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
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.
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.
Living on the Edge: Part 1
In the world of ecology, the "edge" refers to the boundary zone where two distinct habitats meet. These transition areas, known as ecotones, are crucial to the health and functionality of ecosystems.
A Spring Awakening
By Alysia Callison As the days get longer and the air warms, the natural world begins to buzz with signs of spring. One seasonal staple is the appearance of baby animals – new to the world, they often cause concern for well-meaning folks who find them in their yards, along roadsides, or in green spaces. So, what should you do if you find a baby animal? Leave it alone! Unless the animal is clearly injured or showing signs of distress, don’t touch it. Oftentimes, the parents know where the baby is and will return to check on it. Relocating the...
Shake Off Winter with a Dose of Nature
By Ashton Dukeman Celebrate the end of cabin fever because spring is here! Color and sunshine will finally be coming back into our lives as plants start to bud and bloom and the sun banishes those winter-gray skies. What better way to shake off the winter blues than by getting outdoors in less than four layers of thermal gear. During the winter months, when many of us are confined to our homes, screens become a go-to source of entertainment to pass the time. This habit can be hard to break once the weather starts to warm, often leading to less...
🐺There is still time to register for the free Crazy About Canids indoor program happening this Saturday, July 18 at 2pm. Learn about the local critters from the family Canidae, including coyotes and foxes. Registration is open until noon Friday, July 17. You can find the link to the event registration in the comments below! 🐾
Our Foundation turned 45 this year! Want to help celebrate? You can donate $45 -that's just $1 for each year- to help reach the goal of $45,000 to honor 45 years. Check out the original post below from the Macon County Conservation Foundation for more details! 🌳This year marks 45 years that the Macon County Conservation Foundation has been restoring and preserving Macon County’s natural and cultural resources through the Macon County Conservation District. In honor of this milestone year, we’re running a fundraiser called $45 dollars for 45 years.
Your donation of $45 will contribute to the continuation of the Conservation’s hard work. All our completed and ongoing projects are possible thanks to our generous donors and sponsors. When you hike a trail, sit by a pond or visit a Conservation Area, we hope you take pride knowing you have played a vital role in making all these beautiful areas possible. $45 donated today will go towards our continuing strides to restore and preserve our natural spaces around us here in Macon County, as well as promote education about these areas.
Successes that have been made possible over the years include seeding Willow Branch and Fort Daniel, removing exotic plants and invasive species at multiple District Conservation Areas, connecting fragmented sections of prairie at Sand Creek Conservation Area, 1000 trees being planted at Fort Daniel, funding transportation costs of local student buses for field trips to Rock Springs Nature Center, Rock Springs Conservation Area entrance restoration, designing and constructing the Eco Center exhibit, and paving the bike trail at Rock Springs.
These are just a few of many accomplishments over the years and we wouldn’t be able to keep moving forward today without you. Thank you to all who help make our mission possible. We are very proud to celebrate 45 years and look forward to the many years to come!
You can donate here: app.dvforms.net/api/dv/jk453d
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Over the weekend, Snorky decided to do a little whoopdeedoo to show off just how big he is. If you haven't had a chance to come out to visit him, this Saturday we have our free Crazy About Canids program that you can attend and check out all of our other ambassador animals afterwards!
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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. 🌧️
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🐛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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