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.
2026 Calendar of Events​​​​
March - Prescribed burns - train ahead and volunteer
March 21 - Master Naturalists at Amboy marsh
April 24 - Golf Cart Tour of Gremel - Birds, Bugs and Flowers- email amboymarsh@illinoisaudubon.org to save a seat!
April 24 - 26 - Boy Scouts at Gremel
April 25 - deadline to sign up for Spring Bird Count - birdsongilaudubon@yahoo.com
May 1 - 2 Annual Gathering in the Quad Cities - preregister by April 3
May 10 - Spring Bird Count
May 23 - Photography workshop - register at IAS website - https://illinoisaudubon.org/
June - Bat Acoustic Survey
June 14 - 11:00 - 4:00 - Audubon Mural Event in Mendota - two bird themed murals, photo exhibit, nature journaling, art activities - see reimaginemendota.org for details
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Northern lights- Nov. 11, 2025 - photo by Amy Brewer
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!"
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WORKDAY CALENDAR 2026
Wednesdays:
March 4, 11, 18, 25
April - 8, 15, 22, 29
May - 6, 13, 20, 27
June - 10, 17, 24
July - 1, 8, 15, 22, 29​
Saturdays:
April 4, May 2, June 6
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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
Volunteering is a great way
to learn new things!
Kestrel - photo by Steve Hager
At-Home Projects
Click below to connect to projects related to birds and nature at home that are offered by Illinois Audubon.
American Robin - photo by Deb Doyle
Enjoy a visit to an Illinois Audubon Sanctuary this
winter!
Click the photo to see our Winter 2025 /26 newsletter
Spring Bird Count - May 10
Register by April 25!
Birdsong Big Sit Team Places 3rd
In late September, a state birding event, The Big Sit, was hosted by the Illinois Audubon Society. The event is very similar to a Global Big Day; a competition in which bird watchers counts as many species as possible in a 24-hour period. While Global Big Day involves moving from place to place to maximize the number of species spotted, The Big Sit competition is exactly as it sounds and stays in one place.
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A circle 17’ in diameter, called a "count circle”, is set up and only species observed or heard from that circle count for the final species total. A Birdsong Chapter team took third place out of 41 teams across Illinois in the number of birds observed and first place in hours of observation with a total of 71 species and 15 continuous hours of birding.
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Our team, “Just Winging It” was made up of five observers, including Dave Brewer, James Hampson, Stephen Hager, and Adrianh Martinez-Orozco. We assembled a team of ringers! Jim has birded forever and has participated in over 50 Christmas Bird Counts, Steve is a Biology/Ornithology professor at Augustana, and Adrianh is a photographer, veterinarian and occasional bird tour leader. Our count circle was located at Gremel Wildlife Sanctuary near Amboy at the edge of the woods and by the edge of a pond and a small wetland. If the birds are in our favor, next year, we’re taking first!
Big Sitters Jim Hampson, Stephen Hagar, and Adrianh Martinez-Orozco - photo by Dave Brewer
photo by Adrianh Martinez-Orozco
photos by Adrianh Martinez-Orozco
Dave Brewer
Sandhill Cranes
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.