Jo Fessett of Illinois Audubon Society presents a certificate to Margaret Lanterman.

Illinois Audubon Society in Elkhart for dinner-talk and awards [May 02, 2011]  ELKHART -- A Friday evening dinner-talk at Elkhart's Wild Hare Cafe featured excellent food and a presentation by Rhetta Jack, former ornithologist from the Illinois Natural History Survey, who gave a very educational PowerPoint presentation about the breeding and bird calls of the birds most frequently heard and seen on Elkhart Hill. Her presentation included actual bird calls to accompany her bird photos.

One of the highlights of the evening was the appearance of 97-year-old Margaret Lanterman of Elkhart, formerly of Mount Pulaski, a retired teacher who taught at Mount Pulaski Grade School for 43 years. Lanterman was presented two awards for her longtime work as a Logan County bird-watcher.

Jo Fessett of the Illinois Audubon Society presented Lanterman with a framed certificate that read: "Certificate of accomplishment for many years of dedication to bird conservation through citizen science." Fessett added that Margaret has been a longtime member of the Springfield Audubon Society and, since 1981, compiler for the annual spring bird count in Logan County.

Peter Niehouse, president of Elkhart Historical Society, presented Lanterman with an award in appreciation for all she has done, not only in bird-watching and counting, but in her successful efforts to get local and state recognition for Elkhart Hill's wide variety of habitats for migratory and permanent birds.

Gillette Ransom added that around 1930, Margaret's father began encouraging her interest in birds.

Lanterman officially retired from her Logan County bird-count position in 2009.

[Text from file submitted by Gillette Ransom, Elkhart Historical Society, and Phil Bertoni, Mount Pulaski Township Historical Society]