Welcome home, Sweet Prince 🤍 – Imani has also returned to Montrose! 🤍⭐️
The boys are back in town. Let's go!!!
📸: Chicago Piping Plovers (Imani and Pippin, Montrose Protected Beach, April 13, 2026)
Welcome home, Pippin! 🤍🟢
Our beloved Pippin has returned. Many will remember he departed last summer with something tangled around his foot. We feared the worst.
Pippin has returned to us with his right foot missing and a limp but otherwise appears well.
📸:Liam Francis Shanley
2. Under Section II: Write "self" or "NA," unless you are authorized to represent an organization.
3. Under Section III. Be sure to click "Proponent."
4. Under Section IV. Click "Record of Appearance Only."
Click "Submit Witness (Slip)" located at the bottom left corner.
Directions for filling out the witness slip:
1. Under Section I: Input your information. If you are filing as an individual, put your home address. If you are affiliated with an organization, but not authorized to represent it, include the information under "firm/business." Otherwise, write "self."
Please fill out a witness slip as a PROPONENT of HB3596 today.
Link to witness slip: www.ilga.gov/house/hearin...
On Wednesday, 3/18, HB3596, the Wetlands Protection Act, will be head in the Illinois Energy and Environment Committee.
This act will codify state-level protections for wetlands in the face of the current administration and U.S. Supreme Court's attack on these precious ecosystems.
More info on the SPEED Act:
bipartisanpolicy.org/issue-brief/whats-in-the-speed-act
insideclimatenews.org/news/18122025/speed-act-passes-in-house-threatens-clean-power-projects
/end
You can also send a note to your senators through this American Bird Conservancy form: act.abcbirds.org/a/take-action-federal-speed-act 9/x
The bill will need to pass the senate before it can be passed into law. Tell your senators to OPPOSE this bill when it comes before them.
Call @durbin.senate.gov at 202.224.2152 and @duckworth.senate.gov at 202.224.2854. 8/x
Last minute amendments allow for the executive admin to exclude projects it does not like from these reforms. In other words, Trump will have the ability to exclude clean energy projects from this low-barrier process, while allowing oil and gas to benefit from all of these review changes. 7/x
The SPEED Act reduces the deadline to sue a federal agency over its permitting decision.
The SPEED Act limits the right to sue to those who submitted public comment directly impacted by the project. 6/x
The SPEED Act directs courts to defer to the agency's decision rather than coming to their own conclusions based on the environmental review.
The SPEED Act eliminates a court's ability to issue a temporary injunction to stop work/vacate a permit on a project that isn't in compliance with NEPA. 5/x
The SPEED Act prohibits agencies from evaluating effects that are speculative or related to separate projects or potential future projects.
The SPEED Act allows federal agencies to rely on environmental reviews completed previously on similar projects, rather than completing a new review. 4/x
The SPEED Act allows more exemptions from NEPA review.
The SPEED Act eliminates the obligation of agencies to conduct new research or consider new research published after a permit application is submitted. 3/x
The SPEED Act will make it easier for gas and oil companies to get approval on projects that negatively impact bird and wildlife habitat.
The SPEED Act codifies NEPA as a procedural statute only and does not mandate compliance based environmental impact findings. 2/x
Text: Attention birders! ACTION ALERT: Status: The U.S. House passed the SPEED Act. Next step: This bill goes to the U.S. Senate for a vote. Consequences: The changes set forth in the SPEED Act will make it easier for gas and oil companies to get approval on projects that negatively impact bird and other wildlife habitat. Action: Tell your senators to vote NO. Call Tammy Duckworth 202.224.2854, Dick Durbin 202.224.2152. Submit comments through the American Bird Conservancy form.
The U.S. House recently passed HR 4776, the SPEED Act. This act reforms the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which requires federal agencies to determine the environmental impacts of major projects before they can be funded or approved. 1/x
Promotional flyer for the "Chicago Bird Photography Contest Photo Exhibition" featuring a vibrant image of a Blackburnian Warbler by Riley Phoebus Mazock. The flyer invites viewers to an opening reception at Big Marsh Park on October 11, 2023, from 1–3 pm, with snacks, a short program, and a raffle. Event details and location are listed, along with logos and credits for the Chicago Audubon Society and Chicago Bird Alliance.
Join us at Big Marsh Park on October 11 for this showcase of the winners and runners-up from the 2025 Chicago Bird Photography Contest. Enjoy a short program with snacks and a raffle at the opening reception!
Now on the Chicago Birder Blog: Read the story behind the Urban Birding Festival. Registration for this year's festival closes Sunday. We hope you will join us! www.chicagobirder.org/blog/2025/9/...
I recently noticed an unexpected bird singing in the Lincoln Yards site near the Hideout — a dickcissel. Here's my story about it for @chicagomag.com: www.chicagomag.com/city-life/th...
You still have about two weeks to read "Turning to Birds" by Lily Taylor before joining us for Flock Club Book Club on 7/29 at the Jefferson Park library! We hope to see you all there. Please RSVP so we know how many treats to bring! www.chicagobirder.org/events/2025/...
Piping Plovers move pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss them.
Blue Star will now be known as Ferris. 1/4
Hiya! I'm El.
The El (for Elevated) is Chicago's transit system. Just like our Piping Plover family at Montrose, the El connects the city of Chicago, its surrounding suburbs, and the community it serves. 1/2
Hi! I'm Bean.
The Bean, a beautiful sculpture by Anish Kapoor in Millenium Park, is beloved by locals and visitors alike. Its reflective surface captures and transforms the surrounding city skyline. 1/2
It's our Fledge Day and we have something more to reveal...our names!
At 23 days, your Chicago Piping Plover chicks are officially fledged. Throughout the day, we will roll out the chicks' forever names in dedicated posts. 1/3
📸: Tamima Itani (The chick soon fka Red Star)
An illustration of a Blue Jay flying over a field of purple coneflowers. Text reads: Field Trip. Borbs & Forbs: Dunning-Read Natural Area. Saturday, July 19, 7:45 a.m.-noon. Dunning-Read Natural Area. 4050 North Oak Park Avenue. Chicago, Illinois. 60634. 7:45 a.m. Bird walk begins. 9:00 a.m. stewardship activities.
Join us for a birding and stewardship day at the Dunning-Read Natural Area on 7/19. Give back to the birds and the natural environment, and be a part of the Chicago community. RSVP: www.chicagobirder.org/events/2025/...
Friday! Join us for an afternoon walk to look for grassland birds at Horizon Farms in Barrington, IL. Event is free, but you must RSVP! www.chicagobirder.org/events/2025/...
Three!!! 🐥🐥🐥
Three updates from the Montrose Protected Beach - Saturday, July 5, 2025
🤍Your Chicago Piping Plover family - both parents and all three chicks - is doing well!
1/3
📸: Tamima Itani (Green Star)
In the future definitely call Chicago Bird Collision Monitors: 773-988-1867. Please save their number! All birds who hit windows should be checked out by a wildlife rehabber. Just because they fly away doesn't mean they don't have brain trauma. Thanks for caring!
