Daniel Suarez

Audubon Great Lakes

I come from a non-traditional background into the conservation realm, with a degree in Art History and Religion. I learned ecological restoration and volunteer organizing principles by embedding myself within established volunteer stewardship networks that helped me secure employment in the field. Currently, I'm focused on developing a deeper understanding for how prairie restorations can help stabilize crashing grassland bird populations. Specifically, how does vegetation structure influence bird occupancy and how do prairie restorations mature over time in ways that benefit grassland birds (or not). I help convene a Chicago-region collaborative hoping to help answer that question, but the group is hindered by lack of funding and capacity. I also am helping lead an expansion of the Audubon Conservation Ranching program into Wisconsin, which will represent a significant shift in how the program can function for the benefit of birds and graziers.