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One of IOS’s objectives is “To promote scientific research and education in order to improve knowledge and awareness of birds in Illinois”. The IOS Grants Program was initiated several years ago to support this objective with funding.
The 2017 IOS Grants Program received nine requests for funding, representing a notably diverse set of study goals. The IOS review team evaluated each proposal, and determined that all were suitable for funding within the scope of that key objective described above. In addition to money provided directly by IOS, donations by five organizations and many individuals (see the alphabetical lists below) made it possible for all of the 2017 grant requests to be fully funded. A total of 94 Grants totaling $82,019 have been awarded since the program’s inception, through this year. |
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| Thanks to you all! Without the generosity of these organizations and IOS members and friends in the bird conservation community, IOS would not be able to support these projects. The support exemplified by this funding sends an important message to these students and researchers: We believe in your work, and we care about the future of our state’s bird life!
Thanks to Matt Igleski and Scott Meister for reviewing and evaluating all the requests. Congratulations to the Grant recipients! Watch for their project articles in future issues of Meadowlark and watch for short summaries on the IOS website. Here’s a synopsis of the 2017 Grants. Where noted, individuals and organizations targeted those Grants for their donations. |
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| # | Amount | Name/Organization | Description/Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | $1,000 | Abigail Blake-Bradshaw University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Illinois Natural History Survey, and Forbes Biological Station |
Wetland quality for waterbirds in Illinois. 3rd year of project; shorebird habitat usage added to project. Sponsored by DuPage Birding Club. |
| 2. | $1,000 | Therin Bradshaw Western Illinois University and Forbes Biological Station |
Marsh bird use of wetlands managed for waterfowl in Illinois. Sponsored by DuPage Birding Club. |
| 3. | $100 | Rachel DiPietro Illinois State University |
Constructing a data-based mortality profile for avian tower kills at telecommunication towers in Illinois. Sponsored by IOS. |
4. | $1,000 | Heather Herakovich Northern Illinois University |
The effects of bison reintroduction, prescribed fire, and time since restoration on grassland birds in tallgrass prairie. 2nd year of funding. Sponsored by IOS. |
| 5. | $1,500 | Maureen Hurd University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign |
Habitat use and foraging behavior of Chimney Swifts, a rapidly declining and poorly studied species. Sponsored by Lake-Cook Audubon ($1000) and IOS ($500). |
| 6. | $1,000 | Alec Luro University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign |
The function of plumage color in American robins: why do males and females differ in appearance? Sponsored by IOS. |
| 7. | $1,000 | James Marshall, Sean Beckmann, and Troy Skwor Rockford University |
Patterns of Borrelia burgdorferi infection and antibodies in birds of northern Illinois. Sponsored by IOS. |
| 8. | $1,050 | John O’Connell Southern Illinois University, Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory |
Estimating wetland availability for inundation-dependent birds in Illinois. Sponsored by IOS, Lake-Cook Audubon and Southern Illinois Audubon. |
| 9. | $1,000 | Heather Skeen University of Chicago |
Effects of seasonality and migration on the microbiome of Swainson’s Thrush. Sponsored by IOS and McHenry County Audubon. |