A recent TV news segment about a young black-crowned night heron perched on a River North window ledge was a fun Chicago story. But it also revealed something surprising: Most viewers had no idea that a bird endangered in the state has chosen to make Chicago home.
For two decades, these herons have returned each spring to nest in Lincoln Park, raising their young in the heart of one of America’s largest cities. Their numbers tell an important story. In 1992, an estimated peak of some 1,600 adult black-crowned night herons were recorded in the Calumet region. This year, the colony reached a peak count of approximately 455 adults, a stark contrast to the historic Calumet numbers and a reminder of the challenges these birds face.
Despite the challenges they face, the herons continue to choose Chicago. They continue to raise their chicks here; forage along our rivers, lagoons, and lakefront; and remind us that wildlife can still thrive in an urban landscape when we make room for it.
For the past three years, volunteers with the Chicago Black-crowned Night Heron Project have met thousands of people who were amazed to learn these remarkable birds live among us. Their reaction is almost always the same: “I had no idea.”
Perhaps that’s the real story. These herons haven’t given up on Chicago. They’re still here, waiting for us to notice them and to recognize that their future in Illinois depends, in part, on the choices we make today.
— Amy Lardner, founder, Chicago Black-crowned Night Heron Project
Ignoring gross consumption
Four thoughtful letters were printed July 22 regarding climate change. In none of these was the elephant in the room ever mentioned.
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Nothing is going to be accomplished if we cannot talk about our gross consumption of every product and service available.
— Neil Johnson, Lansing
Scientific breakthroughs matter
For families facing pancreatic cancer, every breakthrough represents something deeply personal: more time, more hope and a reason to believe that progress is possible. Pancreatic cancer does not discriminate based on age, race, ethnicity or gender. It has taken the lives of people as young as 30 in perfect health. It could happen to any one of us.
That is why the results presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s annual meeting this year are so encouraging. Researchers reported that in Phase 3 clinical data, daraxonrasib nearly doubled survival and reduced the risk of death by 60% for patients with previously treated metastatic pancreatic cancer, which is a remarkable advance against one of the deadliest cancers.
At the Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation, we know breakthroughs like this do not happen overnight. They are built on years of investment in innovative science, collaboration among researchers and the willingness to fund bold ideas before success is certain. That belief is at the heart of our mission to support groundbreaking research, particularly in early detection, while providing patients and families with the resources and hope they need throughout their journey.
This progress should also serve as a reminder to policymakers. Medical innovation depends on an environment that encourages sustained research and development. Policies that weaken incentives to invest in biomedical research ultimately put future breakthroughs and future patients at risk.
Pancreatic cancer is personal to us, which is why we believe every scientific breakthrough matters. Today’s discoveries create tomorrow’s hope for earlier detection, more effective treatments and better outcomes.
— Stacia Hart, executive director, Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation, Chicago
Be sure to visit Delaware
It was refreshing to read Mark C. Bach’s letter (“Little-known American hero,” July 2) about the ride of Continental Congress delegate Caesar Rodney. When I was a recent college graduate from the Midwest, my first job took me to tiny Delaware, a state with more U.S. senators than congressmen. I learned about Rodney’s story, that his ride resulted in the Delaware delegation voting for the Declaration of Independence. To this day, Delaware celebrates itself as “the First State.”
As people travel for the 250th anniversary, I recommend Delaware as a destination. There are many little-publicized connections to the War for Independence that bring home the reality of the accomplishment. A bronze statue of Rodney galloping to Philadelphia once dominated Wilmington’s public square.
— Jim Halas, Norridge
A fix for daylight saving time
Most of the world runs on standard hour-based time. But some regions use half-hour or 45-minute offsets to better align with solar time or for the sake of national identity.
India, Newfoundland, Iran and South Australia, for example, run on an offset of 30 minutes and Nepal, 45 minutes. And, of course, not all countries change to daylight saving time in the spring.
Why doesn’t the U.S. simply split the difference between standard time and daylight saving time, permanently change all the clocks by a half hour and call it a day?
— Mark Maroney, Forest Park
Chicago sports team excel
Our country is going through a very difficult period, with the on-and-off war in Iran, inflation and our contentious political parties’ infighting.
However, here in Chicago, we should be rejoicing, as both of our baseball teams are in playoff contention, which has not happened since 2008. The Cubs were expected to be good, but the Sox are the surprise of baseball. After three successive 100-loss seasons, the Sox are once again relevant.
In addition, the Bears’ summer camp is beginning with very high expectations after their very successful 2025 season. I cannot recollect such a time when all three teams were expected to be in contention. The papers and talk sport radio stations will have to decide how to allocate coverage.
— Cary Riske, Grayslake
Aragon’s role for teenagers
Robert Loerzel’s Vintage Tribune piece “‘A veritable fairyland’” (July 12) about the Aragon Ballroom had me transfixed on its history from beginning to end. But no mention of the Aragon as it meant to multitudes of teenage Chicagoans? Their prom. Shame.
— Alan Berger, Hinsdale
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