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The Illinois Audubon Society is calling for the
conservation of the state’s most common birds in the wake of a
national report revealing an alarming decline in their populations. Species such as the field sparrow, short-eared owl,
and eastern meadowlark top the list of Illinois birds of concern;
conservationists say that nearly 99 percent of their original grassland
prairie homes have disappeared across the state.
The new analysis, released by the National Audubon
Society, highlights birds whose populations have plunged in the last 40
years and the environmental threats leading to these dramatic declines. The
Illinois Audubon Society, independent from the national organization, will
use this data to raise awareness and educate on the importance of
preservation.
“We are definitely looking at habitat and
saving habitat for these species,” says executive director Tom Clay,
“especially breeding habitat — there is less of it. We’ve
lost so much of the original landscape for these common birds.”
The Illinois Audubon Society will work with residents
to restore these large expanses of grassland prairies and hopes that
restoration will encourage the return of dwindling species to the area. “It’s a good thing for folks to open
their eyes, look around and say, ‘Is it important for me to see these
birds?’” Clay says. “It’s important that we realize
that we could be doing what we can to help them.”
The Springfield-based environmental group recently
completed the purchase of a wilderness area in southern Illinois [see C.D.
Stelzer, “Wild thing,” May 31].
Contact Amanda Robert at arobert@illinoistimes.com.
This article appears in Jun 14-20, 2007.
