Become an IBA Volunteer Steward
Local community members can play a vital role in furthering the goals of the IBA program. Through the IBA Stewards initiative, a local group (such as an Audubon chapter, local land trust, bird club, school group, etc.) adopts an IBA and facilitates others to get involved at the site in an environmentally sensitive way. Involvement can include organizing an education program, monitoring effort, clean-up day, or habitat improvement project. Adopting an IBA can help in the conservation of the site by spreading the word on the importance of the site and building a local group of constituents that care about the site.
Benefits of Becoming a Steward:
- Participate in an international bird conservation program.
- Promote a community-based program.
- Participate in meaningful science leading to bird conservation.
- Implement exciting projects that combine science, education, and birding.
- Create new public outreach opportunities.
Adoption Procedures:
- Select an IBA site near you for adoption. Identify an individual from your group to act as the main contact.
- Contact the Illinois IBA Coordinator about adopting a site.
- Work with the IBA Coordinator to arrange with the landowner(s) to adopt the site.
- Work with the IBA Coordinator and landowner to develop a site-specific program.
Examples of Activities:
- Education programs that engage people in learning about birds and their conservation.
- Establish a monitoring program that collects data to document the status of threats to the site, or the occurrence, relative abundance, breeding status, and long-term changes in bird populations and habitat.
- Planning efforts to provide avian conservation information to help guide priority-setting at the site.
- Habitat restoration project such as invasive control or native planting.
- An outreach program to foster community support for the IBA site such as an annual birding festival.
Contact us for more information about adopting an IBA:
Nat Miller
Audubon Chicago Region
17 N State Street, Suite 1650
Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312.453.0230 x 2006
Birds in My Neighborhood
Openlands' pilot birding program, created with support from Audubon Great Lakes, is aimed at 2nd to 5th graders & their teachers, and is taught by volunteers.
Ways You Can Help
Join A Chapter
Audubon chapters create a culture of conservation in local communities through education and advocacy, focusing on the conservation of birds and conservation of important habitats.
Donate to Audubon
Help secure the future for birds at risk from climate change, habitat loss and other threats. Your support will power our science, education, advocacy and on-the-ground conservation efforts.
