Chicago Area Bird Conservation Resources:
Bird conservation planning efforts and conservation prioritization:
- Illinois Wildlife Conservation Action Plan If you only look at one of these look at this one!
- Audubon Watchlist
- US Fish and Wildlife Service Birds of Conservation Concern
- Partners in Flight Bird Conservation Plans by their physiographic areas
- The U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan
- The North American Waterbird Conservation Plan
- North American Waterfowl Management Plan
- Plan to Meet Illinois Wildlife Action Plan Population Targets for Grassland Species of Concern in Kane County Forest Preserves (Report for Illinois Department of Natural Resources by Audubon Chicago Region finalized in June, 2011)
Useful Resources for Several Habitat Types:
- Two Chicago Wilderness policy papers address practices for restoring wooded landscapes: Conservation of Wooded Lands in the Chicago Wilderness Region: A Model Policy and Policy on Natural Fire and Prescribed Burning . Both available at Chicago Wilderness Publications & Products.
- The Tallgrass Restoration Handbook: For Prairies, Savannas, and Woodlands. Society for Ecological Restoration, Stephen Packard, Cornelia Mutel (Eds.)
Migratory Bird Habitat Additional Resources:
- CPD’s Lakefront Habitat Guidelines can apply to all landscaped situations such as golf courses, cemeteries and parks.
- The Lake Michigan Flyway: Chicagoland's Role in the Miracle of Bird Migration: A Green Paper by the Bird Conservation Network provides guidelines and recommendations for the lakefront.
- Ewert, D.N., G.J. Soulliere, R.D. Macleod, M.C. Shieldcastle, P.G. Rodewald, E. Fujimura, J. Shieldcastle, and R.J. Gates. 2006. Migratory Bird Stopover Site Attributes in the Western Lake Erie Basin . Final report to The George Gund Foundation. Describes characteristics of critical migratory habitat in the Great Lakes—an excellent guidance for duck, shorebird and landbird migrant habitat.
- A Migrant Bird Habitat Study of local plantings frequently used by foraging migrants.
- For backyards, landscaped campuses and small parks
- DOE’s booklet Birds of the Windy City informs citizens about the city’s bird life and contains habitat guidelines for yards.
- The USEPA Greenacres program about creating or improving local native habitat in landscaped areas
Savanna Habitat Additional Resources:
- Brawn, Jeffrey D. Effects of Oak Savanna Restoration on Avian Populations and Communities in Illinois. Illinois Natural History Survey, 1998
Open Woodland Habitat Additional Resources:
- This Migrant Bird Habitat Study reinforces the need for effective management.
Wetland and ShorelineHabitat Additional Resources:
- Upper Miss. Valley/Great Lakes Regional Shorebird Conservation Plan
- Weller, M. W. 1994. Freshwater Marshes. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, MN
- Weller, M. W. 1999. Wetland birds, Habitat resources and conservation implications. Cambridge University Press, New York, NY
- Mitsch W. and Gosselink J. G. 2000. Wetlands. John Wiley and Sons Inc. New York, NY
Shrublands Additional Resources:
- SK Robinson, EJ Heske, JD Brawn. 1997.Factors affecting nesting success of edge and shrubland birds - Final report for federal aid project W-125-R. Illinois Department of Natural Resources Springfield, Illinois. Contains management recommendations for local habitats that are an excellent primer.
- BCN shrubland Green Paper (in press)
Prairie Additional Resources:
- Restoring Large Prairies in the Chicago Region: A Summary of Proven and Promising Techniques Audubon Chicago Region, 2009.
Grassland Additional Resources:
- Conserving Local Habitat for Declining Grassland Birds:A Green Paper by the Bird Conservation Network, Duane Heaton
- Herkert, James R., Robert E Szafoni, Vernon M. Kleen, and John E. Schwegman. 1993. Habitat establishment, enhancement and management for forest and grassland birds in Illinois. Division of Natural Heritage, Illinois Department of Conservation, Natural Heritage Technical Publication #1, Springfield, Illinois. Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Online. (Version 16JUL97).
- Johnson, Douglas H., Lawrence D. Igl, and Jill A. Dechant Shaffer (Series Coordinators). 2004. Effects of management practices on grassland birds. Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Jamestown, ND. Jamestown, ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Online. (Version 12AUG2004). A species-by-species compilation of research.
- Sample, David W., and Michael J. Mossman. 1997. Managing habitat for grassland birds - a guide for Wisconsin. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI, PUBL-SS-925-97. 154 pp. Jamestown, ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Online. (Version 03JUN2002).
For Plant Lists:
- The Tallgrass Restoration Handbook: For Prairies, Savannas, and Woodlands. Society for Ecological Restoration, Stephen Packard, Cornelia Mutel (Eds.)
- USEPA Greenacres program has information about creating or improving local native habitat in landscaped areas.
