The Fox River Ecosystem Partnership is holding a free program on the decline of migratory birds in the Fox Valley during a special meeting Wednesday (Jan, 8, 2020) in Elgin.

Jim Herkert

Jim Herkert, executive director of the Illinois Audubon Society, will present a program on “The Decline of Migratory Birds and Climate Change — What can we expect and do in the Fox Valley?”

The free event takes place during FREP’s bi-monthly meeting at 1 p.m. Wednesday in the Heritage Ballroom of The Centre, 100 Symphony Way, Elgin.

Herkert has served as executive director of the Illinois Audubon Society since 2016. The society is Illinois’ oldest conservation organization.

Prior to joining Illinois Audubon, Herkert worked for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, The Nature Conservancy and the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board.

Herkert received his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois-Champaign (Department of Ecology, Ethology, and Evolution). He is a Fellow in the American Ornithological Society and has authored over 70 publications, with most of these focused on the conservation and management of grassland birds.

The Fox River Ecosystem Partnership was established in 1996, representing the entire Fox River Watershed in Illinois, covering 1,720 square miles situated within the counties of Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, Lee, McHenry and Will.

FREP membership includes individuals, governments, organizations and businesses that meet regularly “to promote, preserve, protect and enhance the natural, cultural, economic and recreational resources of Illinois’ Fox River and its watershed.”

For more information about this program and the Fox River Ecosystem Partnership, please visit FREP’s website at foxriverecosystem.org.

SOURCE: Fox River Ecosystem Partnership news release