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.