Birds of the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie

Join us as Dr. Jim Herkert, the executive director of the Illinois Audubon Society, talks about the restoration transformation of the former Joliet Army Ammunition Plant into one of the most intensively monitored grassland areas in the state of Illinois. With bird surveys dating back to the mid-’80s, this site supports a wide variety of birds including very large populations of several grassland birds on its pastures and hayfields as well as areas being restored to wet-prairie and sedge meadow habitats. Dr. Herkert will discuss the experimental bison herd that was established in 2015 to help learn how these creatures facilitate the restoration of tallgrass prairies and prairie bird habitat as well as bird population trends, bird responses to initial restoration, and research focused on the unique loggerhead shrike population on the site.

Light refreshments will be provided.