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The Bird
Conservation Network
Who We Are:
The Bird Conservation Network has been promoting bird conservation and preserving and restoring bird habitat in the Chicago Region for more thn a decade. BCN is a coalition of about 18 organizations (bird clubs, Audubon chapters, ornithological societies and conservation organizations) sharing an interest in the conservation of birds. The groups' members total more than 35,000 people living primarily in the chicago area, but also throughout Illinois, northeastern Indiana, and southern Wisconsin. BCN’s mission is the conservation of birds
and the habitats they need to survive. There is no full time staff;
BCN’s board is made up of volunteer representatives from the member
groups who carry out the needed work.
What We Do:
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Monitoring (using scientific protocols) of bird populations in the Chicago region for over a decade
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Developing Chicago region bird population trends:
www.bcnbirds.org/trends07/
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Advocating for local and regional bird-related issues.
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Providing informed science-based information and recommendations on bird-related issues to the public and private landowners.
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Informing public officials on policy affecting bird conservation and habitat management.
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Maintaining a website with current news, discussion of conservation issues and a bird monitoring database.
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Helping to convene conferences on habitat
restoration, migrant and breeding birds, bird mortality from
collisions with window glass, and others.
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Writing green papers and best practice papers on relevant issues such as birds and window collisions, the Lake Michigan flyway, conserving habitat for grassland birds, tree preference of foraging migratory birds, deer culling and bridge maintenance as it affects nesting birds.
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Reducing threats to birds via public education, bird collision monitoring, Cats Indoors Campaign and the Lights Out Chicago Program.
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Working with regional Forest Preserve Districts, BCN has helped to promote large-scale grassland bird restoration projects at Bartel Grasslands, Spring Creek Valley, Rollins Savanna and others.
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Working with Chicago's Department Of
Environment, BCN has helped to develop and promote the Birding Trail
of the Chicago Region and to implement Chicago's Bird Agenda of 2006.
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BCN hosts twice yearly work days to "give back to the birds" at selected sites.
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Other regional efforts by BCN include protecting Swainson’s Hawk populations in Kane County and working with IDNR to protect endangered Common Terns and shorebirds at Great Lakes Naval Training Center.
BCN's
Mission Statement
The purpose of the BCN is to advocate
for and promote the perpetuation and appreciation of the native
avian fauna of the Chicago region, both resident and migratory, with
its associated native flora and fauna, and the habitats that support
them through a coalition of birding organizations and individuals.
To achieve this goal, an understanding is needed: of the habitat
needs of birds during all seasons of the year; the influence human
activities and natural processes have on those habitats and all the
species that occur in them; and how that influence affects their
avian denizens. Promotion of a sound ecological relationship between
human populations and their environments, and the education and
involvement of the birding community and the public at larges in
such efforts, is also critical.
Membership
If your club or organization is not a BCN member, please consider joining us.
Organizational dues are only $75 a year, and you'll be doing the
best thing you can to support conservation of bird habitat
throughout our area. In addition to our work on habitat
conservation, we also coordinate bird monitoring throughout the
Chicagoland area. Contact us
for more details.
To request an
update, removal, or addition to the list please:
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