About CCAS

PRESIDENT

Mariska has been birding since 2019, and is a political science major at Parkland College, focused on how grassroots organizing can influence the political landscape to serve our communities and environment. She hopes to educate and inspire people, one bird walk at a time.

Favorite Bird: Dark-eyed Juncos bring her the most joy. "How could you not love their rotund little selves hopping around in the snow during the wintertime?" she asks. 

VICE PRESIDENT

Roger has been a member of Audubon groups in several places where he’s lived, but generally has been content to let others do the leading. Since retirement he has served on a number of boards, and thought it was time to give back to an Audubon group just a little of what he has received.

Favorite Bird: Right now it's the Belted Kingfisher. It's bold, it's brassy, it's striking-looking, and rather inexplicably, it's been at Meadowbrook Park a lot lately.

SECRETARY

Nancy has been a casual birder for many years, ever since seeing her first American Redstart on a CCAS Sunday morning bird walk at Busey Woods several years ago and learning about the warbler migration.  A long time Urbana resident, Nancy has served on several committees and boards over the years and is happy to now serve on the CCAS board.  

Favorite Bird: American Goldfinch. They’re bright and cheery and always bring a smile.  Honorable mentions: Cedar Waxwing and Belted Kingfisher.

TREASURER

Todd came to the Board in March of 2021 as Treasurer and has a lot of experience with budgeting and bookkeeping for various organizations, very useful in dealing with CCAS finance and membership, among other helpful insights.

Favorite Bird: It's hard to pick a single favorite bird, but he has a lot of affection for the Carolina Wren, which he finds to be very cute and perky. “I still do not understand how such a small bird can sing so loudly,” he says.

BYLAWS

See above for more about Roger and his work with CCAS.

COMMUNICATION
Are you interested in helping us communicate with our members and promote events in a nonprofit setting? Consider joining our team as the Communications Chair - contact us at: mail@champaigncountyaudubon.org

CONSERVATION

Would you like to support local conservation projects, facilitate workdays, and help select Kendeigh Grant recipients? Consider joining the CCAS leadership as our Conservation Chair. Contact us at mail@champaigncountyaudubon.org.

EDUCATION

Ellen is an undergraduate student at the University of Illinois studying Environmental Science. She hopes to learn more about birding and improve her identification skills. She's excited to connect with fellow birders and help get other students involved.

FIELD TRIP

Aerin Tedesco has been birding since 2003. She lived in Chicago for 20 years where she met some of the best birders in the Midwest and the whole country and learned tons of valuable
birding insights from them. In 2020, she inadvertently did an Illinois state big year and broke the record for highest total species by a woman. In 2021, she shattered the existing big year record for Champaign County. Aerin is on the board of the Chicago Ornithological Society and was on the board of the Illinois Ornithological Society for two years. She has been the main organizer for the IOS Big Sit event for the past two years.

When she’s not birding, Aerin sings, plays guitar and drums, and performs in several bands, including her original band Congress of Starlings.

FINANCE

Are you interested in getting experience in nonprofit financial management?

Consider joining our team as the Finance Chair - contact us at: mail@champaigncountyaudubon.org

MEMBERSHIP

Would you like to maintain our membership rolls, recruit new members, and manage our renewal notices? Contact mail@champaigncountyaudubon.org.

PROGRAM

Are you interested in planning monthly programs for CCAS? Consider joining our team as the Program Chair - contact us at: mail@champaigncountyaudubon.org

MEMBER AT LARGE

Beth is keenly interested in environmental issues, particularly related to birds and provides data on breeding birds to the Urbana Park District and the Champaign County Forest Preserve District each year. Beth has been on the Park District's Natural Areas Advisory Board and the Champaign County Forest Preserve Citizens Advisory Board. She has also been a member of the statewide Illinois Environmental Council Board.

Favorite Bird: It remains a mystery.

MEMBER AT LARGE

Shoshanna is an active member of the Champaign County Audubon Society, an East Central Illinois Master Naturalist, and a graduate student in Biodiversity and Conservation at the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay.  She appreciates birds that reward patience and careful observation, and values conservation work that helps people notice and care about the living world around them.

Favorite bird: A particular fondness for bitterns and herons, with the American Bittern as her favorite bird.

MEMBER AT LARGE

Juan initially became fascinated with birds after being introduced to the board game Wingspan. While this interest is pretty new, he has since gone birding in four different continents and loves how it can connect him with nature and other people anywhere in the world.

Favorite Bird: Green heron. Striking, intelligent, and elusive. It also looks ridiculous when it stretches out its neck.

MEMBER AT LARGE

Are you interested in helping to make CCAS a better and more impactful organization?

Consider joining our team as one of our Members at Large - contact us at: mail@champaigncountyaudubon.org

MEMBER AT LARGE

Are you interested in helping to make CCAS a better and more impactful organization?

Consider joining our team as one of our Members at Large - contact us at: mail@champaigncountyaudubon.org

MEMBER AT LARGE

Are you interested in helping to make CCAS a better and more impactful organization?

Consider joining our team as one of our Members at Large - contact us at: mail@champaigncountyaudubon.org