National Audubon Society

Monthly Newsletter July, 2024

Great Lakes Piping Plover chick in Green Bay Photo: Tom Prestby/Audubon Great Lakes

Promising Summer for Great Lakes Piping Plovers

It’s midsummer, which means Piping Plovers are hatching throughout the Great Lakes region, and Audubon Great Lakes and our conservation partners are diligently working to track and protect these shorebirds. According to our friends at the Great Lakes Piping Plover Recovery Effort, there are currently 79 pairs and 85 nests, plus 1 potential pair out there – on track to tie the 2023 record 80 pair count!

Most recently, four chicks just hatched at Montrose Beach in Chicago! Illinois also made conservation history with the hatching of Piping Plovers on the Waukegan lakeshore! The two captive-reared 2023 piping plovers that returned to their release site in May successfully hatched chicks last week.

Over in Wisconsin, seven Piping Plover chicks went dashing back to their parents in the sands of Green Bay, WI on June 17 after being banded by U.S Fish and Wildlife Service and the Great Lakes Piping Plover Recovery Effort, with the support of Audubon Great Lakes staff and volunteers and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. You can read more about the recent effort in Wisconsin in the link below and watch the chick release video here. You can also stay up to date with Great Lakes Piping Plovers on the Great Lakes Piping Plover Recovery effort here.

Keep these endangered birds safe this holiday weekend (and all summer long) by giving them the space they need to thrive. Take the pledge to #sharetheshore with this endangered species – here. Learn more

Great Lakes Piping Plover chick in Green Bay Photo: Tom Prestby/Audubon Great Lakes

British White Cows and Sedge Wood Farms owned by the Steinke Family. Photo: Photo: Jenn Ackerman and Tim Gruber

Audubon Conservation Ranching Expands to Wisconsin

Exciting news! Audubon’s Conservation Ranching program is expanding to Wisconsin! The program is an effort aimed at stabilizing declining grassland bird populations through partnerships with local farmers and ranchers in central Wisconsin and the Driftless Area to establish and enhance grassland bird habitat on their land and operates through a bird-friendly land certification.

The program’s entry in Wisconsin builds on success in 14 other states, where more than 100 ranches covering nearly 3 million acres have earned status as Audubon Certified bird-friendly land. Check out this map to learn where you can buy Audubon certified bird-friendly beef and bison.

Read more

British White Cows and Sedge Wood Farms owned by the Steinke Family. Photo: Jenn Ackerman and Tim Gruber

American Robin, adult and chicks. Photo: Sandy Spicknall/Audubon Photography Awards

I Found a Bird Nest in a Bad Location – What Can I do to Help?

While it can be inconvenient, the best and recommended course of action for the majority of cases is to leave the nest until the eggs hatch and the young fledge from the nest. This quick guide will explore the different rules and regulations protecting bird nests, and help you determine what to do if you stumble across one in a bad location.

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American Robin, adult and chicks. Photo: Sandy Spicknall/Audubon Photography Awards

American Goldfinch on Helianthus divaricatus (Woodland Sunflower), Reeds Lake, Kent County, Michigan Photo: Steve Jessmore/Audubon Photography Awards

Audubon Great Lakes Submits Testimony in Support of Community Solar in Michigan

On June 13, 2024, Audubon Great Lakes Policy Director, Marnie Urso submitted testimony to the Michigan Senate Committee on Energy and Environment in support of two bills, SB 152 and SB 153, which would expand community solar across Michigan. Learn more about on how these bills will help Michigan reach 100% renewable energy which is necessary to protect people and birds from climate change.

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American Goldfinch on Helianthus divaricatus (Woodland Sunflower), Reeds Lake, Kent County, Michigan Photo: Steve Jessmore/Audubon Photography Awards

Least Bittern. Photo: Gil Eckrich/Audubon Photography Awards

Join Us! Demystifying Michigan's Wetland Wonders Webinar: Nayanquing Point and Wigwam Bay

Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area and Wigwam Bay State Wildlife Area offer some of the best birding opportunities in Michigan. Join MI Birds, an outreach program from Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Audubon Great Lakes, for a free lunch-hour webinar on Wednesday, July 17 at 12pm ET to learn about these two wildlife areas and the birds you can find there.

RSVP

Least Bittern. Photo: Gil Eckrich/Audubon Photography Awards

Wild Turkey Photo: Zachary McQueen/Audubon Photography Awards

Participate in Wild Turkey Surveys This Summer

Help Wild Turkey researchers and state agencies from July 1 to August 31, by watching for Wild Turkey hens with young (a brood) or any other Turkeys and fill out a survey with up to seven short questions to help us better understand how Wild Turkey populations are doing across the region. The more participation and reports submitted, the better the data will be. Visit the W ild Turkey brood survey website for more information.

Read more

Wild Turkey Photo: Zachary McQueen/Audubon Photography Awards

Save the Date: Indianapolis Birds & Brews

Save the date for the 2024 Indianapolis Birds & Brews, a free happy-hour style event presented by Audubon Great Lakes and Amos Butler Audubon Society where you’ll learn about opportunities to work together to address the biggest threats facing birds and Indiana communities — all while enjoying a complimentary drink on us! Join us on Monday August 26, 5 – 7 p.m. ET at Ash & Elm Cider Co in Indy! Free with RSVP.

Register

Getting Involved

Learning to Look with Richard Crossley at Aullwood Audubon

Join us on Saturday, July 13, 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. at Aullwood Audubon in Dayton, Ohio for "Learning to Look with Richard Crossley." A great opportunity to enjoy coffee and croissants with Richard Crossley, internationally acclaimed birder, photographer and award-winning author of The Crossley ID Guide series. During this event you will learn expert secrets to identify distant specks as birds without lifting your binoculars, and master the crucial basics of the best bird watchers. Register today, special thanks to our partner, Wild Birds Unlimited. Register

Dudley Edmondson and Nicole Jackson guiding community members on the bird walk.

Juneteenth Celebrations at Grange Insurance Audubon Center in Columbus

On June 16, the Grange Insurance Audubon Center in Columbus, Ohio, held a memorable Juneteenth and Father's Day celebration. The event featured a presentation and bird walk with renowned author, photographer, and filmmaker Dudley Edmondson, who has dedicated his career to making the outdoors more inclusive. He shared insights from his book, "Black & Brown Faces in America’s Wild Places." Attendees also participated in a guided bird hike led by Edmondson and Nicole Jackson, an environmental educator and avid birder. Special thanks to event sponsors, Grange Insurance. For more information on upcoming events, visit here. Read more

Dudley Edmondson and Nicole Jackson guiding community members on the bird walk.

Louisiana Waterthrush by Alexander Eisengart from Ohio

2024 Audubon Photography Awards

Congratulations to the many wonderful photographers who were named as 2024 Audubon Photography Award winners, honorable mentions, and Top 100 submissions! Check out The Top 100 photos—several of which were taken in the Great Lakes region – here!

You can view the winners and honorable mentions here. Special shout out to Stephanie Beilke, Audubon Great Lakes Senior Manager of Conservation Science who was a judge for female bird prize category.

Louisiana Waterthrush by Alexander Eisengart from Ohio. Credit: Alexander Eisengart/APA

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