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.

Artist Walkthrough at the ‘Through the Eyes of the Piping Plovers: the Flora, Fauna and People of the Waukegan Shores” special exhibit

Meet the artists and hear their stories behind the artwork creation! Heeyoung Kim and participating artists will walk the audience through the “Through the Eyes of the Piping Plovers: the Flora, Fauna and People of the Waukegan Shores” exhibit in person.

The botanical art form requires precise control over everything involved: accurate scientific description of the species and the execution of the medium/media of watercolor, ink or pencil. When the group, Brushwood Botanical Artists, took on this shorebird project, the artists had to go through a little different process beyond plants.... Come and hear about it at this public event!

Heeyoung Kim and the Brushwood Botanical Artists have graciously offered to donate 20% of all artwork sales during the exhibit’s run to the Sharing Our Shore - Waukegan program. A special opportunity to purchase stunning artwork while supporting a local conservation organization.

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 September 25th at 6:30pm for special screening of "Sharing Our Shore and the Return of the Piping Plover to Waukegan Shores" at the Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie.

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. Tour the special exhibit “Through the Eyes of the Piping Plovers: the Flora, Fauna and People of the Waukegan Shores” as well as the permanent museum exhibits before and after the presentation.

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 the family-centric event! Booking Reading of “From Marsh to Shore, Let Nature Roar”

Jaxson Bailey is a Waukegan resident and senior at Waukegan High School. Over the summer, he participated in The Center for Conservation Leadership's Eco-Ambassador Internship. Through this process, he completed a capstone project - a children's book about the wildlife and habitats present at Illinois Beach State Park. Through a collaboration with CCL partner, Lyndsey Murphree, his words have come to life in the style of a coloring book. Jaxson plans to become EMT certified and join a fire crew once he graduates high school. 

Jaxson will lead a book reading and then we invite our guests to tour the exhibit “Through the Eyes of the Piping Plover: the Flora, Fauna and People of the Waukegan Shores.”

Join us for our first program meeting of the fall season!

"Bird Banding at Sand Bluff Observatory”

Mike and Deb Eickman will go over the history of the station and explain the process that used in banding birds. They will show pictures of some of the birds they capture and some rare birds many may not have seen before.

Mike and Deb Eickman from Sand Bluff Bird Observatory are Crazy Birders.

 Mike, has volunteered at Sand Bluff Bird Observatory for 35 years, serves as Station Master and holds the Masters permit for the Station and is certified by the North American Banding Council. He also serves as President of the SBBO board and on the Board of Commissioners for the Forest Preserves of Winnebago County. Other duties include being a member of Inland Bird Banding Association Board serving as Treasurer and Membership Chairman.

Deb has been a volunteer for 20 years, is a certified net checker and Treasurer for Sand Bluff Bird Observatory.

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.

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.

The Chiwaukee Prairie-Illinois Beach Lake Plain is a stretch of connected natural areas on the western shore of Lake Michigan spanning from Kenosha, WI to Waukegan, IL. The Lake Plain serves as the highest quality dune and swale ecosystem in the Chicago region and has been designated a Wetland of International Importance by the Ramsar Convention. This area is protected and managed by the Lake Plain Coalition: a concerted effort between state, local, non-profit, and other organizations and individuals seeking to mange and protect the Lake Plain as one ecological unit, across the state line. This talk will describe the function and importance of the habitats of the Lake Plain with a special emphasis on Waukegan Dunes.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.