Rock Springs Land & Water Reserve

Transcription

1 SUMMER 2018 Prairie Islander THE NEWSLETTER OF THE MACON COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT Rock Springs Land & Water Reserve By Katherine Unruh Part of Rock Springs Conservation Area is now a registered Illinois Land and Water Reserve. These 420 acres of upland and bottomland forest now have an added layer of protection. This project has been on our radar a long time, says Executive Director, Paul Marien. It s something that was proposed in our last master plan many years ago, and we re glad to see it finally became a reality. The Register of Land and Water Reserves is a joint program of the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission and Illinois Department of Natural Resources. This voluntary program provides protection and management for lands and waters that hold special ecological importance. Staff nominated this area because it contains over 100 continuous acres of bottomland 1 MaconCountyConservation.org forest habitat, which supports breeding populations of area sensitive birds. These birds include documented occurrences of 15 species sensitive to forest fragmentation, and 13 bird Species in Greatest Need of Conservation as defined by the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan. Perhaps you have seen some of them: Bird Species in Greatest Need of Conservation found in Rock Springs Land & Water Reserve Those in bold are also sensitive to forest fragmentation Acadian Flycatcher Kentucky Warbler Wood Thrush Yellow-billed Cuckoo Chimney Swift Dickcissel Field Sparrow Northern Bobwhite Northern Flicker Prothonotary Warbler Red-headed Woodpecker Red-shouldered Hawk Yellow-breasted Chat Overall, 72 bird species have been found utilizing Rock Springs during the breeding season, including two significant great blue heron (Ardea herodias) colonies, totaling more than 40 active nests in multiple years. As for plants, 369 plant species have been identified within Rock Springs Conservation Area and its Reserve. Conservation District staff will continue to manage the area for the restoration of native plant communities, to ultimately benefit the Sangamon River, the greater Rock Springs Conservation Area, and rare flora and fauna. The new status doesn t change your access or hiking opportunities, it simply offers a little added protection for this special habitat. Enjoy Rock Springs Conservation Area, open every day of the year, from 7am to sunset.

2 Prairie Islander A Closer Look Summer Concert Series Returns By Richie Wolf June 3 Cactus Ranch The Macon County Conservation District is pleased to announce that the free outdoor concert series will return for the summer of After an amazing response last year, it was not difficult to decide to continue this popular activity. An average of 270 people came out to enjoy these free shows in All but one performance was conducted on the West Lawn of Rock Springs Nature Center. The other was moved inside due to rain. June 17 Cross Country Classics July 8 Rylie Bourne & Damon Atkins July 22 Square of the Root July 29 Ashley Riley We hope to continue our luck of beautiful evenings this June, July, and Aug 12 August. As with last year, all shows will be River Ramblers held on Sunday evenings, beginning at 7pm and are free. Bring your lawn chairs or blankets to enjoy nature s stage. Picnics, snacks, and non-alcoholic beverages are welcome. Please park in the main lot and walk to the West Lawn. A few handicapped parking spaces will be available in the bus parking area. New this year, we welcomed a corporate sponsor for the series. Stifel Investment Services will provide funding to help cover the costs of the musicians. We sincerely thank Stifel Investment Services for their generosity. Mark your calendars for June 3, June 17, July 8, July 22, July 29, and August 12 to enjoy country, bluegrass, folk, and more! Decatur, Illinois (217) (800) Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated Member SIPC & NYSE A176_18 Decatur_BusinessCardAd.indd 1 2 Prairie Islander 2/14/18 1:07 PM

3 A Closer Look Prairie Islander Briefs We Want to Hear from You The Macon County Conservation District is updating its master plan this year. Share your input as we plan for the future! Complete a short online survey now through June 15 at PlanMaconCountyConservation.org. Summer Camps Online registration for summer camps is open now. This year s camp season runs from June 4 to August 10. You ll find many activities to choose from: Mini Camp (ages 1-5): Young children explore Rock Springs Conservation Area with their adult buddies in these hour-long camps. $6/child each camp. Earth Adventures (ages 6-12): Children hike, swim, canoe, and discover the world around them in this full-day, week-long nature camp with optional Before and After Child Care. $120/camper each week. Adventure Club (ages 5-12): Children join in on Earth Adventures nature camp on Tuesday mornings. $12/camper each day. Pioneer Adventure Camp (ages 6-12): Campers will take a trip through Illinois history, exploring different eras through crafts and activities in this Thursday morning camp. $12/camper each day. X-treme Camp (ages 10-15): Older children seeking more adventure pack up for exciting daytrips, including horseback riding. $60/camper. Find more information about each camp and register online at MaconCountyConservation.org. Volunteer Opportunity Did you know the Conservation District has a youth volunteer program? We are looking for youth ages 13 to 17 to volunteer with our 2018 summer camp program. Youth volunteers assist trained camp counselors as they lead hikes, help with activities, play games, and more! This volunteer opportunity is a fun way to fulfill community services hours required by many schools. Training and a volunteer t-shirt are provided. For more information or to sign up, contact Volunteer Coordinator, Jenny Garver at jgarver@maconcountyconservation. org or Explore additional volunteer opportunities at MaconCountyConservation.org. Special Events INDEPENDENCE DAY 1860 Saturday, June 30, 1-5pm Homestead Prairie Farm Enjoy an Independence Day celebration 1860s style! Tour Homestead Prairie Farm, try old-time toys and games, watch vintage baseball, enjoy a music concert by Over the Hills, and an ice cream social. Visitors are welcome to bring their own lunch basket to picnic on the lawn. Free. No registration required. ASTRONOMY JAMBOREE Saturday, August 25, 6:30-9pm Friends Creek Conservation Area Enjoy a free concert from 6:30-7:30pm then view the stars and visible planets. Hot dogs, marshmallows, and water provided. Bring your telescope and share your knowledge. Free. Register online by August 24. Min/Max: 5/300. HUMMINGBIRD FESTIVAL Tuesday, August 28, 4-7pm Photo by David Staff Learn all about hummingbirds. Watch as we capture, band, and release wild birds. Co-sponsored by Decatur Audubon. Free. No registration required. MaconCountyConservation.org 3

4 Happenings Events located at Rock Springs Conservation Area and open to all ages unless otherwise indicated. Register online at MaconCountyConservation.org by noon, unless otherwise noted. Hours OFFICES OPEN Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm NATURE CENTER OPEN Monday-Wednesday, Friday, 8am-5pm Thursday, 8am-8pm Saturdays, 9am-5pm Sunday, 1-5pm TRAILS OPEN Daily, 7am-Sunset Holidays & Closings OFFICES & NATURE CENTER CLOSED Wednesday, July 4, Independence Day Open Houses BETHEL SCHOOL Saturdays, June 2, July 7, & August 4, 1-4pm See what going to school was like in the early 20th century at this historic one-room schoolhouse located at Friends Creek Conservation Area Friends Creek Park Rd., Cisco, IL. Free. HOMESTEAD PRAIRIE FARM Saturdays & Sundays, June-October, 1-4pm Discover this 1860s farmhouse and the lives of the people who lived there. Located at Rock Springs Conservation Area, 3939 Nearing Lane, Decatur, IL. Free. GOVERNOR OGLESBY MANSION Sundays, June 24, July 29, & August 26, 2-4pm Wednesdays & Saturdays, June-August, 2-4pm Tour the restored home of Illinois Governor Richard J. Oglesby. Encounter the lives of its family members and explore their late 1800s lifestyle. $2/person. Members are free. 421 W. William Street, Decatur, IL. Ground Squirrels Vintage Base Ball Games Join us for the national pastime: base ball! Cheer for your home team, the Rock Springs Ground Squirrels, in a game of vintage base ball played with authentic 1858 rules. All games will be at BeautifulTrobaughField at Rock Springs Conservation Area unless otherwise stated. Sunday, June 24, 12pm Home game against the East Wood Iron Horses. Saturday, June 30, 12pm Home games against the Lafayette Square Cyclones and Vandalia Old Capitals. Saturday, August 25, 12pm Home games against the St. Louis Perfectos and St. Louis Unions. Follow the team on Facebook for additional games and more information or visit MaconCountyConservation.org. Meetings MACON COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT BOARD MEETINGS Third Wednesday of each month, 5:30pm June 20, July 18, & August 15 DECATUR AUDUBON SOCIETY MEETINGS Sunday, August 19, at 4:30pm at Friends Creek Conservation Area Connect with Us Find out how you can make a difference MaconCountyConservation.org 4 Prairie Islander

5 Happenings Events located at Rock Springs Conservation Area and open to all ages unless otherwise indicated. Register online at MaconCountyConservation.org by noon, unless otherwise noted. Music The following programs are free and open to the public at Rock Springs Nature Center. DULCIMER CLUB Saturdays, 10am-12pm June 2, 16, & 30, July 14 & 28, August 11 & 25 BLUEGRASS MUSIC JAM Sundays, 1-4pm June 10, July 8, & August 12 CROSS COUNTRY CLASSICS Thursdays, 6:30-7:30pm June 7, July 5, & August 2 SHAPE-NOTE SINGING Sunday, August 26, 2-4pm OUTDOOR SUMMER CONCERTS Sundays, June 3 & 17, July 8, 22 & 29, August 12, 7pm Bring your lawn chair to Rock Springs Nature Center s West Lawn to enjoy an evening of bluegrass, folk, or old-time country music. See page 2. Art NORTH GALLERY ARTISTS Alan and Chris Perry, May & June Enjoy scenic photos of a variety of nature subjects including wildlife, flowers, and landscapes from photographers Alan and Chris Perry. Sue Watts, July & August Experience nature themed watercolor paintings featuring landscapes, barns, birds, and butterflies. SOUTH GALLERY ARTISTS Kattina Williams, May & June Explore nature photography featuring wild and exotic birds, wildlife, and nature scenes through the lens of local photographer Kattina Williams. Robert Reed, July & August Discover exotic and local wildlife photography featuring polar bears, elk, raccoons, foxes, birds, butterflies, and flowers. Take Your Pick Below you ll find activities offered at multiple times or locations. Register online before the last full weekday prior to the program. Programs held at Rock Springs Conservation Area unless otherwise noted: YOGA IN THE PINES Saturdays, June 2, July 7, and August 4, 4-5pm Revitalize and energize with yoga in nature at Rock Springs Conservation Area. Enjoy stretching, relaxing, and strengthening poses led by a local instructor. Bring a yoga mat and/or beach towel. Free. Register online by June 1, July 6, and August 3. Min/Max: 5/30. WHAT S THE DIFFERENCE? RAPTORS Thursdays, June 7, July 12, and August 9, 6-7pm Learn about birds of prey. We ll explore what makes owls, hawks, falcons, and eagles unique from one another. We have several mounted species to show you. Free. Register online by June 6, July 11, and August 8. Min/Max: 5/30. ST. LOUIS ZOO TRIPS Saturdays, June 16, July 14, and August 18, 10am-6pm Observe wildlife from around the globe, including cheetahs, hippos, and sea lions. Admission to the zoo is free. Meet at Rock Springs Nature Center. All ages. $25/person. Register online by June 15, July 13, and August 17. Min/Max: 5/12. SNAKE AND TURTLE SHOWS Thursdays, June 21 and July 19, 6-7pm Meet, feel, and learn about these resident live animals and their ways of life. We have several species to show you! $2/person. Register online by June 20 and July 18. Min/Max: 5/30. MaconCountyConservation.org 5

6 Happenings Events located at Rock Springs Conservation Area and open to all ages unless otherwise indicated. Register online at MaconCountyConservation.org by noon, unless otherwise noted. June July TRIP TO GLEN OAK PARK IN PEORIA Saturday, June 9, 10am-7pm Take a trip with us to Glen Oak Park and experience the Peoria Zoo, Peoria Playhouse Children s Museum, and the Luthy Botanical Garden. $20/person. Zoo and museum admission are on your own. Register online by June 8. Min/Max: 5/12. TREE IDENTIFICATION HIKE Sunday, June 10, 2pm Learn about native tree species, how to identify them, and what makes them special. Free. Register online by June 8. Min/Max: 5/30. MORNING PRAIRIE WALK Saturday, June 23, 10am Beat the heat of the midday sun and experience the prairie ecosystem in the morning. Learn about the plants, animals, and early settlers of these tall grasses. Free. Register online by June 22. Min/Max: 5/30. PRESCHOOL PEEPERS: BUSY BEAVERS Sunday, June 24, 2pm Explore these hardworking aquatic mammals. We will talk about the adaptations they have that allow them to build dams that can stop the flow of rivers. We will get to touch beaver fur and see if our dam-making skills are up to par with a beaver s. Free. Register online by June 22. Min/Max: 5/30. WALLEYE FISHING TRIP TO LAKE ERIE Sunday-Tuesday, June Join us for a trip of a lifetime to fish for walleye on a charter boat. Price includes two day charter, fishing equipment, transportation, and lodging. Meals and license not included. Meet at the Information Desk at Rock Springs Nature Center. For all ages. $445/person. Register online by June 15. Min/Max: 5/11. PRESCHOOL PEEPERS: ANT PICNIC Sunday, July 15, 3pm Discover how insects use their senses to find food. We will talk about how their senses are different than ours and we ll do an ant picnic experiment in the West Lawn to see if color effects an insect s choice in food. Free. Register online by July 13. Min/Max: 5/30. BATS IN THE BARN Saturday, July 21, 7-9pm Determine fact from fiction in this two-hour program about nature s only flying mammal. After meeting at Rock Springs Nature Center for an indoor program, we will carpool to Sand Creek Conservation Area to see bats as they fly out for a night of hunting. Free. Register online by July 20. Min/Max: 5/30. INDIGENOUS ILLINOIS PEOPLES IN EARLY AMERICA Sunday, July 22, 2pm Join guest speaker Dr. Robert Morrissey for a fresh perspective on Native Americans of the Illinois region. Dr. Morrissey is an author and professor of history at the University of Illinois. He ll explore how the Native Americans gained power and forged relationships, and also why the prairie region of the Illinois Country became an important place in early America. Free. No registration required. CAN YOU SEE ME? Saturday, July 28, 2pm Explore how birds, insects, and mammals use camouflage to blend in and protect themselves from predators. We ll also discuss how humans have used camouflage throughout history and how it has evolved. Then we will take a small hike to see how different species around us use camouflage in nature. Free. Register online by July 27. Min/Max: 5/30. 6 Prairie Islander

7 Happenings Events located at Rock Springs Conservation Area and open to all ages unless otherwise indicated. Register online at MaconCountyConservation.org by noon, unless otherwise noted. August TRIP TO THE LARGEST TREE IN ILLINOIS Sunday, August 5, 9am-6pm Venture to Ogle County in northern Illinois to see the state s largest tree. The local Forest Preserve recently acquired the property and it promises to amaze. We ll also visit the Jarrett Prairie Center and hike on a dolomite hill prairie. We ll stop at a local diner for lunch. $30/person. Register online by August 3. Min/Max: 5/12. PRESCHOOL PEEPERS: INSECTS Sunday, August 5, 2pm Discover something new about our crawling companions as we discuss what makes them unique. Then we ll go outside to catch and release insects with nets and use magnifying glasses to get a closer look. Free. Register online by August 3. Min/Max: 5/30. LINCOLN IN ILLINOIS: THE RIVER MAN Saturday, August 11, 2pm Guest speaker Don Chamberlain explains how rivers and creeks played important roles in Lincoln s life from his boyhood days to his adulthood. Learn how Lincoln s encounters with rivers shaped him in various ways, from a near-death experience as a child, to freezing his feet crossing the Sangamon, journeying to New Orleans by flatboat, and more. Co-sponsored by the Friends of Lincoln Trail Homestead State Park. Free. No registration required. PERSEID METEOR SHOWER Saturday, August 11, 10pm-12am Griswold Conservation Area What s the difference between a meteor and a meteorite? Learn this and more as we explore the cosmos, make s mores, and watch some shooting stars. Free. Register online by August 10. Min/Max: 5/30. DOG HIKE Sunday, August 19, 2pm Fort Daniel Conservation Area There is no better hiking companion than man s best friend! Bring your dog to learn about hiking safely with a dog and share hiking tips with other dog owners. Then we ll explore the beautiful wooded trails with our furry friends. Dogs must be leashed and friendly around other dogs and people. Free. Register online by August 17. Min/Max: 5/20. BECOMING THE LAND OF LINCOLN: FROM COLONY TO TERRITORY TO STATE Sunday, August 26, 2pm Explore our state s early history with guest speaker Dr. John Reda, author and professor of history at Illinois State University. Dr. Reda will trace the early years of Illinois story, from French colonists arriving and living among the Native Americans already here, to its years as a British colony, an American territory, and ultimately the 21 st state. Free. No registration required. MACON COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES & STAFF Lucy Murphy, President Norman Jensen, Vice President Anne Elliott, Secretary Doug Johnson, Treasurer David White, Second Vice-President Paul Marien, Executive Director Shane Ravellette, Operations Manager Richie Wolf, Nature Center Manager Pam Smith, Finance & H.R. Manager Contact Us Macon County Conservation District mccd@maconcountyconservation.org MaconCountyConservation.org MaconCountyConservation.org 7

8 NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Decatur, IL PERMIT NO Nearing Lane Decatur, IL Return Service Requested We Want to Hear from You! Take a short survey now through Friday, June 15: PlanMaconCountyConservation.org For updated trail conditions, call The Prairie Islander is a free quarterly publication. Call or for additional copies. Go Green by reading it online at MaconCountyConservation.org.