Eastern chipmunks are a part of our local ecosystem today and they are giving us a warning about climate change.
Author Archives: Libby Hill
Libby Hill is the author of "The Chicago River: a Natural and Unnatural History. She has been writing about birds and trees and Evanston's natural history for the Roundtable since 2004.
Posted inClimate Watch
Don’t Trash Glass: Evanston businesses sign on to ‘a no-brainer’
In November 2021, I was fortunate to profile an Evanston Township High School senior, Maia Roothaan, in a RoundTable article about her Cookies for Compost effort. She wanted to remove […]
Posted inClimate Watch
Meet Brian Zimmerman, solid waste junkie
How best to get rid of no-longer-needed “stuff”? Brian Zimmerman, Evanston’s solid waste coordinator, is tackling that challenge.
Posted inClimate Watch
Getting to know Cara Pratt
The word “sustain” is fascinating: In one definition, it means to prolong in the same manner, such as pressing the pedal on a piano to prolong the resonance of a […]
Posted inArt & Life
It’s for the birds: Evanston North Shore Bird Club part of national count
Expect to hear these bird calls Monday. “There’s a brown creeper climbing up that oak!” “Another over there on that hickory!” “Two chickadees on that bush!” “Blue jay flying over!” […]
Posted inWeather
Even with weather this bad, birds don’t fly the coop
If you are in need of a good warm winter coat and head toward your nearest sporting goods store, what filling might you look for? Probably a down-filled coat, yes? […]
Posted inNorthwestern
Some NU students are literally for the birds
Northwestern University students don’t just study. They participate in multiple service opportunities. Probably their best-known charitable activity is Dance Marathon, which since 1975 has raised more than $22 million, primarily for […]
Posted inArt & Life
Evanston is officially for the birds!
Sept. 12 marked a milestone for birds in Evanston, particularly benefitting those that migrate through the city. City Council unanimously passed an ordinance amending Title 4 of the City Code, “Building […]
Posted inGuest Essay
Monty and Rose: The Evanston connection
Monty and Rose, two small shorebirds called piping plovers, found their way to Montrose Beach Dunes in Chicago in 2019 as a couple, and bred on the beach for three […]
Posted inGuest Essay
Guest essay: Bird feeders and bird flu
Confusion reigns over whether it is safe for people to keep bird feeders going amid the current crisis about avian flu, also known as bird flu. Evanston North Shore Bird […]