News & Media
There's always something happening at the Macon County Conservation District! Staff and volunteers work all year round to provide you with educational programs, restore natural areas, and preserve historic sites. To know what's going on:
Prairie Islander
Subscribe to the Prairie Islander, our free, quarterly newsletter. You may also read the current issue online or subscribe to our mailing list to have the Prairie Islander emailed to you each quarter. Scroll to the bottom of any page on our website to sign up!
Media Inquiries
For media inquiries about stories or photo requests, call 217-423-7708. If you wish to receive our news releases and photo opportunities via email, send a message to mccd@maconccd.org or call 217-423-7708.
Social Media
Receive trail condition updates, see the work we're doing, and share pictures of your visits to the conservation areas by following us on Facebook.
9th Annual Summer Concert Series
This outdoor concert series sponsored by Stifel Investment Services is held every other Sunday in the summer, and features a variety of bands and performers that play Americana, bluegrass, folk, old-time, and more. Bring a lawn chair or a picnic blanket and sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.
Living on the Edge: Part 1
In the world of ecology, the "edge" refers to the boundary zone where two distinct habitats meet. These transition areas, known as ecotones, are crucial to the health and functionality of ecosystems.
A Spring Awakening
By Alysia Callison As the days get longer and the air warms, the natural world begins to buzz with signs of spring. One seasonal staple is the appearance of baby animals – new to the world, they often cause concern for well-meaning folks who find them in their yards, along roadsides, or in green spaces. So, what should you do if you find a baby animal? Leave it alone! Unless the animal is clearly injured or showing signs of distress, don’t touch it. Oftentimes, the parents know where the baby is and will return to check on it. Relocating the...
Shake Off Winter with a Dose of Nature
By Ashton Dukeman Celebrate the end of cabin fever because spring is here! Color and sunshine will finally be coming back into our lives as plants start to bud and bloom and the sun banishes those winter-gray skies. What better way to shake off the winter blues than by getting outdoors in less than four layers of thermal gear. During the winter months, when many of us are confined to our homes, screens become a go-to source of entertainment to pass the time. This habit can be hard to break once the weather starts to warm, often leading to less...
District Project Updates
By Jerry Culp With the busy summer and fall seasons behind us, we’re turning our focus to several exciting new projects that will benefit both our community and local ecosystems. Here’s a look into three of our biggest projects. Indoor-Outdoor Classroom A new Indoor-Outdoor Classroom is being constructed in the lower level of the Rock Springs Nature Center thanks to funding from the Park and Recreational Facility Construction Act, or PARC Grant, through the State of Illinois. It will feature: Adaptive Classroom Space: With a glass wall that will open to the outside and cohesive flooring that translates...
Takeaways from the 2024 ANCA Annual Summit
By Taylor Buley Working at a Nature Center and for a Conservation District allows for myriad opportunities. There are many conferences and summits out there for staff to explore and to help expand their professional network. One organization that we connect with here at Macon County Conservation District is the Association of Nature Center Administrators, or ANCA. ANCA is a non-profit professional organization that is dedicated to leaders in the nature and environmental learning profession. Their mission is to promote and support the best leadership and management practices, and ANCA serves more than 700 members across North America. They are...
🦌Good news hunters, all the information for our 2025 Deer Herd Management Program is up online! You can find all the information here: www.maconccd.org/conservation/deer-herd-management/
🏹And a wonderful new addition to our program this year is the new Youth Hunt opportunity. This pilot program offers local youth a meaningful way to take part in conservation through deer herd management. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of why controlling deer populations is vital for maintaining healthy ecosystems. Too many deer in one area can lead to habitat degradation and negatively impact other wildlife. Through this opportunity, young hunters will begin to develop a sense of stewardship by learning responsible, ethical hunting practices and how they contribute to broader conservation efforts. It’s a hands-on way to connect with nature, support healthy habitats, and learn how thoughtful management can protect the natural spaces we all enjoy.
For those not familiar, you might be asking, "Why would a Conservation District have a Deer Herd Management Program?" That's a great question that we are happy to answer!
𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺
White-tailed deer are an important part of Macon County’s natural areas. Like many native species, they are beautiful and have a place in the ecosystem. But in many of our high quality conservation areas their numbers are so high that habitats are becoming unbalanced.
Deer are large plant eaters and consume a great number of plants. As a result, their high numbers are reducing native plant and animal populations, including endangered species.
Additionally, human activity eliminated natural predators of deer, such as mountain lions and wolves in the early days of the county’s settlement. There is little hope of returning those predators. In their absence, deer populations grow unchecked.
To maintain a healthy balance between the deer population and other species, the Conservation District initiated a limited archery hunting program. Over-harvesting is avoided by monitoring deer habitat and numbers.
𝘊𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦? The unfortunate reality is we may never be able to “let nature take its course.” The high reproductive capability of deer (each doe can have two fawns), lack of natural predators, and limited suitable habitat mean deer numbers can become unmanageable to a point of jeopardizing themselves and the communities they inhabit.
📅Check out our weekend programming at Rock Springs Conservation Area! All programs are either free or low cost. Head to www.maconccd.org/events/ to check out what we have going on and get registered! For the two registered programs, you have until noon today, Friday August 15 to get singed up. 🌳
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🪶 New Exhibit Alert! 🪶
Step into our Window on Wildlife room and explore "Birds of Rock Springs" — a brand-new exhibit created by our summer interpreter intern, Felicity, and Audubon intern, Salem.
Discover the incredible variety of bird species that call Rock Springs Conservation Area home. Get an up-close look at our bird specimen display, see how your own wingspan measures up to some of our feathered friends on the wingspan wall, and grab a bird bingo booklet before you head out for a hike to see how many species you can find! Too warm for a hike? Settle into our comfy couch with your bird bingo booklet and see how many species you can spot at the feeders from the comfort of the indoors.
🐦This exhibit will be sticking around for a little while, so spread your wings and fly on in! On your way in, be sure to check out the fresh updates to our outdoor patio space.
📍 Rock Springs Nature Center – Free admission, open daily.
#maconitwild #outdoordecatur #onlyinillinois #middleofeverything #DecaturIL #DecaturEvents #illinoisevents #maconconservation #enjoyillinois #birdsofillinois #audubon #birdphotography #birds #birding
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Imagine this: you’re gathered with friends and family in our new indoor–outdoor classroom, sunlight streaming and a gentle breeze blowing in through the open doors, your guests moving seamlessly between the rooms and patio.🌿
Here’s a peek from inside the two window-facing rooms—soon to be filled with celebrations, laughter, and memories. We can already picture birthday parties, family reunions, showers, and community gatherings happening here… can you?
#maconitwild #outdoordecatur #onlyinillinois #middleofeverything #DecaturIL #DecaturEvents #illinoisevents #maconconservation #enjoyillinois
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It’s here — and it’s BIG! 🌳✨
We’ve been keeping quiet on Indoor-Outdoor Classroom updates while we waited for something special… and yesterday it arrived! Our stunning leaf cutout railing (complete with a chalkboard!) and towering entrance sign tree are officially in place.
The tree is even more impressive in person (and will be even more so once the sign is in place), and the railing will eventually feature interpretive signage running the full length of the fence. We’re now just 31 days away from our Indoor-Outdoor Classroom Grand Opening — and we can’t wait to welcome you to this new space we know the community will love for years to come.
📅 Mark your calendar and be part of the big reveal!
#maconitwild #outdoordecatur #onlyinillinois #middleofeverything #DecaturIL #DecaturEvents #illinoisevents #maconconservation #enjoyillinois
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