Explore nature preserves in the Calumet Region, an area connected by the Calumet River. Ranging from the Lake Michigan shoreline to dunes, wetlands, and woodlands, the Calumet is home to a dizzying array of plants and animals. This region includes part of Southern Cook County, IL, and portions of Lake, Porter, and LaPorte Counties, IN, including Pullman Nat'l Monument and Indiana Dunes Nat'l Lakeshore.
Acoustic ecology, also known as soundscape studies or ecoacoustics, is a multi-disciplinary field studying the relationship between an individual and its environment mediated by sound. Active, socially embedded approaches at the intersections of art and science investigate environmental patterns and change in sound. From the artist’s own practice, key works will be introduced, using readily available audio recording technologies.
Co-chair/Founder, Midwest Society for Acoustic Ecology
Eric is a Chicago-based audio artist, teaching in the Department of Sound at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), and a founder and co-chair of the Midwest Society for Acoustic Ecology (MSAE). Established in 2009, MSAE is a membership organization dedicated to exploring... Read More →
Bird monitors, researchers and stewards discuss what it takes to maintain or restore key bird habitat types. They will share a new publication that uses monitoring data to identify the most important preserves for birds in the Cook County Forest Preserves and shares best practices for habitat restoration. Two smaller preserves with many challenges and attempted solutions—Somme Prairie Grove and Somme Prairie Nature Preserve—serve as examples. Bring your questions!
A cross-disciplinary team from AES is developing new technology, field management techniques, and ecological responses for adaptive management on Phragmites infestations within ecological restoration sites. Aerial imaging and remote sensing approaches are contributing to efficiencies of Phragmites monitoring in the Lake Michigan basin and elsewhere, with significant agency, academic, and NGO collaboration.
A plant ecologist active in ecological restoration, I graduated from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2003, where I studied scientific illustration at the Field Museum of Natural History. I have worked on restoration of prairies, savannas, and woodlands in the Chicago... Read More →
Saturday February 23, 2019 3:30pm - 4:00pm CST
rm. 49
This presentation will provide an overview of National Weather Service operations and information. We will also discuss safety and preparedness information pertinent to those spending time outside.
Cemeteries comprise only a small part of Chicago's urban forest, but to wildlife they offer resources that are difficult to find in the surrounding hardscape. One resource is dead and dying trees (“snags”), on which cavity-nesting birds depend for nesting and foraging. In Chicago’s cemeteries we assessed snag availability as well as other aspects of habitat quality as relevant to cavity-nesting birds.
The Nature Conservancy collaborated with local partners at the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning and Morton Arboretum to look at areas in Cook County that have poor air quality, high risk of flooding, and high heat. We layered this with data on income level and high percentages of youth and elderly to identify neighborhoods where conservation interventions will make the biggest difference.
This Map is unique in that we use a base map of all protected areas in the state, and then layer all polygons of accomplished fires submitted by various agencies. The short presentation of the map will be followed by this opening discussion question: What would a successful fire program look like on this map? What effective habits can we use to improve our fire programs?
Sparked by a magazine article headlined “Our Friendless River” 40 years ago, Friends of the Chicago River today has a dozen employees, 6,000 supporters, and oversees projects ranging from school programming to wildlife habitat restoration to influencing policy. In a Q&A, executive director Margaret Frisbie talks about the challenges and successes of running a non-profit environmental organization.
Communications Director, Friends of the Chicago River
Communications director for Friends of the Chicago River, an environmental non-profit whose mission is to improve and protect the Chicago River system for people, plants and animals.
Saturday February 23, 2019 3:30pm - 4:00pm CST
rms. 55,57
The Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods is dedicated to connecting people to art and nature, and has been developing programming aimed at increasing access to nature and the arts for disadvantaged populations. This presentation will explore the health benefits of art and nature, and the ways that environmental organizations can increase equitable access to these benefits through programs and partnerships.
Program Coordinator, Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods
Dani Abboud is the Program Coordinator of Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods. Dani plans and facilitates all art and nature based programming at Brushwood, and manages volunteers and social media. She is a recent graduate of Loyola University Chicago’s Institute of Environmental... Read More →
Executive Director, Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods
Catherine Game is the Executive Director of Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods. Catherine ensures that the legacy of Brushwood Center thrives through strong partnerships and inspiring programs that connect art, nature, and wellness. Prior to joining Brushwood Center, Catherine served... Read More →
Saturday February 23, 2019 3:30pm - 4:00pm CST
rm. 46
The Illinois Butterfly Monitoring Network tracks long-term trends in butterfly populations. A significant decline in abundance was observed from 1997 to 2017. Declines were observed both regionally and in individual counties, and involve aggregate observations without regard to species. Declines include common species that have previously been regarded as well-adapted to human-altered habitats.
Get an intro to iNaturalist, a community science platform and global network of people making observations of nature. Learn how to create observations of flora & fauna, get help with identification, create projects, and use iNat data for restoration planning, nature education, monitoring, and research. This talk is for anyone new to iNat such as educators, stewards, professionals, or the general public.
I am an ecological consultant in the Chicago region with expertise in ecological restoration design and monitoring, from small backyards to huge forest preserves. Talk nerdy to me about plants, habitat restoration, and community science. At 3:30 PM, I'm presenting on iNaturalist... Read More →
Saturday February 23, 2019 3:30pm - 4:00pm CST
rm. 45
The moss flora of the Chicago region is understudied and research across the region is difficult to trace. This presentation will deliver a comprehensive overview of our current knowledge of moss diversity and distribution in the region, utilizing a century of literature and herbarium records. A discussion will follow to consider what steps can be taken next to begin filling in the knowledge gaps.
For the past forty years I have tried to improve the root systems of the oak trees that we have produced and found that the more I find out the less I really seem to know about them. We have used several growing methods over the years and found that the closer—and further!—we kept things to/from nature the better the oaks did. Those two points are hard to reconcile and I'd like to share how.
Between 1300 and 1400 AD, a sizable Native American village was located on the banks of the Little Calumet River. This presentation describes excavations of this site by the Illinois State Archaeological Survey, which revealed an abundance of resources hunted, grown, and harvested by the inhabitants, and highlights the relationship between the villagers and the 14th century environment of the area.
In 2017 the University of Wisconsin Press published The Driftless Reader, a collection of readings from and about the Midwest’s Driftless Area. Curt Meine, who co-edited the volume with Keefe Keeley, will share the story of their effort to capture through literature and images the bioregional identity of the Driftless—and what this project can tell us about efforts to explore other literatures of place.
Join a round table discussion on women in conservation. As women take a greater role in the field navigating a career path can be challenging. An open discussion group will allow for shared experiences and ideas for future opportunities. The speaker will share her career path and experiences and will be joined by other women in local conservation organizations.
