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.
Only three more days until our 60th Anniversary Pancake Breakfast to kick off our year of celebrating 60 years of conservation in Macon County!
Enjoy an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast with us in the new indoor-outdoor classroom, then head upstairs for one of our educational maple syrup programs. You can find all the info in the event description, including ticket pricing and program times.
We can't wait to see you there! 🥞
Only one more week until we start stacking up the pancakes to kick off 60 years of conservation, community, and connection at our 60th Anniversary Pancake Breakfast ! Here's another throwback photo from the pancake breakfasts of the past of staff and volunteers making sure there is plenty to go around.
We've started getting the supplies ready and can't wait to welcome our community to one of our first of many anniversary celebrations.🥞
Tickets for the all-you-can-eat breakfast are available day-of, but advance purchase is strongly encouraged to ensure availability. The link to pre-purchase your tickets will be dropped in the comments below!
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With the warmer weather months creeping up, we're already getting community events on the calendar - like for instance a certain 𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒇𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒂𝒍 event in Argenta this Saturday that you'll be able to find us at 👀. If you have had us out to an event before and would like us to return, or if you have a new event or have never had us out to your event before, we'd love to hear from you! To fill out a brief information and contact form, you can head to forms.cloud.microsoft/g/S6vQx8Nm7x or email ADukeman@MaconCCD.org, and our staff will reach out to you to learn more about your event!
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📸 What does this old photo have to do with our brand-new event we posted?
This photo was taken in 1978, when local kids rolled up their sleeves to plant trees along Dipper Lane at Rock Springs Conservation Area for Arbor Day. Those trees didn’t just grow—they became part of the landscape, the memories, and the community.
Today, we’re carrying that tradition forward.
🌱 We’re launching our Rooted in Community: 1,000 Tree Planting Event - to be held on Saturday, April 18. This is a hands-on community effort to plant 1,000 trees at Fort Daniel Conservation Area in Mount Zion. These trees will grow into an oak savanna that future generations can explore, learn from, and call their own.
And just like in 1978, it takes a community to make it happen.
There are so many ways to get involved:
🌳 Purchase a tree (or a few!)
🤝 Volunteer to help plant—no donation required
💚 Start an individual or team fundraiser
🌲 Become a sponsor
🏢 Get your business, organization, club, church or classroom involved
📣 Share this campaign, tag friends, family, and community members, and help spread the word
This opportunity isn't just open to our Mount Zion residents, or even just Decatur folks. We want ALL of Macon County and our neighboring county supporters to come out and be a part of this event!
The kids in this photo planted something that lasted nearly 50 years.
Now it’s our turn.
👉 Learn more, get involved, or dig in with us here: givebutter.com/1000TreesEvent
Strong communities start with deep roots—let’s grow something amazing together. 🌳
📷Photo info: Arbor Day tree planting near Dipper Lane at Rock Springs Conservation Area June 1978. Credit Macon County Conservation District
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Have you purchased your tickets for our 60th Anniversary Pancake Breakfast yet? We're excited to kick off our milestone year with this throwback breakfast! 🥞
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