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.
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.
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.
Good news parents and guardians! Registration for our Summer Camps at Rock Springs Conservation Area will be opening this Wednesday, April 1! Head to www.maconccd.org/nature-camps-for-kids/ to check out all the camps we offer and get registered once it opens on Wednesday. It's sure to be another fun year at camp with the Macon County Conservation District! ☀️
Want to keep updated on all the latest at the Macon County Conservation District? Our new Wild Side monthly e-newsletter is great for program reminders, updates, and more! They go out on the 1st of each month. Both the Wild Side and the larger quarterly Prairie Islander are free!
You can head to our website and sign up at the bottom of each page in the bright blue box. www.maconccd.org/
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We're only about three weeks away from our Rooted in Community: 1,000 Tree Planting Event! We've sold 20% of our trees, and we would love to see this project fully funded! Trees are only $20 each, and volunteering to help us plant is always free. We're excited to see that so many in our community and our neighboring communities are wanting to be a part of creating a lasting legacy that will span generations.
For questions about the event, contact Ashton Dukeman at ADukeman@MaconCCD.org. We can't wait to have you join us for this memorable event!
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We are SO excited to share this news with our followers. We have sandhill cranes! These three magnificent birds have been stopping by the Rodney T. Miller Wetland at the Rock Springs Conservation Area the past two days.
Each spring, these birds migrate from their wintering grounds in southern United States and Mexico to their nesting grounds in Canada, Alaska, and Siberia. And it looks like these three decided to make Rock Springs a stop on their route! There were also several Canada geese out on the wetland yesterday evening as well.
* Please excuse the grainy cellphone photos, these were taken as staff were leaving for the evening yesterday.
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A quick heads up if you'll be out at Rock Springs Conservation Area today. Our crews will be conducting prescribed burns at various points on the property.
Prescribed fire is one of the most efficient tools to manage our natural areas. They are carefully planned and carried out by trained staff. The areas that are being burned will be closed during the burn, but will be reopened once our crews are finished.
If you see a freshly burned area, make sure to come back to see how quickly the native plants start to come up! The photo used is a great example of that, the ground is still freshly black from the burn but the new green shoots can already be seen.🌱
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