The public is invited to help Audubon members and friends document as many birds, flowering plants and insects as we are able to, at War Bluff Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, located 5 miles north of Golconda at 228 Bushwack Rd, Golconda IL. The Blitz will run from predawn (4:30 AM) to 3 PM. No reservations needed, come and go as you like. Introduction and orientations will be held at 8AM, 10AM and noon. Maps of the sanctuary will be available.

What is a BioBlitz you may ask? A BioBlitz is an event that focuses on finding and identifying as many species as possible in a specific area over a short period of time. We’ll be utilizing the smart phone apps iNaturalist and Merlin, as well as our own ears and eyes and our cell phones, to document what we see & hear during the Blitz. No special knowledge or training is required. Experts will be available to help participants. Come explore War Bluff Valley Wildlife Sanctuary and we’ll learn together what lives in our special part of Southern Illinois.

Plenty of snacks and drinks will be provided. This is a free and family friendly event and everyone is welcome. Please wear proper footwear and dress for the weather, including sunscreen and a hat if needed. Pets should be left at home, as they could frighten the wildlife. For more information, please contact Karen at (618) 534-7870 or email shawneechapterias@gmail.com.

Directions to the Sanctuary from Golconda: Take Rt 146 north of Golconda 3.5 miles, turn left onto Bushwack Rd (look for brown binocular sign) Follow Bushwack Rd about 2.2 miles to Sanctuary entrance on the right – watch for signs. Bushwack Rd turns into a gravel road & crosses a low water ford – don’t give up – just keep going and you’ll get there! There will be signs along Rt 146 from both directions, as well as along Bushwack Rd.

The War Bluff Valley Wildlife Sanctuary BioBlitz coincides with the Illinois Audubon Chapter Big Day and everyone is encouraged to register here by 5 PM May 12 . The Chapter Big Day is a competition between participating Chapters and Affiliates of the Illinois Audubon Society for the most species of birds observed anywhere in Illinois between midnight and 11:59 PM on May 14, 2022. All participants are required to pre-register for this free event, which is open to members and non-members alike.

The BioBlitz is sponsored by Shawnee Chapter Illinois Audubon Society, Illinois Audubon Society and funded in part by a generous grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation.

Shawnee Chapter serves as Stewards of War Bluff Valley Wildlife Sanctuary and holds monthly stewardship days at the sanctuary. Illinois Audubon Society, now in its 125^th year, was the first conservation organization in the state.

The post BioBlitz at War Bluff Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Saturday, May 14 appeared first on Illinois Audubon Society.

Lightning bugs are actually a type of beetle that is very beneficial in our ecosystem. The larvae stage of this beetle is a specialized predator that feeds on other insect larvae, earthworms, snails, and slugs. The tiny larval stage is dark gray with three pairs of legs and tiny spots on their underside that sometimes softly glow. Some adult lightning bug species are also predators, and other species don’t eat at all in the adult stage.

No great explosion of sound and sight
just a silent and elegant light.
As the firefly’s graceful zigzag flight
opens the door to the velvet night.

Large swarms of lightning bugs are a less frequent occurrence in many areas. They are most prevalent away from city lights and in more open areas of vegetation.

According to firefly.org firefly populations are dwindling all over the country and the world. Researchers are not sure exactly what is causing the firefly decline, although most researchers think that habitat loss and light pollution from urban development are to blame.

Most fireflies need undisturbed natural areas to survive. They overwinter as larvae buried in the soil and hide during the day under bark or stones or in decaying vegetation. Mud is needed for the pupal stage. Human light pollution is believed to interrupt firefly flash patterns and thus their mating rituals.

The next time you see one of these magical insects, think about how they are more than just funny flashers. They benefit our ecosystem and are also beneficial to humans. Their luciferase has been genetically engineered as an enzyme that helps screen for human tumors, test for blood problems, and detect infections faster.

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