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.

This effort advances a partnership between Illinois Audubon Society, Lake-Cook Chapter of the Illinois Audubon Society and Lake Forest Open Lands.

The undeveloped 770 Westleigh Preserve was acquired in 2007 by Lake Forest Open Lands and was adopted as a stewardship site by the Illinois Audubon Society’s Lake-Cook Chapter in early 2020. The site contains woodland, upland, prairie and wetland habitats that combine to offer a high-quality birding site.

“The total cost to restore, monitor and study this preserve is substantial. The partnership with Illinois Audubon Society and the Lake-Cook stewards will be a critical component in achieving our restoration goals at this location,” commented John Sentell, President and CEO, Lake Forest Open Lands Association.

The grant will provide funds to continue a variety of critical habitat restoration activities, including invasive species removal, prescribed burns, native planning and species inventories, that will create quality open space as well as an improved environment for both resident and migrating birds.

“Our stewardship volunteers have already participated in multiple workdays, installed bluebird boxes and a purple martin system to encourage nesting of these species, and initiated a breeding bird survey on the preserve,” said Rena Cohen, President, Lake-Cook Chapter. “It’s an exciting project that is enabling us to make a difference right in our backyard.”

“We feel that this grant is directly in line with our mission to promote restoration of native habitat and increase the awareness and participation of volunteer stewards in these efforts. We applaud our Lake-Cook stewards for taking on this challenge,” stated Jim Herkert, Executive Director, Illinois Audubon Society.

The Community Stewardship Challenge Grant will match up to $7,000 raised at a 3-to-1 ratio, providing up to $21,000 in support from the Foundation. Any funds received beyond the $7,000 will also be used for future stewardship at 770 Westleigh Preserve. The completion of 600 additional hours of volunteer work at the preserve will qualify the project for an additional $6,000 in grant funds.

The mission of the Illinois Audubon Society is to promote the perpetuation and appreciation of native plants and animals and the habitats that support them. The Society is an independent, member supported, not-for-profit, statewide organization. Founded in 1897, the Society is Illinois’ oldest private conservation organization with 2200 members, 18 chapters and 19 affiliate groups. The Illinois Audubon Society has protected more than 5,500 acres by investing $12.5 million to protect land and water throughout Illinois.

The post Illinois Audubon Society Receives Grant for Restoration of Lake County Site appeared first on Illinois Audubon Society.

The COVID-19 pandemic will unfortunately influence this year’s count. Many participants have their favorite birding areas and this year those sites may be closed, social distancing may preclude visiting the location or it may be too far away to safely visit. But that shouldn’t stop participation when a Spring Bird Count can still be conducted from a backyard or nearby neighborhood park.

To accommodate this option, a new “line” item has been added to the data form to record miles walked and hours spent birding from a “House”or “Nearby.” The data will provide for an interesting comparison in future years.

To join, first contact your SBC County Coordinator – click here for a list to help you get started.

Remember: staying safe, and keeping others safe, should be a top priority while counting birds this year.  If you do not feel comfortable, please do not feel compelled to participate in the Spring Bird Count.

The post Join the 2020 Spring Bird Count appeared first on Illinois Audubon Society.

Take a hike, view birds, get an in-depth look at a regional stronghold for Henslow’s sparrows and help remove invasive shrubs on this grassland. All are invited to attend on October 26, 2019 at Plum Creek Forest Preserve in Cook County.  The morning bird walk will be held from 7:30 – 9a.m. followed by brush cutting from 9a.m. to Noon.

Plum Creek’s Important Bird Area grassland bird habitat extends much deeper than most birders visit to find their target birds, such as its signature species, the Henslow’s sparrow, a federal species of concern. Invasive shrubs are advancing in parts of the grassland, which progressively reduces the acreage available for nesting birds.

“The Henslow’s sparrow is making a comeback in Illinois, especially in Cook County, after steep national declines due to habitat loss and fragmentation,” stated Jim Herkert, Illinois Audubon Society Executive Director. Forest Preserve of Cook County ecologists counted an impressive 36 singing Henslow’s sparrows in a bird census of the grassland last June.

“This workday is a prime opportunity to discover the spirit of stewardship and the joy of birding,” added Mary Bernat of Bird Conservation Network. Tools and refreshments will be provided for volunteers. Forest Preserve of Cook County work crew will also be on hand to help with some of the heavy work. All ages welcome, no experience necessary.

For questions or to RSVP, contact Click Here To Email Daniel Suarez. Large groups must RSVP.

Plum Creek Forest Preserve is located at Burnham Ave and 223rd Street, Sauk Village Illinois. Meet at the main parking lot and shuttles will transport volunteers to the grassland.

Download and share the flyer here.

The post Plum Creek Bird Walk & Workday appeared first on Illinois Audubon Society.

The annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) was established in 1900 and provides long-term survey information of bird populations. Initiating this survey and the data collected is especially important to Deb Carey, lead steward at both Illinois Audubon Society properties located within this circle.  “We as humans look for immediate response; nature has its own time table. The CBC will be an important tool in measuring the long-term success of our restoration plan,” commented Carey. She added, “Volunteers monitor flora and fauna, before, during and after restoration; the results determine our methods and techniques.”

According to Jim Herkert, Executive Director, “We are looking forward to seeing what these counts can tell us about the sites as our restoration efforts continue. This year’s count contained a nice mix of resident species along with winter visitors. It was good to see large numbers of waterfowl using the water bodies, as well as other residents such as waxwings, crows, horned larks, blue jays, cardinals, chickadees and red-headed woodpeckers.  Lapland longspur, red-breasted nuthatch, pine siskin, and a northern shrike were among the highlights on the count.”

According to Carey, “The red-headed woodpecker, a favorite of marsh volunteers and visitors, abounds in our newly restored savanna on High Ridge. Watching the brown-headed juveniles move from tree to tree, vocalizing all the while, is a delightful way to spend crisp winter morning!”  Yes, Deb, there is a Santa Clause and bird watching will get you on his good list every time.

The post Birth of a CBC in Lee County appeared first on Illinois Audubon Society.

Interested volunteers are invited to participate on Saturday, August 26 from 8 a.m. until noon to help remove invasive species from the woodlands or provide assistance with trail maintenance. No experience necessary – just a willingness to pitch in and help.

Interested participants should wear sturdy shoes/boots, and bring, if available, a lopper or similar cutting tool.  Tools will also be available from the sanctuary as well as gloves.  Plenty of water will be on hand with light refreshments to follow.

Notice of this and future workdays will be posted on the Bremer website and on Facebook under “The Hickory Hills Chapter of the Illinois Audubon Society”.

H&B Bremer Sanctuary is located one-half mile north of the Montgomery County Courthouse on North Road.  Follow the signs to the sanctuary. For more information, please contact us here.

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