Lake County Audubon Society hosts discussion on future of birds

Well-known environmentalist Donnie Dann will present “The future of birds: are continuing declines inevitable?” at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 2.

The public is invited to the presentation at Libertyville village hall, 118 Cook St., presented by the Lake County Audubon Society as its monthly program.

Bird-watching is now the nation's second fastest growing hobby, after gardening. Witness the growing popularity of bird walks and the rapid growth of digital field guides and other birding accessories.

Dann's presentation will cover the main issues of bird conservation — the threats and the efforts at confronting them.

Today, birds face a wide variety of threats — including habitat loss, free-roaming cats, and collisions with glass, communication towers, and vehicles. Many local and national groups are working diligently to respond to these multiple threats, but there are ways individuals can help.

Dann is involved with several environmental organizations including the Chicago Audubon Society, Illinois Audubon Society, American Bird Conservancy, American Birding Association, The Nature Conservancy, Illinois Nature Preserves Commission, and Lake Michigan Wind Energy Advisory Council. He is also a current advocacy chair of the Bird Conservation Network.

Closer to home, Dann helped secure grant funds for restoration of habitat at Foley's Pond, a migratory bird hot spot in Highland Park.

He monitors bird populations to census breeding and migratory birds, and monitors threatened and endangered species' migrant populations at this and other local sites.

Dann has been a volunteer naturalist for the Lake County Forest Preserve District's Ryerson Conservation Area for more than 14 years, teaching environmental education to children.

This will be a free, hour and a half program. Custom-built cedar birdhouses will be available for sale in time for the nesting season.

Contact Chris Geiselhart (847) 362-5134.