Saturday mornings at the Library: Introduction to cranes, shorebirds and other waterbirds

The Durand Library is privileged to offer a presentation July 22 on waterbirds by Dr. James Giocomo of the American Bird Conservatory.  Everyone is cordially invited to take advantage of this timely presentation about these beautiful birds as many will soon be passing through Illinois during their annual migration south.

Jim, a native of Illinois, is the Central Region Director for the American Bird Conservatory, based in Durand.

He works to plan and build bird conservation efforts across the Great Plains from Texas in the south, to Montana and Canada in the north, and over to Illinois and Wisconsin in the east.

Jim did his undergraduate and Master’s degree work in Pennsylvania focusing his studies on songbird productivity in forest settings. He earned a Ph.D. in Natural Resources from the University of Tennessee.

July is the end of the nesting season for many of our local birds and the woods and yards are silent. However, July is also the beginning of the migration period for many shorebirds which nest in northern Canada and winter on the Gulf Coast and further south.  They will be passing through Illinois and stopping at the local wetlands and ponds, making July a great time to see these beautiful shorebirds, as well as resident waterbirds such as the Sandhill Cranes, egrets, and herons.

Jim will also introduce and explain the “ebird app” a great application of modern technology to help the amateur birder record and learn about birds. He will also introduce and explain a program called “Merlin” which can be used to identify birds by sight and by sound.

James J. Giocomo, PhD

Central Region Director

American Bird Conservancy

Jim holds a PhD in ornithnogy and is the Central Region Director for the American Bird Conservatory and is based in Durand.

He works to plan and build bird conservation efforts across the Great Plains from Texas in the south, to Montana and Canada in the north, and over to Illinois and Wisconsin in the east.

Previously, Jim worked in Texas and Oklahoma as the Oaks and Prairies Joint Venture Coordinator for 15 years.

Jim is originally from Illinois, but he did his undergraduate and Master’s degree work in Pennsylvania focusing his work on songbird productivity in forest settings.

Jim earned a Ph.D. in Natural Resources from the University of Tennessee, where he monitored and modeled productivity of Henslow’s Sparrows, Grasshopper Sparrows, Dickcissels, and Eastern Meadowlarks.

Jim has also worked for Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Audubon Pennsylvania, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Details about the event

Everyone is invited to visit the library July 22 at 10 a.m. to hear this presentation. Children of all ages are most welcome.

The Durand Library is located in the school building in the Helen C. Johnson Media Center.

Library hours are every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. Please enter the library from the east (playground) end of the building.

Follow the wide walkway to the back and then turn right to the library entrance.

For any questions or more information about the library please email Barbara Flores, Friends of the Durand Library, at [email protected].