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.