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.
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.
Exploring Nature with Your Senses
Sometimes the best way to connect with nature isn’t through facts and field guides—it’s by slowing down and tuning in. Whether you’re walking a wooded trail, sitting beside a prairie, or pausing near a wetland, nature has a way of speaking to all five senses.
Living on the Edge: Part 2
Part 2—Learn about the importance of the boundary zones where two distinct habitats meet in this three part article series.
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.
Happy Squirrel Appreciation Day! 🐿️
This balcony visitor captured last fall used their tail to block the wind—and accidentally created a whole new look.
So tell us—are we looking at a “business in the front, party in the back” mullet, or a bold, multi-colored mohawk moment?
We need your expert opinion. Sound off in the comments!👇
📢ANNOUNCEMENT📢
Our crews will be out today at Rock Springs conducting a woodland burn starting this afternoon around 12:30pm. Please do not report.
🔥Why do we conduct woodland burns? Periodic woodland burns stimulate wildflowers by reducing the amount of organic debris on the ground, allowing more sunlight to reach young seedlings. These burns also thwart tree species like sugar maple, which can prevent oak seedlings from flourishing.
You can read more about the importance of prescribed fire on our website: www.maconccd.org/conservation/prescribed-fire/
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If you’re new around here, allow us to introduce Basil Oregano—one of our educational ambassador animals and the fluffy star of this weekend. 🐰✨
Join us this Saturday, January 24 for Birds, Beans, & Basil, where you can sip on coffee or hot chocolate, meet Basil up close, and enjoy some cozy winter learning. Weather permitting, we’ll also take a guided walk on the trail to discover winter birds and the clever ways they adapt to chilly temperatures.
☕🐦🐰 Warm drinks, winter wildlife, and one very handsome bunny—what’s not to love?
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Check out the programs and events this week at the Macon County Conservation District! You can find our full list of events with registration details at www.maconccd.org/events/
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Thanks to WAND News for coming out to cover and show off our new StarLab Portable Planetarium! And thank you to the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation and the Macon County Conservation Foundation for making it possible for us to bring space closer to home. 🌌
Interested in bringing the wonders of the universe to your group or school? Head to our field trip page here: www.maconccd.org/education/field-trips/ and fill out a field trip request form! You can read more details about the StarLab in our Educator's Guide here: www.maconccd.org/wp-content/uploads/2025-Educators-Guide.pdf
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