Fwd: No sightings

[Al Stokie]

I am forwarding this message from Lizz M about the passing of her friend Cindy Madsen. 

Al Stokie 

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Elizabeth Morris <lizz1...@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Feb 25, 2026, 4:44 PM
Subject: No sightings
To: Al Stokie <alsto...@gmail.com>

It is with great sadness that I’m reporting to the birding community that my dear, dear friend Cindy Madson has unexpectedly passed last Friday the 20th. Cindy introduced me to serious birding back in 2007, she also lead me the Lake/Cook Audubon group, where I met so many wonderful people that furthered my birding education.

She had every birding app possible, I don't even know where they all came from, but we’d be out in the spring migration and “oh wait, let me see what this says”. Then we’d be off on the trail of another good bird. Sadly, I have moved to CO Springs (my goal is to see all the birds west of the Mississippi River) and will be unable to attend the visitation/service which is planned for Sunday afternoon 1pm - 4pm, held at Kristan’s Funeral Home in Mundelein. I've been communicating with one of her daughters, Obit is now posted by Kristan’s.


FYI - Josh Ingle, neither of us will be on your great bird walk at Jarvis this year, we always had a good time (even that year it rained). We’d always hit La Baugh on the ride home, unless there was an Eastern screech owl that was a must see! I plan on coming back to IL for migration in 2027 and hope to bird with Josh, Mark Hurley, Rena, Sonny and maybe an Al Stokie sighting.

If anyone out there would please add my email to the IL State Beach raptor watch/count I’d be grateful, Cindy was going to do that for me this coming summer.


Lizz Morris
Formerly Lake County IL

now El Paso County CO