Update: caliery pear, The Wetlands Initiative 11/6 event (no sightings), and sandhill crane count at J-P

[M.Bernat]

The fine print of the callery pear ban is growers have a 2-year grace period to reduce their supply. Through outreach we can reduce demand—to benefit grassland birds. I cringe when I read “flowering pear” on a tag in garden centers. 

There were 3.235 sandhill cranes at Jasper Pulaski FWA this week. I usually run into some of you at J-P’s office or on the viewing deck; and since crane counts are one of my connections with TWI, I’ll take this op to say that after my IBET post about going (or not) to The Wetlands Initiative’s 30th anniversary gala, I’ve heard from or about enough birders who are going that I decided to stay up late on a weeknight. Sounds like fun. See some of you fun birders there! I think today may have been the deadline to purchase a ticket.  

Mary Bernat

South Cook County

--

Low Ticket Alert: TWI's 30th Anniversary Gala on November 6 Now is your last chance to reserve a spot to celebrate with us at TWI's upcoming 30th Anniversary Gala on Thursday, November 6th, 2025! Tickets are nearly sold out for this special evening. Event Details Thursday, November 6, 2025 Morgan Arts Complex 3622 South Morgan Street Chicago, Illinois 60609 6:00 - 7:00 pm Cocktail Reception Connect with friends in the conservation community, browse visual showcases of TWI's current projects, and learn about TWI's restoration work from on-the-ground staff. 7:00 - 9:00 pm Dinner and Program Following an opportunity to win guided tours with expert naturalists and friends of TWI Dale Bowman and Joel Greenberg, guests will enjoy a keynote conversation between marine biologist and bestselling author Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and leader in sustainability Karen Weigert. About Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson is a marine biologist, policy expert, writer, and teacher working to help create the best possible climate future. She is co-founder of Urban Ocean Lab, a think tank for the future of coastal cities. Ayana authored The New York Times bestseller What If We Get it Right?: Visions of Climate Futures, work that is carried on with her newsletter and podcast of the same name. Previously, Ayana co-edited the bestselling anthology All We Can Save, co-created and co-­hosted the Spotify/Gimlet podcast How to Save a Planet, and co-­authored the Blue New Deal, a roadmap for including the ocean in climate policy. She earned a BA in environmental science and public policy from Harvard University, and a Ph.D. in marine biology from Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Above all: Ayana is in love with climate solutions. About Karen Weigert Karen Weigert is the Director of the Baumhart Center for Social Enterprise and Responsibility at Loyola University Chicago, where she heads the Baumhart Scholars MBA—a high-impact program focused on social and environmental impact. Previously, she was the first Chief Sustainability Officer for the City of Chicago and served as Executive Vice President of Slipstream, a nonprofit advancing equitable climate solutions. Karen is the sustainability contributor for WBEZ's In the Loop and has appeared in national and local media, including CBS This Morning, The Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, and Crain's. She is dedicated to building thriving communities within an inclusive economy on a healthy planet. Don't miss your chance to celebrate with us! Reserve your spot today to celebrate three decades of designing, restoring, and creating wetlands with TWI. Purchase Tickets Thank You to our 30th Anniversary Gala Sponsors