Calendar of Upcoming Events at IBAs...
Bartel Grasslands IBA dedication and Fall Fest October 16, 2004
The Forest Preserve District of Cook County and
the Bartel Volunteers are hosting the first annual Bartel Grassland Fall
Fest on Saturday, October 16, 2004, from 9 a.m. – noon
The preserve is on Flossmoor between Central
and Ridgeland in Rich Township, Cook County. Join in the celebration of
the fantastic progress being made by the habitat restoration project.
Immerse yourself for a morning in a stunning
375-acre grassland. Enjoy nature walks, children’s activities,
refreshments, hands-on preparation of prairie seeds for planting, and a
dedication ceremony that will mark Bartel Grassland’s designation as an
Important Bird Area (IBA) and an Illinois Nature Preserve Commission Land
and Water Reserve. For more information contact Dick Riner,
708-720-5683.
National Wildlife Refuge Day Events October 16, 2004
Upper Mississippi River
National Wildlife and Fish Refuge - Savanna District,
Ingersoll Wetlands Learning Center, Thomson IL
People of all ages are invited to attend the National Wildlife
Day celebration. Start the day off with an early morning bird walk
followed by a day of interesting and informative speakers. Family
activities station will be scattered around the center. Friends of the
Upper Mississippi River Refuges and the Savanna Times Journal are
sponsoring a photo contest. Call for more information
Contact 815-273-2732 ext 16 pam_steinhaus (at) fws.gov
Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge - Havana, Illinois
An auto tour will open from
9 am to
3 pm for a tour
of Lake Chautauqua's South Pool (wetland). A nature hike will
begin 9 am at
the refuge headquarters parking area. This walk, led by Tom Lerczak,
Emiquon Audubon Society President, will include the 1/2 mile Chautauqua
Nature Trail and the Eagle Bluff Access Area. After your drive, stop by
the refuge headquarters to have a cup of coffee with refuge staff.
Contact Illinois River National Wildlife and Fish
Refuges, 309/535-2290, chautauqua (at) fws.gov
Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge - Brussels, IL
The public is invited to participate in all activities which will
start at the Refuge's Visitor Information Center. The St. Louis Audubon
Society is hosting an early morning bird outing. The Great River Chapter
of the Illinois Audubon Society is constructing a native flower garden.
The Swan Lake levee road will be opened as a 7-mile, one-way auto tour
route. Refuge employees will provide discussion and outreach materials. A
wetland interpretive program will feature seed collecting and planting in
other recently rehabbed wetland habitats. Nearby Pere Marquette State Park
is hosting "pelican tours". A youth group is taking a nature/interpretive
walk. Contact 618 883-2524 e-mail: tworivers (at)
fws.gov
Illinois Audubon Society Field Trip Prairie Ridge March 11-12 2005
View greater prairie-chickens, short-eared
owls, harriers, and other grassland birds at Prairie Ridge State Natural
Area on March 11 and 12. The efforts of the Illinois Audubon Society
and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources at this site prove the
adage "Build It and They Will Come." This year, black-necked stilts
nested at a brand new wetland. Prairie-chickens, American and
least bitterns, upland sandpipers and grassland sparrows have all been
observed on the restored sanctuaries--the oldest of which is just 4 years
old.
Midewin
National Tallgrass Prairie Fall Events
Seed Harvests
Wed, Oct 20: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Sat, Oct 23: 9:00 am - 2:30 pm
Gather native seed used to restore prairie
habitat.
Tours
Please register for tours at 815/423-6370.
Sat, Oct 9:
9:00 a.m. - Ghosts of the Ammunition Plant
11:30 a.m. - Prairie Restoration
2:00 p.m. - Life of the Prairie Farmer
7:00 p.m. - Owls of the Night
Sat, Oct 16:
7:30 a.m. - Birds
9:00 a.m. - Equestrian
9:00 a.m. - Prairie Restoration
11:30 a.m. - Life of the Prairie Farmer
2:00 p.m. - Ghosts of the Ammunition Plant
Sat, Oct 23:
8:00 a.m. - Bicycle Ride (west side)
9:00 a.m. - Life of the Prairie Farmer
11:30 a.m. - Ghosts of the Ammunition Plant
2:00 p.m. - Prairie Restoration
7:00 p.m. - Campfire Program
Sat, Oct 30:
9:00 a.m. - Ghosts of the Ammunition Plant
11:30 a.m. - Prairie Restoration
2:00 p.m. - Life of the Prairie Farmer
For more information, visit
http://www.fs.fed.us/mntp/, or call 815/423-6370
Hennepin – Hopper Lake Open House October 16
Visit this newly restored wetland along the
Illinois River,
enjoy our state’s great diversity of waterfowl and other wetland birds,
and learn about the project’s successes. Starts at 11
am. For more information call Marcia at 312 922-0777 x111.
Calumet Stewardship Initiative Fall Activities
Saturday, October 23 10 – 3 All Terrain
Bike Tour of the Calumet Wetlands.
Saturday, November 6 10-1:30 Clean-up and
restoration Lake Powderhorn Forest Preserve
For more information call Calumet Ecological
Park Association members John(773-768-4663) or Judy (773-646-4773).
Saturday November 13 10 – 12:30
Toxic to Treasures Bus Tour. Details at
http://www.southeastenvironmental.org
Emiquon Winter and Spring Events
Saturday, February 5, 2005 Eyes on Eagles
May 14, 2005 Emiquon Spring Gathering
Contact Jo Skoglund (309) 547-2730
Cache River/Grassy Slough Spring Events
Selected Weekends, April 2005 Birding Blitz
Contact Mike Baltz (618) 634-2524
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