Happy Birthday Al Stokie! 🥳🎉🎂

[Tamima Itani]

Dear Al, 

Happy Birthday to you!  With each year that passes, you continue to be an inspiration for determination and persistence, as well as great kindness to all in our community.  I continue to look for your daily emails and read them carefully, as they provide such a great synopsis of arrivals, departures and unexpected species on any given day.

I hope today and this year bring you great birds and great license plates, as well as the continued ability to be out in the field birding.

All the best to you, 

Tamima Itani

Evanston, Cook County

[jarojim]

I second that emotion!

Happy Birthday AL!

Jim

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[Daniel Weinman]

Well said!! Tamima , you expressed beautifully what my husband and I and the rest of the birding community have felt about Al for the many years we have been reading his daily reports and also whenever we’ve had the good fortune to run into him on a field trip. His gentle teaching and self effacing humor are an inspiration to us all!

Dan and I add our wishes for a most joyous Birthday to Al Stokie!!

Sent from my iPhone

Irene Weinman :)

On Mar 27, 2026, at 06:08, Tamima Itani <tamim...@hotmail.com> wrote:



[Kathleen Rush]

To the coolest birder ever, thanks for keeping us all informed. Happiest of birthdays to you! 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ilbirds/8D39FF9F-42AC-4701-9113-CA79089EB8F8%40me.com.

[Terri Palluzzi]

Yes! Happy birthday, Al! I appreciate your emails! They are a bright spot in my day! 🎂😊

Sent from Proton Mail for iOS.

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[Candida Abrahamson]

Keep it up. Al! No one like you!

Candida

All the best,

Candida

candidabrahamson.com

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[Jimf142]

Definitely.  Al is an inspiration to us too. Many happy birthdays to come!

On Fri, Mar 27, 2026 at 7:42 AM Kathleen Rush <rushkat...@gmail.com> wrote:

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--

James Fuerstenberg

205 W. Fremont St.

Arlington Heights, IL 60004

847 217 0946

'The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong, it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair.' (Douglas Adams)

[Roberta Winter]

A birding trip is always made better with an Al Stokie sighting! May you have many more years of good Birding and good daily Birding reports that are part of my morning routine.

Thank you,

Bobbie Winter

On Fri, Mar 27, 2026 at 6:08 AM Tamima Itani <tamim...@hotmail.com> wrote:

[Ronald Bartelstein]

I recently ran into Al at Techny North. He wanted me to know the Ross goose was still at the Botanic Garden. May your kindness be returned 100 fold. 

Ron and Liddy 

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 27, 2026, at 7:56 AM, 'Terri Palluzzi' via IBET - Illinois Birders Exchanging Thoughts <ilb...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

Yes! Happy birthday, Al! I appreciate your emails! They are a bright spot in my day! 🎂😊

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ilbirds/T6lzfwI1q7aqisZhLwzSXJ9EWnN87DFYKpxp7tEnAq0rJUOGagIaFqSHHRfrCDuxkm3QMdlaKZo_AaO_L0Oug60w2q1B8uHE6PGdA6k7oH0%3D%40proton.me.

[CJ Sikora]

Happy Birthday Al! Many more! Hope to run into you soon!

CJ Sikora

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ilbirds/575F1EF8-954D-47FC-96B2-03C572C53155%40yahoo.com.

[Ann Tanner]

Happy Birthday Al.  Thank you for writing every day about your trips for birds and license plates. I keep a list of your destinations, many of which I would have never known about if it had not been for you and your diligence. Have a wonderful day and a good year ahead!.

Ann Tanner 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ilbirds/CAEv_4gVQaEF-PSKurk18z-%2Bf1kuWddkBWk5f%2BnTvQj4une5f4g%40mail.gmail.com.

[Caryn Hollander]

Happiest of birthdays”bird”days Al. You have been my inspiration since I first started seriously birding.  I would take your daily emails and make lists of all the birds you saw. Then I would open my field guide to study and familiarize myself with each one.  I don’t have the dedication to get out every day like you do, but many years later, I still look forward to your daily reports.

May you continue to do what you love, whether it’s with your trusty wheelchair or just looking through the window of your little Prius.  Till we meet again on the trail…

Caryn Hollander

On Mar 27, 2026, at 4:08 AM, Tamima Itani <tamim...@hotmail.com> wrote:



[ferdyo...@comcast.net]

Happy birthday, Al! You're my inspiration!

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ilbirds/T6lzfwI1q7aqisZhLwzSXJ9EWnN87DFYKpxp7tEnAq0rJUOGagIaFqSHHRfrCDuxkm3QMdlaKZo_AaO_L0Oug60w2q1B8uHE6PGdA6k7oH0%3D%40proton.me.

[Jane Meloy]

Joining the chorus to say Happy Birthday🎂with best wishes and sending many thanks for all you do!!

Jane

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 27, 2026, at 9:16 AM, ferdyonfilms via IBET - Illinois Birders Exchanging Thoughts <ilb...@googlegroups.com> wrote:



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[Jennifer]

Yes, Happy Birthday Al! 🎂 

Love all your beautiful texts!  I especially enjoy your highlighted BIRD OF THE DAY!  🦉   Your dedication to birding every day is amazing!  Best wishes to you!

Jennifer Hovey

Sent from my iPad

On Mar 27, 2026, at 9:16 AM, ferdyonfilms via IBET - Illinois Birders Exchanging Thoughts <ilb...@googlegroups.com> wrote:



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[Chuck Berman]

Happy Birthday, Al. May you see all the birds you seek and all the license plates you want.

Cheers

Chuck Berman

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ilbirds/DE236094-C435-424E-AC5A-84866938AF12%40gmail.com.

[Elizabeth Morris]

Happy birthday Al, your kindness to me and everyone you meet on the trail is truly inspiring. I always look forward to your posts even now while I’m in CO. Saw many western meadow larks since I’ve been learning the western birds. My bird of this week is a western scrub jay. It’s going to be a good migration!! Enjoy you deserve it 

Lizz Morris

El Paso County, CO

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 27, 2026, at 8:38 AM, Chuck Berman <cberm...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Leslie Borns]

When God created birders, she made a beautiful, one-of-a-kind mold called "Al Stokie."  The birding world has never been the same.  We (and the Toyota car company) are are eternally grateful!

Omnia optima tibi pro bona valetudine et vita longa, Al.

Leslie Borns

Chicago/Cook

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ilbirds/FD0B10C5-716E-4740-8F9B-35AE2E15DEC1%40gmail.com.

[Linda]

On Friday, March 27, 2026 at 06:08:39 AM CDT, Tamima Itani <tamim...@hotmail.com> wrote:

Happy birthday  Al 🎂 

I hope your year is filled with many special bird sightings. 

I love reading your daily posts.  Have a great year. 

Linda Radtke 

[Liz Sodic]

Happiest birthday Al and wishing you the best birdiest year!  

Best regards,

Mike and Liz Sodic 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ilbirds/233448362.600152.1774638087083%40mail.yahoo.com.