“Focus on Wildlife”
featuring:
“Recognizing Injuries and Orphaning in Wildlife”
Aimee Sosenko & Jessica Massaro Nass
Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitators, Fellow Mortals
Check out Fellow Mortals Here
The first of four programs was presented by Fellow Mortals Wildlife Hospital in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Many interesting facts educated us about injured/abandoned wildlife and what to do if we find them. Did you know that injured or abandoned ducklings and goslings MUST go to the hospital to be rehabilitated? If reunited with a family other than their own they will die. And who knew that no wildlife hospital in the U.S. will treat an injured adult deer because it causes so much stress on the animal it will die? They can usually cope with their injury and adapt to the world around them.
“Wildlife in the Chicago Area: Otters, Coyotes and Raptors”
“Wildlife in the Chicago Area: Otters, Coyotes and Raptors”Chris Anchor
Senior Wildlife Biologist, Forest Preserve District of Cook County
Chris, a very popular presenter, shared his experiences with raptors, otters and coyotes of northern Illinois. His photos and stories about the raptors and otters were so captivating and engendered so much discussion that little time was left to devote to coyotes. Chris has gathered extensive information on all sorts of wildlife through the use of tracking devices. One of the interesting details he shared is that a tracking device must be implanted in otters since they don’t have a neck for a radio collar.
Chris has freely shared his knowledge with college students since there is so little field experience being provided in the college curricula. You can read more about his special contribution at https://www.chicagomag.com/city-life/March-2018/One-of-Illinoiss-Most-Experienced-Biologists-Has-Lessons-for-the-Future/
Using Native Landscapes to Attract Insects and Pollinators
Using Native Landscapes to Attract Insects and PollinatorsJack Pizzo
President & Senior Ecologist, The Pizzo Group
Contact the Pizzo Group at: jackp@pizzo.info, pizzogroup.com
Jack graciously stepped in to substitute for the planned presenter. Special thanks to Jack for his program, Planting for Pollinators. He began with a hilarious video that suggests that the drug NATURE is the antidote for whatever may ail us. Check out nature-rx.org on YouTube. Jack illustrated how his company, The Pizzo Group, has restored many private and public properties to native landscapes. His beautiful photographs showed what can be accomplished when proper steps are taken to encourage the presence of pollinators.
Original event on: Attracting Insects and Pollinators with Native Plants with Kelsay Shaw Co-owner, Botanist and Consultant, Possibility Place Nursery, was cancelled due to illness. Here is a link to their resource “Bee Smart”.
“Birds in the Garden: Creating a Bird Oasis”
Pam Karlson
Certified Gardener/Garden Designer, Artist, Waxwing Studio, Inc.
Pam Karlson concluded the seminar by sharing her experience with birds and native plants in her small Chicago yard. Her program, “Birds in the Garden: Creating and Enjoying a Bird Oasis”, illustrated how even a city yard/garden can attract a large number of bird species if the right forbs, grasses, trees, shrubs and water features are included in the home landscape. Her home is even on the flight path for O’Hare, yet Pam has observed 115 species of birds in her city yard. Here is a link to Pam’s handout “Birds in the Garden“. It lists many of the plants she has included in her birdscape.
The images of birds enjoying her water feature illustrate the value of the native plants she uses. She does garden design through Waxwing Studios.