Learn about the comeback of the peregrine falcon

The remarkable restoration of the peregrine falcon population in Chicago and the Midwest will be discussed at the Lake County Audubon Society meeting at 7:30 p.m., Monday, May 4, at the Libertyville village hall, 118 W. Cook Ave.

Mary Hennen, collections assistant, bird division and the director of the peregrine falcon program of the museum is the featured speaker. The public is invited to the free 90-minute program.

Hennen's presentation will include the history and current status of the peregrine falcon program, as well as details of the peregrine's life cycle and behavior.

"Historically, an estimated 400 to 500 pairs of peregrines once nested in the Midwest and eastern United States. But by the 1960s, the species had been wiped out regionally, and few were seen during migration, according to the Field Museum.

During the 1970s, recovery efforts for the peregrines began with the banning of DDT in 1972, and in 1973 placing the species on the endangered species list. During the 1980s, Chicago joined other programs in the Midwest to help reintroduce the peregrine into the wild.

The Chicago Peregrine Program now directs its focus toward monitoring and managing any peregrines in Illinois. The peregrine falcon was removed from the Federal Endangered Species List in 2000, though it remains listed as an Illinois State Threatened Species.

Hennen's research areas include ecology, evolutionary biology and systematics/phylogeny. Outside of the bird collection area, her primary work is with the peregrine falcons living in and around Chicago. She plans to bring her "assistant bird" Molly, providing an up-close view of these amazing creatures.

All are welcome. Home school families are especially encouraged to attend.

The mission of the Lake County Audubon Society is education, conservation and restoration of natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity.