PROGRESS REPORT - OUR FIRST MONTH!
The Birdsong Chapter of Illinois Audubon Society (illinoisaudubon.org) was very pleased with the news that the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation (illinoiscleanenergy.org) awarded a Challenge Grant to us for restoration of natural habitat at Amboy Marsh Nature Preserve.
Amboy Marsh Nature Preserve (AMNP) is a 302-acre complex of sand dunes, wetlands, sand prairie, woodland and oak savanna located in Amboy Township, Lee County, Illinois which is about 100 miles west of Chicago, Illinois. AMNP is within the Green River Lowlands Natural Area Inventory Site #1621 – more about these special sites on another day!
AMNP provides critical habitat for at least three state-listed reptiles and is also documented to provide habitat for 27 faunal species listed in the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan as being in Greatest Need of Conservation, as well as 1 state-threatened plant. Plants and animals on the Endangered and Threatened Species List are in grave danger of disappearing forever.
An abundance of eolian sand dune deposits located in close association of numerous wetlands, makes AMNP an ideal place for nesting reptiles, and gives specific habitat for many species of native plants. AMNP is a jewel and we are fortunate that Illinois Audubon Society (IAS) permanently protected this site in 2012 with assistance from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation (ICECF).
Now ICECF is helping again by providing funding this Challenge Grant! Birdsong Chapter members chose a specific area to restore both oak savanna and wetland habitat – the area linking Crowfoot Pond, 50 Turtle Head Pond and Wet Pond. Thus, the name of our grant is The Crowfoot Connection.
Our faithful volunteer stewards began work on November 2, 2020 and have been hard at it almost every day for the past month. Our volunteers are retired school teachers; heavy construction foremen; naturalists; wives and husbands; ecologists; store clerks; farmers; you name it but now they have banded together to make a critical life and death difference for native plants and wildlife in Lee County. Due to Covid-19, many precautions are taken – masks are required and social distancing in addition to the regular required personal protective equipment such as gloves, safety glasses, and hearing protection.
Shane’s Tree Care, one of our contractors, has worked five days; and what a difference he has made! Shane works in areas that are easily accessible, saving the nooks and crannies for the volunteers.
Grant work consists of removal of invasives (plants and woody shrubs and trees that are foreign to our area or are very aggressive and smother good plants), and removal of just plain junk (old fence posts, wire and discarded metal). Volunteers and contractors are extremely careful not to disturb the working area. In fact, after heavy equipment was used, volunteer Deb Walens took the pictures of an eastern bluebird and a White-breasted nuthatch, both foraging for insects right in the middle of the work area on November 29, 2020. Bluebirds especially appreciate – and need – open areas for foraging.
Native plants and trees are carefully left in place; hazelnut with its dangling catkins, serviceberry that blooms in early Spring; oak trees and many plants that you may not notice right now but that will emerge when Spring appears. Some areas may look bare right after grant work as in this picture, but just wait until Spring; this area will be a carpet of native plants offering great habitat for wildlife.
And yes, we work in the dormant season for the reason that most plants are done growing and blooming and setting seed; their roots are safely underground just waiting for the warm Spring rains. Same thing for our reptiles and amphibians; they are hibernating and out of harm’s way.
A second objective of our grant is to educate the public (that means you and me) about the importance and benefits of restoration of natural habitat. We hope that reading these pages will encourage you to find out more about the amazing wetlands, woodlands and prairies in Lee County. And how you can help!
Comments