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A staunch conservationist, I have kept a membership in the National Audubon Society and the Sierra Club for most of my adult life. For several years, I contributed copy and helped to edit Compass, the monthly publication of the Chicago Audubon Society. The topics our staff covered included recycling, land-use policies in Chicago, habitat preservation and, of course, birding. We interviewed city officials, visited remote areas on the Southeast Side slated for rehabilitation, and checked birding sites scattered around the city and suburbs. Open space became a critical issue for Chicago-area birders during the housing boom of the last decade, and our readers were eager to learn of its effects on recreational possibilities in the area.
| Selected Publications from Compass (Chicago Audubon) and Chicago Wilderness |
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Chicago's Green Rooftops
This article describes the garden Mayor Daley created on the top of City Hall. Not simply an effort at beautification, the initiative reduces the volume of exposed concrete and also the temperature of downtown Chicago.
Controversial Building Plan Gets Panned
Northwestern University is seldom the target of conservationists, but the school's ill-conceived plan to fill in the artificial pond on the university's lakefront drew a sharp reaction from students and area residents.
Chicago's Migratory Bird Site
Over the summer, the City of Chicago introduced a sparkling new Web page devoted to birds and birding sites within the city limits. Auduboners were delighted by the project.
Land Use Debate Simmers in Springfield
This article captures the intense debate spreading throughout Illinois concerning recreational space and habitat conservation. Suburban development extending outward from Chicago, East St. Louis and smaller cities has brought unexpected urgency to the topic.
Wintering Whoopers Return to the Midwest
In this article, I sought to describe the remarkable bid to protect the country's endangered flocks of whooping cranes. My colleague and former editor, Karen Furnweger, is preparing a book on the subject.
Chicago's Parks Revival
This article from Chicago Wilderness presents Mayor Daley's effort to redevelop open space through the city. The campaign has played a major role in spurring conservation volunteerism.