grey wading bird with a red facial patch stands in some water.

About Audubon Great Lakes

We protect birds and the places they need today and tomorrow, in the Great Lakes region and throughout the hemisphere.

Audubon Great Lakes is a regional office of the National Audubon Society, managing conservation work in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin to protect and improve habitat critical for birds during their migration and nesting cycles, and we build networks of volunteers and advocates for the natural environment.

Holding 20 percent of the world’s fresh water within more than 10,000 miles of shoreline, the Great Lakes are a globally significant ecosystem. Millions of migratory birds depend on coastal habitats along the Great Lakes for shelter, rest, and nourishment for their long journeys. Thousands of raptors, waterfowl, and wetland birds rely on the Great Lakes systems for safe nesting grounds. Yet, coastal development, climate change, and destructive invasive species threaten the coastal systems that support this great range of bird species—from the little Piping Plover to the magnificent Bald Eagle.

300K

Members and supporters

300

Species of birds protected

54

Local chapters

55

Staff members

Regional Staff

Michelle Parker

Vice President & Executive Director, Audubon Great Lakes

Troy Peters

Engagement Director

Leigh Ann Miller

Ohio Centers' Director, Grange Insurance Audubon Center and Aullwood Audubon

Daniel Suarez

Conservation Director

Nicole Minadeo

Communications Director

Marnie Urso

Senior Policy Director

Livia Bercot

Senior Manager, Strategic Operations

Stephanie Beilke

Senior Manager, Conservation Science

Adam Forrer

Policy Director, Climate

Kathryn Bernard

GIS Specialist

Milton Byers

Wild Indigo Coordinator, Milwaukee

Ivonne Chavez

Wild Indigo Coordinator, Chicago

Jessica Dolan

Vice President, Leadership Giving

Kayla Lindsay-Fisher

Senior Stewardship Associate

Katja Foreman-Braunschweig

Communications Associate

Mitch Greenberg

Government Affairs Associate

Lizzy Gilbert

Senior Director of Leadership Giving

Izabela Grobelna

Engagement Manager

Chelsea Heck

Senior Manager, Leadership Giving

Andy Hinickle

Senior Manager, Conservation

Jennifer Johnson

Wild Indigo Associate, Northwest Indiana

Sam Kiley

Director of Leadership Giving

Ériu (Erin) Martinez

Wild Indigo Coordinator, Detroit

Nathan Michael Ph.D.

Marsh Bird Conservation Manager

Kylie McElrath

Conservation Manager, Michigan

Emily Osborne-Kim

Senior Communications Manager, Advocacy

Tom Prestby

Conservation Manager, Wisconsin

Sarah Saunders

Quantitative Ecologist, National Science

Ashly Steinke

Wisconsin Grassland Ecologist

Victoria Wittig, Ph.D.

Conservation Manager, Illinois/Indiana

Brian Vigue

Policy Director, Freshwater

Jenni Fuller

Senior Coordinator, Quantitative Science

Audubon Great Lakes Centers

Aullwood Audubon Center. Photo: Sydney Walsh/Audubon

Aullwood Audubon Center. Photo: Sydney Walsh/Audubon

Aullwood Audubon Center

Dayon, OH

A view of Grange Insurance Audubon Center and the surrounding gardens and prairie.

Grange Insurance Audubon Center

Columbus, OH

How We're Making a Difference

Learn about local work happening on the ground.

Black Tern perched on post.

Detroit River and St. Clair Flats Restoration

Spearhead protection and restoration of the Detroit River and St. Clair Flats wetlands, home to the ...

Bird’s eye view of the southwest corner of the old mine lake (Ottawa Sands Lake), encompassing 80 acres, created by sand mining operations. The shoreline grading and littoral zone creation is visible through the clear water and includes the creation of th

Eastern Lake Michigan Restoration

Coordinate large-scale restoration at key Eastern Lake Michigan wetland sites to ensure healthy, ...

Wetland habitat with birds flying overhead.

Saginaw Bay Restoration

Protect the birds that depend on these vital coastal habitats by mitigating threats and building ...

Ariel of potholing and channeling at Allouez Bay

St. Louis River Estuary Restoration

Conserve and restore wetland conditions marsh birds need to thrive in northwestern Wisconsin and ...

Common Yellowthroat on a branch with bug in mouth

MI Birds Program

Bring together birders and other wildlife enthusiasts in the understanding, care, and stewardship of ...

American Bittern.

St. Mary’s River and Straits of Mackinac Restoration

Build robust community partnerships and coordinate large-scale, on-the-ground wetland restoration to ...

Drone picture of Lakeview Wildlife Management Area.

Eastern Lake Ontario Marshes Restoration

Restore and care for the wetlands that vulnerable marsh birds need in the North Country of Upstate ...

Song Sparrow with twigs in beak.

Braddock Bay Restoration

Restore and protect coastal wetlands for vulnerable marsh birds in Western New York and the Finger ...

Black Tern with wings spread wide against a blue sky.

Black Tern Conservation

Ensure the long-term survival of one of the Great Lakes’ most iconic birds, the Black Tern.

Pied-billed Grebe, adult and chick in marsh

Lakeshore Marshes Montezuma Area Restoration

Conserve and restore wetland conditions marsh birds need to thrive upstate New York.

Black-crowned Night Heron perched in tree

Niagara River Corridor Restoration

Restore wetlands for vulnerable marsh birds in western New York.

Green Bay Restoration

Restore wetlands for vulnerable marsh birds and protect the Great Lakes Piping Plover in Northeast ...

Ms. Packer, Great Lakes Piping Plover on beach

Great Lakes Piping Plover Monitoring and Stewarship

Help ensure the long-term recovery of the endangered Great Lakes Piping Plover through monitoring, ...

Restoring Hatcher Park and Marshalltown Marsh

Working collaboratively on a vision for restoration rooted in community and climate resilience in ...

Conservation Ranching in the Great Lakes

Stabilize declining grassland bird populations in partnership with farmers and ranchers.

Protecting Birds in the Calumet Region

Marsh Bird Monitoring Hub

Interactive data tool that informs restoration efforts benefiting birds and people.

Wildlife tracking system receiver tower in Michigan, with snow on the ground.

Tracking Migratory Birds in the Great Lakes

Understand the places that migratory birds rely on in the Great Lakes region during their epic ...

Young Wild Indigo participant looks through binoculars.

Wild Indigo Nature Explorations

Build lasting relationships between urban communities of color and their local natural areas.

Audubon Habitat Restoration Interns.

Habitat Restoration Internship Program

Train the next generation of conservation leaders and build conservation-focused community among ...

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