Birdsong Chapter of Illinois Audubon Society
Amboy Marsh Nature Preserve
Green River Lowlands Preserve
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Amboy Marsh Nature Preserve
Open dawn to dusk 7 days a week
No dogs allowed
Park in gravel lot - hiking starts there
1701 Morman Rd., Amboy, IL 61310
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Gremel Nature Preserve
Open dawn to dusk 7 days a week
No dogs allowed
Park in gravel lot - hiking starts there
1881 Lewis Rd., Amboy, Il 61310
Visit -
Amboy Marsh-1701 Morman Rd.
Gremel - 1881 Lewis Rd., Amboy, Il
Hike, bird-watch, take photographs, and enjoy nature at Amboy Marsh or Gremel Preserve. There are trails leading around ponds, a marsh, wetlands, and oak savanna. Enjoy an easy walk on sandy trails to experience habitats that offer a diversity of plant and wildlife species. Click the "Plan your Visit" tab for trail maps and descriptions. Social distancing of six feet apart is required.
2024 Fall Calendar of Events
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October 13 – Birdsong Chapter Meeting 2 P.M.
November 10 – Birdsong Chapter Photos and Pizza Gathering at Amboy
Marsh at 2 P.M. Everyone welcome!
Dec. 19-Christmas Bird Count-contact Diana Rod
Open For Birdwatching!
Sites close on hunting weekends. No hunting is allowed, but we close for safety since the sites are adjacent to hunting areas. The following are the closing dates for the 2024-2025 hunting season.
October 12, 13, 14 – Youth Firearms Hunt - all closed.
Firearm Deer Season
November 22, 23, 24
December 5, 6, 7, 8
December 13, 14, 15
December 26, 27, 28, 29
January 17, 18, 19
Deer Bow Hunt Season - Oct. 1 continues through January 19, 2025. All sanctuaries are open (except as noted for fire arm season) but it is recommended to wear bright orange clothing when hiking.
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Volunteer Work Days
Volunteers make all of the work at Amboy Marsh and Gremel happen! We can supply tools and training. You could assist with invasive plant removal, maintenance, and other general stewardship tasks. Recent recruits say that "This is easier than I thought it would be!"
WORKDAY CALENDAR THROUGH November
September -
Wednesdays
October - Saturday 1
Wednesdays - 5,12,19,26
November - Saturday
Wednesdays -
Watch FaceBook for pop up workdays.
If you have any questions or would like to be a co-crew leader do not hesitate to contact us! Please let us know if you plan to come so we can contact you if the weather changes the plans.
Thank you for all your support!
John McCrosky-815-992-1003
Deb Doyle-815-992-1002
No experience is necessary. Interested? Please contact johncmccrosky@gmail.com
White Turtlehead at ICECF Grant area
White Turtlehead - Photo by Deb Doyle
White turtlehead – no, not a turtle that crawls through the wetland but an amazing plant! The creamy-colored flower does resemble a turtle’s head. This plant is growing in the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation grant area at Gremel Nature Preserve. Removing aggressive, woody invasives (the goal of the grant) will enhance this native plant’s chances of success by providing more sunlight and water.
Its scientific name is Chelone glabra linifolia. Hummingbirds love this plant. And turtlehead is the host for caterpillars of the Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly, an increasingly rare species in Illinois. In July, the butterflies lay their eggs on the turtlehead plant. This is the ONLY native plant on which Baltimore Checkerspots will lay their eggs. The plant begins blooming in August.
Help us improve the habitat for Baltimore Checkerspots…and more!
Join Our Workdays!
Contact John McCrosky
Painted Turtle - photo by Amy Brewer
Enjoy a visit to an Illinois Audubon Sanctuary this Fall!
Click the photo to see our Fall 2024 newsletter
photo by Amy Brewer
What's In a Name?
Many of us are familiar with the name Amboy Marsh. It was given to the original 272 acres first purchased in 2012. In 2013, the Hatch 30 acres was acquired. Later a 20-acre parcel was acquired from the Ryback family. Next, the wonderful 400-acre Gremel Nature Preserve was acquired. and then the 30 acres next to Gremel owned by Mr. Gabelmann. An 80-acre parcel was purchased from the Grigalauski family. Later, a 136-acre parcel was acquired from Zellhofer. We have a lot of parcels with a lot of names! Illinois Audubon Society suggested that we have a single name to cover all the parcels - Green River Lowlands Preserve. We are located in the Green River Lowlands section of the Grand Prairie Division when looking at the natural divisions of Illinois. The Illinois Natural Area Inventory Site, which encompasses Amboy Marsh and Grigalauski is labeled Green River Lowlands INAI Site #1621.
So, it is much easier for us to label our entire holdings as Green River Lowlands Preserve. BUT this does not mean we have discarded the original names. It is convenient to know what parcel you are working on, or where you are by referring to Amboy Marsh, Hatch, Zellhofer, Gabelmann, Grigalauski, Gremel, or Ryback.
Big Blue Stem - photo by Amy Brewer
Education & Outreach
The 352 acres of Amboy Marsh and 430 acres of Gremel are critical habitat that was once part of the wetlands in Lee County called the Inlet and Winnebago Swamps. These peaceful sites are home for many flora and fauna. With the goal of restoring and protecting habitat, the areas do not offer amenities for people, but you may enjoy great hikes, photography and birdwatching. An additional 20 acre Ryback site and 80 acre Grigalouski site provide additional habitat in Lee County.
If you feel a connection to the marsh, join the group that cares for this place: The Birdsong Chapter of Illinois Audubon Society. Learn more about what we do and how you can join. Contact amboymarsh@illinoisaudubon.org.
Our main goal is to preserve habitat for plants and animals at the sites. We hold work days, offer programs at monthly meetings of the Birdsong Chapter and host other outdoor events. Contact us to learn more about our organization on Facebook at Birdsong Chapter-Stewards of Amboy Marsh/Gremel, or at https://illinoisaudubon.org/location/amboy-marsh-nature-preserve/. Our email is
amboymarsh@illinoisaudubon.org.
Please contact us to schedule any day you would like to come out to work. There is plenty to do and we'll work with you to find something that suits your interest and schedule. amboymarsh@illinoisaudubon.org.
At-Home Projects
Click below to connect to projects related to birds and nature at home that are offered by Illinois Audubon.