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.
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
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Project Updates: Learn What’s Going on at the Macon County Conservation District
By Ashton Dukeman As we reach the halfway point of the Macon County Conservation District's 60th anniversary year, we wanted to share updates on a couple of projects previously reported in the Winter 2024 edition of the Prairie Islander. With the Indoor-Outdoor Classroom now completed, our focus turns to other large ongoing projects: Fort Daniel Conservation Area, Woodbine Farm, and the Scovill Bike Trail Connection. The Scovill Bike Trail Connection aims to enhance trail connectivity for cyclists and pedestrians by bridging the gap between the Rock Springs-Fairview Park BikeTrail and the Decatur Park District's upgraded trail system at Scovill...
60 Years of Conservation, Community, and Connection
All good stories start with an idea, and the story of the Macon County Conservation District is no different. The story of MCCD is one of commitment, drive, and belief. So, where did the idea come from? To find that answer, we must go all the way back to 1935 – 31 years before the District was formed.
Creature Feature – Northern Bobwhite
The Northern Bobwhite Taylor Buley As of July 2024, there are a total of 459 species of birds living in Illinois. One of these species is the Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus), also known as the Virginia quail or bobwhite quail. They share the order Galliformes with three other bird species in Illinois: wild turkey, greater prairie-chicken, and the ring-checked pheasant. Galliformes is the order containing grouse, quail, and turkey families. The Northern Bobwhite is unique because they are the only quail species native to the Eastern United States. They are in the family Odontophoridae or New World Quail, in comparison...
Explore the Universe with the Macon County Conservation District’s New StarLab Planetarium Experience
We here at the Macon County Conservation District are thrilled to announce the new presentation structure for our brand-new StarLab Planetarium – a fully digital, portable dome that brings the wonders of space and astronomy up close directly to your school or organization. It’s thanks to the generous support from the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation and additional funding from the Macon County Conservation Foundation that we are able to deliver immersive, unforgettable learning experiences to our community and beyond. A Portable Planetarium That Brings The Wonders of Space to YOU The StarLab Planetarium accommodates 30-40 participants and can...
Weathering the Cold, Part One: Brumation
Illinois is home to over 54,000 different species of wildlife, and the majority are species of insects. Often, the time of year dictates when we can see some of our more familiar species. As fall and winter begin to make their way into Illinois, the animals we see moving around begin to change.
Living on the Edge: Part 3
Part 3—Learn about the importance of the boundary zones where two distinct habitats meet in this three part article series.
Have you heard the news yet? Decatur has been awarded a Bird City Illinois designation by the Audubon Council of Illinois! 🐦
Interested in learning more about this and how you can get involved in future similar initiatives? Reach out to the Decatur Audubon and learn all about this wonderful organization!Big news for Decatur!
We are proud to share that Decatur, Illinois has been awarded the Bird City Illinois designation by the Audubon Council of Illinois.
This recognition celebrates our community's commitment to habitat conservation, environmental education, and creating a healthier environment for birds, wildlife, and people. “This award has only been granted to about a dozen other communities. Decatur is the only community south of I-80 to receive it.” According to the Decatur Audubon Society.
Congratulations to the Decatur Audubon and everyone whose dedication helped make this achievement possible!
#birdcityillinois #DecaturIL #auduboncouncil #DecaturAudubon
📢Open house announcement!📢
We will be holding a Public Open House on Tuesday, August 11 from 5-6pm at the Rock Springs Nature Center. The open house will provide Macon County residents with an opportunity to view proposed plans for improvements to the Kaufman Lakeside Conservation Area.
The primary objectives of this project are to create a new hiking trail, small parking lot, interpretive shelter, a pollinator garden, and a fishing pier, adding another publicly accessible recreation area for the community to enjoy.
The meeting will take place in the Monarch Room in the lower level of the building, directional signage will be present. Residents will have a chance to view printouts of the plans, and feedback, comments, and questions are welcome and encouraged. 📋
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If you weren't able to make our History of Macon County Conservation District program we had on July 11, you're in luck! We recorded the program and it can now be found on our YouTube channel! This program is presented by long-time employee Melody Arnold and covers the early years of the District, and how and why it was formed. The video is approx. 48 minutes long and includes a brief Q&A session at the end. Have any questions or would like to know more about something? We'd be happy to get the answers for you!🎥
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This week's Sunday Storytime is cancelled, but there is still plenty of other fun things to do at Rock Springs on Sunday! Explore the Nature Center, tour Homestead Prairie Farm, or stop by to watch the Summer Concert Series: Back Porch Trio concert!
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