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.
Thanks Blake Pyo for highlighting the Rock Springs Nature Center during your exploration of Decatur!
Looking for things to do during the next rainy day? Our Nature Center is full of exhibits, books, critters, and of course, the comfy couch at the Window on Wildlife. 🌧️
🐛It's National Be Nice to Bugs Day!🐜
While we may not enjoy them getting all up in our business every time we step foot outside, our buzzing and crawling little friends play a very important role in our ecosystem! This day aims to show some appreciation for these often misunderstood little critters. How can you observe this day?
🪲Skip the Swat: Instead of squishing a lost bug that has wandered into your home, relocate them outside!
🪲Built a Bug Hotel: This can also be a great way to reuse materials that would otherwise go in the trash!
🪲Learn More: You can head outside with apps like Seek and iNaturalist to identify insects that you find in your yard or other green spaces. These apps are a wonderful resource that give information about the species you find, and you'll also be a citizen scientist contributing valuable information!
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A heads up for any of our Rock Springs Conservation Area hikers, a portion of the Oak Trail by the Prairie Pond has been temporarily closed due to some runoff from the excessive rainfall we have had recently. Our crews have placed detour signs and will be out working to repair it. Thank you for your understanding and happy hiking!🥾
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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 in the comments below.
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☀️It's a busy weekend full of free family-friendly weekend programs and events here at the Macon County Conservation District!
Interested in history? Check out the Homestead Prairie Farm tours at Rock Springs Conservation Area from 1-4pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Did you know we have a one-room schoolhouse?🏫 The Bethel Schoolhouse is open for tours the first Saturday of each month from 1-4pm at our Friends Creek Conservation Area location, the perfect opportunity to check out that site if you have never been before! The History of the Macon County Conservation District program is Saturday at 2pm at the Rock Springs Nature Center. Learn why Macon County is one of only five counties in the whole state of Illinois to have a conservation district.
Sunday the 12 we have more history tours, story time, and of course music!🎶 Check out the full list of events by heading to our website linked in the comments below!
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