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Birdsong Chapter of Illinois Audubon Society

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Amboy Marsh Nature Preserve
Gremel Wildlife Sanctuary

©2020 by Amboy Marsh Nature Preserve. Proudly created with Wix.com

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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 Wildlife Sanctuary

Open dawn to dusk 7 days a week

No dogs allowed

Park in gravel lot - hiking starts there

1881 Lewis Rd., Amboy, Il 61310

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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.  

2023/24 Calendar of Events

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Dec. 9 - Photo Sharing Party 2pm

Dec. 20 - Christmas Bird Count - contact us to join

2024 - March -10 IAS Annual Meeting

May 10-12 - IAS Spring Gathering - Mississippi River

May Bird Count - TBA

July 14 - Bird and mammal videos from game cameras on our sites - 2pm

August 3 - IAS Field Trip - Register online through IAS

Oct 13 - Climate Change presentation - 2pm

Nov 10 - photos and pizza 2pm

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Open For Birdwatching!

(Except When Closed For Hunting)

Check ebird for ideas of what to look for at our hotspots.  Although no hunting is allowed in any of the sanctuaries, we close during deer season to protect hikers from the hunting at neighboring properties.

Dates we close are: Oct. 7-9,

Nov. 17-19, Nov. 30-

Dec. 3, Dec. 8-10, Dec. 28-31 and

Jan. 12-14.

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 FEBRUARY

December  Tuesday 12/5, Wed. 12/6, Sat. 12/16

January Wednesdays 1/3, 1/10, 1/17,1/24,1/31

                    Saturdays 1/20, 1/27

February Wednesdays 2/7,2/14, 2/28 

                    Saturdays 2/3, 2/17

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 Walens-815-992-1002

 

No experience is necessary. Interested? Please contact  johncmccrosky@gmail.com

White Turtlehead at ICECF Grant area
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White Turtlehead - Photo by Deb Walens

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 

JohnCMccrosky@gmail.com

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Winter is here!  Enjoy a visit to an Illinois Audubon nature site.

Click the photo to see our Fall 2023 newsletter

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Turkey Team

New Hebard/Grigaluski Addition

The Illinois Audubon Society has purchased an 80-acre addition to the 352-acre Amboy Marsh Nature Preserve (Lee County).

The addition contains highly restorable sand woodlands and savannas interspersed with small wetlands and wet sand prairies. “This land will provide immediate food, shelter and breeding areas for native fauna, and safe habitat for native flora,” said Deb Carey, Illinois Audubon Society President.

The parcel is in the Green River Lowlands Natural Division of Illinois. The Green River Lowlands are known to provide suitable habitat for several state-listed endangered and threatened species. Acquisition of the parcel contributes to the Society’s long-term goal to permanently preserve safe breeding habitat for the state-endangered Blanding’s turtle, state-threatened plains hog-nosed snake and state-threatened ornate box turtle, which occur at the nearby Amboy Marsh Nature Preserve and scattered sites within the Green River Lowlands.

Funding for the acquisition comes from the recent bequest of Gil and Mary Hebard (Knoxville, Illinois).

“The bequest received from the Hebards has strengthened our ability to focus on our mission of land protection in Illinois,” commented Jim Herkert, Executive Director. “Illinois Audubon Society also recognizes the Grigalauski family for their desire to preserve this land for the enjoyment of future generations.” The Society will oversee the placement of two dedication stones and a bench in honor of the Grigalauski Family.

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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 Grigalucki 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.

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