Ann Hetzel Gunkel

Lindsay Vacek, Field Trips Chair

Lindsay Vacek, Field Trips Chair

Lindsay is interested in the science behind restoration ecology as well as its intersection with people and communities. At the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in Washington, DC, she helped direct grant funding to projects that promote community stewardship and the recovery of at-risk wildlife. She found her spark bird, a black-necked stilt, on a site visit in coastal Georgia.

Lindsay earned a Master of Environmental Management from Duke University, where her master’s project examined practical impediments to prescribed fire implementation on private lands. She volunteers for the forest preserve districts of DuPage and Cook counties, and became a Chicago Bird Collision Monitor in spring 2022.

Judy Pollock

Judy Pollock

Judy has been active in bird conservation, community science and habitat restoration projects in the Chicago area since the late 90’s. Judy helped to found the Bird Conservation Network and the BCN Survey, and served as Director of Bird Conservation at Audubon Chicago Region. She helped to initiate a number of local bird habitat projects, for example, Bartel and Orland Grassland, LaBagh Woods migratory bird habitat, and Clark Street Beach Bird Sanctuary and Harbert Park in Evanston. She first joined the CBA board in the late 90’s, and rejoined in 2014. Judy was elected President of the CBA board in 2019.

Woody Goss

Woody Goss

Woody Goss started working with the Chicago Audubon Society by co-leading bird walks, and he currently produces a video series that highlights local knowledge of bird species and locations throughout the year. As a board member he hopes to work to create more opportunities for people to go birdwatching and enjoy nature.