Sheryl DeVore, served as chief editor for the Illinois Ornithological Society for 25 years and has written three other books on birds as well as others on gems and stones and gardens. Sheryl photographs and writes about birds and other nature subjects for many publications including the Chicago Tribune, Natural Awakenings Magazine, and Outdoor Illinois Journal. She served as department editor for the American Birding Association and has presented various programs on birds, native plants, and other topics for various organizations. Both Steve and Sheryl were presented with the environmental writer of the year award by the Chicago Bird Alliance, formerly Chicago Audubon Society.

Steven D. Bailey is a retired ornithologist with the Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. He has been watching birds for more than 50 years and has written about birds and other natural history topics for scientific and lay publications. He was associate editor and board member for Illinois Ornithological Society for many years and has presented many programs on owls. He provides bird and nature photographs for many publications including the Chicago Tribune.