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

During her time working in Champaign County, Jennifer has become familiar with its flora and fauna, as well as with what people value regarding nature-related experiences. She hopes to use her knowledge and experience to better serve, and enrich the lives of, those living in Champaign County.

Favorite Bird: Recently, she has become very fond of the Eastern Phoebe, admiring how their song is their namesake. She even named her cat Phoebe!

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.

COMMUNICATIONS

Audrey is an undergrad in Environmental Sustainability with an interest in conservation at the University of Illinois. She is excited to be involved with CCAS and their projects to gain experience in conservation and learn more about biodiversity in her own backyard.

CONSERVATION

Birding is Zak’s favorite hobby, although it could also sometimes be called an obsession! Zak’s main interest on the board is to find more ways for CCAS to engage with the community to find, produce, or improve habitat for birds.

Favorite Bird: Chimney Swift. Its cute stubby body with long wings and habit of circling high above as it chitters away sweetly at all times of the day always makes him smile and look up. When they enter a communal roosting site like a bird-tornado, it’s mesmerizing!

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

Brock is a relatively new member of CCAS, joining to try and learn more about the visitors to the wildflowers in his backyard. He hopes to help new birders such as himself get started.

Favorite Bird: American Goldfinch. Love the bright colors and how they usually travel in families.

PROGRAM

Elizabeth is an undergrad at the University of Illinois planning on studying psychology and communications. She is passionate about wildlife and conservation, which led her to become involved with the CCAS. She hopes to help make a difference in the Champaign area through being the new Program Chair.

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

Megan is lending her experience as a public information officer to help CCAS further inform and delight its membership through web and print content about birds and the Society.

Favorite Bird: Megan has a soft spot for Ruffed Grouse, birds she spent many hours afield tracking with a radio antenna and whose daily dramas provided her first glimpse into the richness of individual wild birds’ unique unseen lives.

MEMBER AT LARGE

Susan joined CCAS a few years ago to learn about how to spot birds in the wild and identify them. Her experience in scientific publishing and working with local nonprofits is helpful in her work with the CCAS Board and in putting together the print newsletter for the Society.

Favorite bird: Hummingbirds! Susan plants a few flowers each year specifically to attract hummingbirds to her garden.