Steven D. Bailey is an ornithologist with the Illinois Natural History Survey. At the Survey, he works with the Critical Trends Assessment Program, a longterm project documenting breeding bird and plant communities in randomly selected forests, prairies and wetlands throughout Illinois. In his job, Bailey uses his keen ear to identify birds by their songs and calls, as well as his vast knowledge of the natural history of the Birds of Illinois. With more than 30 years in the field, Bailey is considered one of the top experts on the breeding birds of Illinois. Bailey is a regular contributor to the journal of the Illinois Ornithological Society and has been published in a number of other naturalist magazines and journals.