POP UP WALK THIS SUNDAY!! 🪾

Come out for a winter bird walk with Lake County Audubon Society as we explore the trail system at Ryerson Conservation Area. Located within the Des Plaines River Watershed, Ryerson provides a home for a wide variety of bird species during the coldest months. 🦆🦅

Through mid-February, there have been 63 species reported on the Ryerson eBird hotspot page for 2026. In just the past week there has been an increase in bird activity, with some of the earliest songbirds in our area beginning to sing. We'll be on the lookout for the resident, yet somewhat elusive barred owls and pileated woodpeckers.

After the walk we invite participants to stay for a social gathering inside the Welcome Center, where a FeederWatch station has been set up by the Lake County Forest Preserves.

Specific details about the walk and parking location are included via the registration link below:

Date: Sunday, February 22, 2026

Time: 8:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Trip Leaders: Brad Stein (773) 213-1808  &  Matt Tobin (847) 951-1483

Register for Ryerson Conservation Area Bird Walk

To: Lake County Audubon members and guests: 

We're inviting you to a Valentine’s Day Prairie Seeding event on Saturday, February 14th, 9-10:30 am. It’s sponsored in cooperation with the Libertyville Township Open Space District and hosted by ecologist Dave Eubanks. 

We’ll meet at the parking lot just off Casey Road, west of Almond Road.  Look for the Farm Gate on Casey, which will be plowed if necessary (https://maps.app.goo.gl/gqs33H9vbPhxYs7M6). The GPS address is: 42°19'11.1"N 87°58’49.9”W. This entrance is about 500 feet west of the flashing yellow light at Casey & Almond Roads, on the south side of Casey. 

We’ll be planting native seeds in various areas of the Liberty Prairie, gathered during last October’s seed harvest. This important ecological activity will end up with a timely story told by Glen Moss, Steward at Old School Forest Preserve and Lake County Audubon Board member. In addition we will be looking for birds and other evidence of animal life to identify. 

Recommended Dress to work outside:

Wear layers of clothes that can get dirty. We strongly recommend jeans, sturdy boots, and three layers on top. We’ve learned that fleece jackets are just a magnet for sticky seeds and are best left in the car. We’ve also learned that if we’re cold, we’re miserable, so we always recommend an extra layer of warmth – better to have it and not need it than the other way around.

This will be a limited attendance event, so please respond ASAP to geiselhart8@aol.com if you plan to come. Hope to see you there.

Paul Geislehart

847 744 0437

he endangered Great Lakes Piping Plover population is federally protected. Habitat loss due to beach development and other causes reduced the population to 13 pairs in the 1980s, and all of them were in Michigan. Before then, 500 to 800 pairs of piping plovers had nested in the Great Lakes Region, including in Illinois.  The Waukegan area used to be the primary nesting area for the plovers in Illinois. Conservation efforts have helped the species rebound to 81 breeding pairs last summer, the highest number since the species was declared endangered, according to the Great Lakes Piping Plover Conservation Team.

Sharing Our Shore and the Return of the Piping Plover to Waukegan Shores chronicles the life of Blaze and Pepper — two charismatic Great Lakes Piping Plovers who were captive-reared and released on the shores of Waukegan in 2023. Against all odds, they returned in 2024 and successfully fledged three chicks — Juniper, Sage, and Willow — marking a remarkable milestone for this endangered species and for our local conservation community. The film showcases the dedicated efforts behind Lake County Audubon Society’s conservation program, Sharing Our Shore – Waukegan, and the special role it plays in raising awareness and protecting the unique lakefront habitat vital to the plovers’ survival and success.

The film was written and produced by Carolyn Lueck, who will introduce the film and will host a Q&A after the screening. Along with fellow volunteer monitors, she will share firsthand experiences from the 2024 and 2025 nesting seasons and offer insights into what it takes to protect a federally endangered species right here in Lake County, Illinois.

Date:  Sunday, November 9, 2025

Time:  7:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Activity Level:  Moderate, Walk 3-4 miles (crushed-gravel/dirt trails)

Trip Leaders:  Charlotte Pavelka & Doug Reitz  (847) 347-8416    

Location:   Middlefork Savanna Forest Preserve

                    Middlefork Dr

                    Lake Forest, IL 60045

The walk will begin in the main parking lot adjacent to the Elawa Farm Foundation buildings. Please follow the pinned directions to this parking lot in Google Maps below:

Google Maps: Middlefork Savanna Forest Preserve - Parking Lot

Please bring binoculars (if available).  We will have a few loaner pairs if you need to borrow one for the walk.

Please dress accordingly for the weather conditions and wear appropriate footwear for walking around 3-4 miles on mostly crushed-gravel/dirt trails. Gloves, hat, extra layers for warmth are good items to bring along if needed during the walk.

Feel free to leave the walk at anytime. We may extend the overall duration of the walk beyond the listed time for anyone who would like to continue a bit longer.
In case of inclement weather, the trip leaders will notify all participants via email. 

Registration here: https://forms.gle/z2HPB75aWsuYQRei8

Join us for the final day of the special exhibit at the Carnegie! Reminder: the artists will contribute 20% of all sales to the Sharing Our Shore-Waukegan program.

Sharing Our Shore - Waukegan presents “Through the Eyes of the Piping Plovers: the Flora, Fauna & People of the Waukegan Dunes.” The exhibit shares the beauty and fragility of the endangered Great Lakes Piping Plovers with the community. By showcasing a diverse range of artistic works, we will encourage widespread awareness of the need to protect a unique habitat which supports a rich biodiversity, including human life!

We invited the Brushwood Botanical Artists to create works inspired by piping plovers and their habitat. Highlights include From Fluff Ball to Fledgling, a painting by Carthage College student and 2025 plover monitoring intern Oliver Slater, capturing the birds’ journey from hatching to fledging. Audubon award–winning photographer Steve Jessmore contributed striking plover portraits and a special image of our volunteers.

The return of the endangered piping plovers to their historical nesting grounds in Waukegan has inspired both the community and the region. Through art, the extraordinary story of the Great Lakes Piping Plovers becomes more engaging and impactful, reaching people in ways that words or data alone cannot.

The special exhibit is free with paid museum admission and is open during museum hours: Wednesday to Friday 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Saturday 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM and by special appointment.

During the exhibit run there are special presentations on most Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings. Museum admission is free for these programs.

Special group visits with reduced admission can be arranged through Carolyn Lueck. Special presentations, local bird/nature walks or a film screening can be added to a visit so the group has a truly immersive experience. Carolyn can be reached at lakecountyaudubonsociety@gmail.com.

Sharing Our Shore - Waukegan presents “Through the Eyes of the Piping Plovers: the Flora, Fauna & People of the Waukegan Dunes.” The exhibit shares the beauty and fragility of the endangered Great Lakes Piping Plovers with the community. By showcasing a diverse range of artistic works, we will encourage widespread awareness of the need to protect a unique habitat which supports a rich biodiversity, including human life!

We invited the Brushwood Botanical Artists to create works inspired by piping plovers and their habitat. Highlights include From Fluff Ball to Fledgling, a painting by Carthage College student and 2025 plover monitoring intern Oliver Slater, capturing the birds’ journey from hatching to fledging. Audubon award–winning photographer Steve Jessmore contributed striking plover portraits and a special image of our volunteers.

The return of the endangered piping plovers to their historical nesting grounds in Waukegan has inspired both the community and the region. Through art, the extraordinary story of the Great Lakes Piping Plovers becomes more engaging and impactful, reaching people in ways that words or data alone cannot.

The special exhibit is free with paid museum admission and is open during museum hours: Wednesday to Friday 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Saturday 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM and by special appointment.

During the exhibit run there are special presentations on most Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings. Museum admission is free for these programs.

Special group visits with reduced admission can be arranged through Carolyn Lueck. Special presentations, local bird/nature walks or a film screening can be added to a visit so the group has a truly immersive experience. Carolyn can be reached at lakecountyaudubonsociety@gmail.com.

Sharing Our Shore - Waukegan presents “Through the Eyes of the Piping Plovers: the Flora, Fauna & People of the Waukegan Dunes.” The exhibit shares the beauty and fragility of the endangered Great Lakes Piping Plovers with the community. By showcasing a diverse range of artistic works, we will encourage widespread awareness of the need to protect a unique habitat which supports a rich biodiversity, including human life!

We invited the Brushwood Botanical Artists to create works inspired by piping plovers and their habitat. Highlights include From Fluff Ball to Fledgling, a painting by Carthage College student and 2025 plover monitoring intern Oliver Slater, capturing the birds’ journey from hatching to fledging. Audubon award–winning photographer Steve Jessmore contributed striking plover portraits and a special image of our volunteers.

The return of the endangered piping plovers to their historical nesting grounds in Waukegan has inspired both the community and the region. Through art, the extraordinary story of the Great Lakes Piping Plovers becomes more engaging and impactful, reaching people in ways that words or data alone cannot.

The special exhibit is free with paid museum admission and is open during museum hours: Wednesday to Friday 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Saturday 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM and by special appointment.

During the exhibit run there are special presentations on most Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings. Museum admission is free for these programs.

Special group visits with reduced admission can be arranged through Carolyn Lueck. Special presentations, local bird/nature walks or a film screening can be added to a visit so the group has a truly immersive experience. Carolyn can be reached at lakecountyaudubonsociety@gmail.com.

Sharing Our Shore - Waukegan presents “Through the Eyes of the Piping Plovers: the Flora, Fauna & People of the Waukegan Dunes.” The exhibit shares the beauty and fragility of the endangered Great Lakes Piping Plovers with the community. By showcasing a diverse range of artistic works, we will encourage widespread awareness of the need to protect a unique habitat which supports a rich biodiversity, including human life!

We invited the Brushwood Botanical Artists to create works inspired by piping plovers and their habitat. Highlights include From Fluff Ball to Fledgling, a painting by Carthage College student and 2025 plover monitoring intern Oliver Slater, capturing the birds’ journey from hatching to fledging. Audubon award–winning photographer Steve Jessmore contributed striking plover portraits and a special image of our volunteers.

The return of the endangered piping plovers to their historical nesting grounds in Waukegan has inspired both the community and the region. Through art, the extraordinary story of the Great Lakes Piping Plovers becomes more engaging and impactful, reaching people in ways that words or data alone cannot.

The special exhibit is free with paid museum admission and is open during museum hours: Wednesday to Friday 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Saturday 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM and by special appointment.

During the exhibit run there are special presentations on most Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings. Museum admission is free for these programs.

Special group visits with reduced admission can be arranged through Carolyn Lueck. Special presentations, local bird/nature walks or a film screening can be added to a visit so the group has a truly immersive experience. Carolyn can be reached at lakecountyaudubonsociety@gmail.com.

Join us for a tour of the Piping Plover Special Exhibit at the Carnegie Museum followed by a presentation by Dr. Francesca Cuthbert.

The Endangered Great Lakes Piping Plover Population: History and Hope

Forty years ago, Piping Plovers were close to extinction in the Great Lakes. Only 12-17 pairs were known to nest in Michigan and the population was listed as Endangered in 1985. By the summer of 2025, the number of pairs increased to 88 and plovers were nesting on all 5 Great Lakes and in 4 states and the province of Ontario. How did this change in numbers happen and is it possible for this population to recover to the point of delisting at 150 pairs? This presentation will provide an overview of the efforts to increase nesting numbers and the lessons learned along the way. The history of plovers in the Great Lakes is marked by many challenges but significant hope exists for the future of this still small and vulnerable group of birds.

Francesca J Cuthbert is a Distinguished Teaching Professor Emerita in the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.  

She has studied waterbirds in the North American Great Lakes for more than 40 years.  Her research has focused on distribution and abundance (based on aerial and ground survey methodology) of colonial waterbirds as well as breeding ecology, demography, winter and migration ecology of waterbirds including the federally endangered population of the Great Lakes piping plover. For her work on piping plovers, she received a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Recovery Champion Award, the Ralph Schreiber Conservation Award from the American Ornithological Society and the Kai Curry Lindahl Conservation Award from the Waterbird Society.

Cuthbert has coordinated research and field season activities for the Great Lakes piping plover recovery effort as well as the US portion of the binational (with Canada) colonial waterbird survey in the Great Lakes. She has published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and many reports on various topics of avian ecology, conservation and management. Her research has been supported by over 60 grants from federal and state agencies as well as non-profit organizations. Additionally, she has advised over 50 graduate students on diverse aspects of avian biology.

She is a member of the Waterbird Council of the Americas, Fellow of the American Ornithological Society and past-president of the Waterbird Society.

Sharing Our Shore - Waukegan presents “Through the Eyes of the Piping Plovers: the Flora, Fauna & People of the Waukegan Dunes.” The exhibit shares the beauty and fragility of the endangered Great Lakes Piping Plovers with the community. By showcasing a diverse range of artistic works, we will encourage widespread awareness of the need to protect a unique habitat which supports a rich biodiversity, including human life!

We invited the Brushwood Botanical Artists to create works inspired by piping plovers and their habitat. Highlights include From Fluff Ball to Fledgling, a painting by Carthage College student and 2025 plover monitoring intern Oliver Slater, capturing the birds’ journey from hatching to fledging. Audubon award–winning photographer Steve Jessmore contributed striking plover portraits and a special image of our volunteers.

The return of the endangered piping plovers to their historical nesting grounds in Waukegan has inspired both the community and the region. Through art, the extraordinary story of the Great Lakes Piping Plovers becomes more engaging and impactful, reaching people in ways that words or data alone cannot.

The special exhibit is free with paid museum admission and is open during museum hours: Wednesday to Friday 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Saturday 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM and by special appointment.

During the exhibit run there are special presentations on most Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings. Museum admission is free for these programs.

Special group visits with reduced admission can be arranged through Carolyn Lueck. Special presentations, local bird/nature walks or a film screening can be added to a visit so the group has a truly immersive experience. Carolyn can be reached at lakecountyaudubonsociety@gmail.com.

Mark your calendars for Oct. 21st at 7pm. That's the Prairie Crossing world premiere of "Sharing Our Shore and the Return of the Piping Plover to Waukegan Shores" at the Byron Colby Barn.

Produced and written by Carolyn Lueck, President of Lake County Audubon Society, this a remarkable film about a truly miraculous story. 

Two rare and beautiful piping plovers -- Blaze and Pepper -- traveled thousands of miles to mate and raise three chicks (Juniper, Sage and Willow). It's even more incredible that Blaze and Pepper raised their family on the Lake Michigan shore in Waukegan just yards from two Superfund sites. Despite all odds -- thanks to the heroic efforts of tireless ecologists and Audubon volunteers -- they have thrived. Carolyn will introduce the film and take questions. 

Please bring your entire family.

Date:  Sunday, October 19, 2025

Time:  7:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Activity Level:  Moderate, Walk 2-3 miles (crushed-gravel/dirt trails)

Trip Leaders:  Charlotte Pavelka & Doug Reitz  (847) 347-8416    

Registration can be found here: https://forms.gle/6Jrc2BmgGFwFY5te8

Location:   Pine Dunes Forest Preserve

                    Hunt Club Rd

                    Antioch, IL 60099

The walk will begin in the main parking lot off Hunt Club Rd. Please follow the pinned directions to this parking lot in Google Maps below:

Google Maps: Pine Dunes Forest Preserve - Main Parking Lot

Please bring binoculars (if available).  We will have a few loaner pairs if you need to borrow one for the walk.

Please dress accordingly for the weather conditions and wear appropriate footwear for walking around 3 miles on mostly crushed-gravel trails. Drinking water, a hat, and an extra layer for warmth are all good items to bring along.

Feel free to leave the walk at anytime. We may extend the overall duration of the walk beyond the listed time for anyone who would like to continue a bit longer.

In case of inclement weather, the trip leader will notify all participants via email. 

oin us for a fun, family-focused afternoon at the Through the Eyes of the Piping Plover exhibit! Bring the whole crew and enjoy:

• A read-aloud of an excerpt from Raised to Be Wild, the inspiring true story of a Great Lakes piping plover.

• Hands-on activities and crafts where kids can create their own plover-themed art and take home a conservation keepsake.

• Mini scientist experiences that let kids step into the shoes of bird biologists—spotting camouflaged plovers, exploring migration journeys, and discovering how people are helping these endangered shorebirds.

Come explore the art, meet the birds (virtually!), and discover how reading, creativity, and nature can inspire all ages.

Sharing Our Shore - Waukegan presents “Through the Eyes of the Piping Plovers: the Flora, Fauna & People of the Waukegan Dunes.” The exhibit shares the beauty and fragility of the endangered Great Lakes Piping Plovers with the community. By showcasing a diverse range of artistic works, we will encourage widespread awareness of the need to protect a unique habitat which supports a rich biodiversity, including human life!

We invited the Brushwood Botanical Artists to create works inspired by piping plovers and their habitat. Highlights include From Fluff Ball to Fledgling, a painting by Carthage College student and 2025 plover monitoring intern Oliver Slater, capturing the birds’ journey from hatching to fledging. Audubon award–winning photographer Steve Jessmore contributed striking plover portraits and a special image of our volunteers.

The return of the endangered piping plovers to their historical nesting grounds in Waukegan has inspired both the community and the region. Through art, the extraordinary story of the Great Lakes Piping Plovers becomes more engaging and impactful, reaching people in ways that words or data alone cannot.

The special exhibit is free with paid museum admission and is open during museum hours: Wednesday to Friday 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Saturday 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM and by special appointment.

During the exhibit run there are special presentations on most Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings. Museum admission is free for these programs.

Special group visits with reduced admission can be arranged through Carolyn Lueck. Special presentations, local bird/nature walks or a film screening can be added to a visit so the group has a truly immersive experience. Carolyn can be reached at lakecountyaudubonsociety@gmail.com.

The Chiwaukee Prairie-Illinois Beach Lake Plain is a stretch of connected natural areas on the western shore of Lake Michigan which spans across the Wisconsin-Illinois Border. The Lake Plain includes Kenosha Dunes, Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area, Spring Bluff Forest Preserve, Illinois Beach State Park, Hosah Park, and Waukegan Dunes and serves as the highest quality dune and swale ecosystem in the Chicago Region. The Lake Plain Coalition is a concerted effort between state and local agencies, universities, non-profits and other organizations and individuals seeking to manage and protect the Lake Plain as one ecological unit. The Coalition is now a widely recognized alliance which cooperatively secures grant funding and fosters coordinated management and conservation efforts across the state line.

Belynda Alberte is the Coordinator of the Chiwaukee-Prairie Illinois Beach Lake Plain Coalition. She works with the Coalition with their organizational needs, seeking funding sources for habitat management and conservation strategies, and overall project management in the Lake Plain. She also assists in management and stewardship of the Lake Plain Natural Areas with agency staff, non-profits, and volunteers. A botanist by trade, Ms. Alberte”s Master's thesis explored the vegetation of the Lake Plain (University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Masters of Biology with a Concentration in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation).

Sharing Our Shore - Waukegan presents “Through the Eyes of the Piping Plovers: the Flora, Fauna & People of the Waukegan Dunes.” The exhibit shares the beauty and fragility of the endangered Great Lakes Piping Plovers with the community. By showcasing a diverse range of artistic works, we will encourage widespread awareness of the need to protect a unique habitat which supports a rich biodiversity, including human life!

We invited the Brushwood Botanical Artists to create works inspired by piping plovers and their habitat. Highlights include From Fluff Ball to Fledgling, a painting by Carthage College student and 2025 plover monitoring intern Oliver Slater, capturing the birds’ journey from hatching to fledging. Audubon award–winning photographer Steve Jessmore contributed striking plover portraits and a special image of our volunteers.

The return of the endangered piping plovers to their historical nesting grounds in Waukegan has inspired both the community and the region. Through art, the extraordinary story of the Great Lakes Piping Plovers becomes more engaging and impactful, reaching people in ways that words or data alone cannot.

The special exhibit is free with paid museum admission and is open during museum hours: Wednesday to Friday 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Saturday 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM and by special appointment.

During the exhibit run there are special presentations on most Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings. Museum admission is free for these programs.

Special group visits with reduced admission can be arranged through Carolyn Lueck. Special presentations, local bird/nature walks or a film screening can be added to a visit so the group has a truly immersive experience. Carolyn can be reached at lakecountyaudubonsociety@gmail.com.

Sharing Our Shore - Waukegan presents “Through the Eyes of the Piping Plovers: the Flora, Fauna & People of the Waukegan Dunes.” The exhibit shares the beauty and fragility of the endangered Great Lakes Piping Plovers with the community. By showcasing a diverse range of artistic works, we will encourage widespread awareness of the need to protect a unique habitat which supports a rich biodiversity, including human life!

We invited the Brushwood Botanical Artists to create works inspired by piping plovers and their habitat. Highlights include From Fluff Ball to Fledgling, a painting by Carthage College student and 2025 plover monitoring intern Oliver Slater, capturing the birds’ journey from hatching to fledging. Audubon award–winning photographer Steve Jessmore contributed striking plover portraits and a special image of our volunteers.

The return of the endangered piping plovers to their historical nesting grounds in Waukegan has inspired both the community and the region. Through art, the extraordinary story of the Great Lakes Piping Plovers becomes more engaging and impactful, reaching people in ways that words or data alone cannot.

The special exhibit is free with paid museum admission and is open during museum hours: Wednesday to Friday 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Saturday 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM and by special appointment.

During the exhibit run there are special presentations on most Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings. Museum admission is free for these programs.

Special group visits with reduced admission can be arranged through Carolyn Lueck. Special presentations, local bird/nature walks or a film screening can be added to a visit so the group has a truly immersive experience. Carolyn can be reached at lakecountyaudubonsociety@gmail.com.

Sharing Our Shore - Waukegan presents “Through the Eyes of the Piping Plovers: the Flora, Fauna & People of the Waukegan Dunes.” The exhibit shares the beauty and fragility of the endangered Great Lakes Piping Plovers with the community. By showcasing a diverse range of artistic works, we will encourage widespread awareness of the need to protect a unique habitat which supports a rich biodiversity, including human life!

We invited the Brushwood Botanical Artists to create works inspired by piping plovers and their habitat. Highlights include From Fluff Ball to Fledgling, a painting by Carthage College student and 2025 plover monitoring intern Oliver Slater, capturing the birds’ journey from hatching to fledging. Audubon award–winning photographer Steve Jessmore contributed striking plover portraits and a special image of our volunteers.

The return of the endangered piping plovers to their historical nesting grounds in Waukegan has inspired both the community and the region. Through art, the extraordinary story of the Great Lakes Piping Plovers becomes more engaging and impactful, reaching people in ways that words or data alone cannot.

The special exhibit is free with paid museum admission and is open during museum hours: Wednesday to Friday 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Saturday 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM and by special appointment.

During the exhibit run there are special presentations on most Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings. Museum admission is free for these programs.

Special group visits with reduced admission can be arranged through Carolyn Lueck. Special presentations, local bird/nature walks or a film screening can be added to a visit so the group has a truly immersive experience. Carolyn can be reached at lakecountyaudubonsociety@gmail.com.