Join Sharing Our Shore-Waukegan for a tour of the Piping Plover Special Exhibit followed by a presentation on The Endangered Great Lakes Piping Plover Population: History and Hope.

Forty years ago, Piping Plovers were close to extinction in the Great Lakes. Only 12-17 pairs were known to nest in Michigan and the population was listed as Endangered in 1985. By the summer of 2025, the number of pairs increased to 88 and plovers were nesting on all 5 Great Lakes and in 4 states and the province of Ontario. How did this change in numbers happen and is it possible for this population to recover to the point of delisting at 150 pairs? This presentation will provide an overview of the efforts to increase nesting numbers and the lessons learned along the way. The history of plovers in the Great Lakes is marked by many challenges but significant hope exists for the future of this still small and vulnerable group of birds.

Francesca J Cuthbert is a Distinguished Teaching Professor Emerita in the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.  

The Chiwaukee Prairie-Illinois Beach Lake Plain is a stretch of connected natural areas on the western shore of Lake Michigan which spans across the Wisconsin-Illinois Border. The Lake Plain includes Kenosha Dunes, Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area, Spring Bluff Forest Preserve, Illinois Beach State Park, Hosah Park, and Waukegan Dunes and serves as the highest quality dune and swale ecosystem in the Chicago Region. Protected through the Lake Plain Coalition, efforts are underway to manage the Lake Plain as one unit across state lines.

In this talk, Lake Plain Coordinator Belynda Alberte discusses why these habitats are so special and how they support endangered Great Lakes piping plovers.

Ms. Alberte works with the Coalition on their organizational needs, seeking funding sources for habitat management and conservation strategies, and overall project management in the Lake Plain. She also assists in management and stewardship of the Lake Plain Natural Areas with agency staff, nonprofits and volunteers. A botanist by trade, Ms. Alberte’s Master's thesis explored the vegetation of the Lake Plain (University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Masters of Biology with a Concentration in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation).

Join Lake County Audubon/Sharing Our Shore-Waukegan for a unique opportunity to experience Waukegan Beach and the story of the Great Lakes Piping Plover through the eyes of one of the region’s leading bird experts.

🌊 Guided Beach Tour
Renowned birder Adam Sell of Red Hill Birding will lead a special walk along Waukegan Beach, sharing his expertise on shorebirds, migration, and the remarkable return of the endangered piping plover.

🏛️ Exclusive Exhibit Visit
Following the tour, we’ll head to the Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie to explore the special exhibit Through the Eyes of the Piping Plovers: the Flora, Fauna & People of the Waukegan Shores.

☕ Coffee, Treats & Conversation
Enjoy refreshments while taking part in a lively discussion about local conservation efforts that are bringing the piping plover back from the brink of extinction.

Don’t miss this inspiring event that blends field birding, art, and community conservation!

Join us for a family-centric event! Booking Reading of “From Marsh to Shore, Let Nature Roar.”

Jaxson Bailey is a Waukegan resident and senior at Waukegan High School. Over the summer, he participated in The Center for Conservation Leadership's Eco-Ambassador Internship. Through this process, he completed a capstone project - a children's book about the wildlife and habitats present at Illinois Beach State Park. Through a collaboration with CCL partner, Lyndsey Murphree, his words have come to life in the style of a coloring book.

Jaxson will lead a book reading and then we invite our guests to tour the exhibit “Through the Eyes of the Piping Plovers: the Flora, Fauna and People of the Waukegan Shores.”

Attend a special screening of “Sharing Our Shore and the Return of the Piping Plover to Waukegan Shores.” Produced and written by Carolyn Lueck, President of Lake County Audubon Society, this a remarkable film about a truly miraculous story. 

Two rare and beautiful piping plovers — Blaze and Pepper — traveled thousands of miles to mate and raise three chicks (Juniper, Sage and Willow). It's even more incredible that Blaze and Pepper raised their family on the Lake Michigan shore in Waukegan just yards from two Superfund sites. Despite all odds — thanks to the heroic efforts of tireless ecologists and Audubon volunteers — they have thrived. Carolyn will introduce the film and take questions. 

Bring your entire family. Tour the special exhibit “Through the Eyes of the Piping Plovers: the Flora, Fauna and People of the Waukegan Shores” as well as the permanent museum exhibits before and after the presentation.

The Waukegan Historical Society’s Tour of Homes is an annual fundraiser that began in 1969 and is a self-guided tour that allows participants to go through carefully curated homes at their own pace. Come join us for a delightful afternoon exploring some of the most charming homes in Waukegan. This year's tour includes three historic private residences, as well as the Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie and the Haines House Museum in Bowen Park, where you can marvel at the rich history and unique architecture of our city.

Meet the artists of the special exhibit “Through the Eyes of the Piping Plovers: the Flora, Fauna and People of the Waukegan Shores” and hear their stories behind the artwork creation! Heeyoung Kim and participating artists will walk the audience through the exhibit in person.

The botanical art form requires precise control over everything involved: accurate scientific description of the species and the execution of the medium/media of watercolor, ink or pencil. When the group, Brushwood Botanical Artists, took on this shorebird project, the artists had to go through a little different process beyond plants. Come and hear about it at this public event!

The Waukegan Historical Society and the Waukegan Park District are partnering to host the 29th Annual Oakwood Cemetery Walk at Oakwood Cemetery. The Oakwood Cemetery Walk is a “living history” event, showcasing the rich history of Waukegan using costumed actors to portray local historic figures with connections to the cemetery and city. This year’s theme is “1925 Waukegan.”

Join Sharing Our Shore-Waukegan for a tour of the Piping Plover Special Exhibit followed by a presentation about the latest technologies used for tracking migration.

J'orge Garcia is a Chicago-area birder who brings his unique skill set from working to support Chicago's maker community into our great birding community. He first discovered birding after modeling a 3D-printed lens mount to attach vintage lenses to a mirrorless camera. Jorge shared his birding journey online through Twitter as he explored printing postcards and learning about Chicago's avian diversity.

His online sharing led him to become increasingly involved in the local birding community. He previously served on the board of the Illinois Ornithological Society and coordinated the Birds in My Neighborhood program at Openlands. J'orge now serves as the Director of the Windy City Bird Lab, leading projects like the Chicago Bird Migration Monitoring Network, which studies bird migration across the region.

The special art exhibit “Through the Eyes of the Piping Plovers: the Flora, Fauna and People of the Waukegan Shores,” presented by Lake County Audubon/Sharing Our Shore-Waukegan, shares the beauty and fragility of the endangered Great Lakes Piping Plovers with the community.

Join us for the opening reception and an exploration of the themes of Habitat, Piping Plovers, Migration, and Community. Through the use of watercolor paintings, photographs and interactive information panels, the exhibit highlights the need to protect a unique habitat that supports a rich biodiversity - including human life - and connect our community to this local success story. Featuring artwork by Heeyoung Kim and the Brushwood Botanical Artists, Photographer Steve Jessmore and the Sharing Our Shore-Waukegan Monitoring Team.

In celebration of Waukegan-born author Ray Bradbury's birthday. Visit the sites of Bradbury's Green Town (Waukegan) from his novels "Dandelion Wine," "Farewell Summer” and "Something Wicked This Way Comes." The tour covers 1.5 miles and includes uneven ground and stairs.

The Waukegan Park District, Waukegan Historical Society, the Lake County Audubon Society, and Sharing Our Shore – Waukegan are partnering to offer the Then & Now Lakefront and Nature Tour at the Waukegan Municipal Beach, located at 201 E. Seahorse Drive.The free tour will begin at the Stiner Pavilion. Participants are encouraged to stay after the tour to enjoy the Waukegan Band’s concert. Preregistration is not required.