  Crabtree Nature Center, Barrington.

Sponsored by the BCN, the Forest Preserve District of Cook County and the Chicago Park District, Chicago Audubon Society, Chicago Ornithological Society, Fort Dearborn Audubon, Thorn Creek Audubon and Evanston North Shore Bird Club

Presenters and key participants: Carolyn Fields, Birding by Ear; Stan Stec, Suzanne Checchia, Carolyn Fields, BCN monitors; Joni Marin, Cook County FPD; Pete Jackson, Stephen Packard, stewards; Lee Ramsey, BCN

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Chicago and Cook County South, April 5, 2008.  South Shore Cultural Center, Chicago.

Same Sponsors as above

Presenters and key participants: Conrad Fialkowski and Kurt Leslie, Birding by Ear,  Conrad F. and Dick Riner, BCN monitors; Becky Schillo, Chicago Park District; Kurt Leslie, steward; Judy Pollock, Audubon Chicago Region

All are welcome.  Birds need a voice, and monitoring is a rewarding and
interesting way of providing them with that voice.   If you have questions
or plan to attend, please contact Judy Pollock: 847-965-1150, ext 21 or chicagowildthings at yahoo.com. Updated information about the workshops can be found on the BCN website (www.bcnbirds.org)

Judy Pollock
bobolnk at ix.netcom.com
Evanston (Cook ) IL