Winter Is For The Birds

What?    “Winter Is For the Birds!” ECOmmunity Green Bag Meetup

When?    Noon - 1 p.m., Thursday, January 19, 2012

Where?  2nd floor. atrium, Woodstock Square Mall, 110 S. Johnson St.

Who?     Everyone is invited!  ($5 donation requested)

Meet top habitat expert, learn how to help wild birds survive winter freeze

With frost in the forecast and more snow on the way, it’s hard to imagine how those flocks of wild birds manage to survive and thrive, right here in our own backyards.

At this week’s ECOmmunity Green Bag Meetup - “Winter is for the Birds!” - you’ll learn how native Illinois species live through our frigid winter season, what you can do to help them, and how to plan now for a bird-friendly yard next spring.

Hosted by the ECOmmunity Public Action Network, “Winter is for the Birds!” will run from noon - 1 p.m. this Thursday, Jan. 19, in the upstairs atrium at the Woodstock Square Mall, 110 S. Johnson St. in downtown Woodstock.

Social networking and displays start at 11:30 a.m., and continue after the noon-hour program. Local businesses, community groups and individuals are invited to share their own information on “green”-themed topics, products and services.  Attendees may arrive or leave whenever they like during the program, bring their own lunch or just come to join the conversation.

This month’s speaker is ornithologist Mark Spreyer, Executive Director of the Stillman Nature Center in Barrington, who will bring practical tips to improve your winter bird feeders, and help you create a bird-friendly backyard retreat this spring.  The informal, roundtable discussion allows time for each participant to ask questions and share their own project ideas.

A celebrated naturalist and author, Spreyer was an organizer and past director of Chicago’s Peregrine Falcom release program.  Specializing in the study of raptors and habitats, he has worked with wildlife refuges, museums and nonprofits throughout the nation, including the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, National Audubon Society, and Chicago Academy of Sciences.  He now also teaches Environmental Biology at the College of Lake County.

The ECOmmunity Public Action Network is a volunteer service group that hosts monthly “Green Bag Meetups” on a range of environmental topics.  Table space is provided on a first-come, first-served basis, and attendees may bring their business cards or other materials to share.

A $5 voluntary donation per-person ($10 per display space) helps to cover program costs.

To learn more about the ECOmmunity Public Action Network and its Green Bag Lunch Meet-Up Series, phone (815) 337-2040, email ECOnet.mchenry@gmail.com or visit “ECOmmunity Network” on Facebook.com.