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...
🌌 The 42nd Annual Astronomy Jamboree is back!
Grab your lawn chairs and blankets and join us under the stars at Friends Creek Conservation Area for a free, family-friendly night of stargazing, live music, snacks, and hands-on crafts.
Got an old telescope collecting dust in the closet? Bring it! Are you an amateur astronomer who loves sharing what you know? Bring that too! We welcome telescopes of all kinds — or just come as you are and look through ours.
📍 Friends Creek Conservation Area
🗓️ Saturday, August 8 | 8-11pm
💫 Free and open to everyone.
📋 Online registration required for craft/snack supplies counts.
Big news - our Gift Nook is open! 🌿
The Rock Springs Nature Center now has a Gift Nook, stocked with nature-inspired goodies, unique finds, and MCCD branded merchandise you won't find anywhere else.
Come see what's in store! Stop by Monday–Saturday, 10am–4pm, or Sunday, 1–4pm, and our staff will be happy to help you find the perfect pick.
We hope to see you soon!
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Have you heard the news yet? Decatur has been awarded a Bird City Illinois designation by the Audubon Council of Illinois! 🐦
Interested in learning more about this and how you can get involved in future similar initiatives? Reach out to the Decatur Audubon and learn all about this wonderful organization!Big news for Decatur!
We are proud to share that Decatur, Illinois has been awarded the Bird City Illinois designation by the Audubon Council of Illinois.
This recognition celebrates our community's commitment to habitat conservation, environmental education, and creating a healthier environment for birds, wildlife, and people. “This award has only been granted to about a dozen other communities. Decatur is the only community south of I-80 to receive it.” According to the Decatur Audubon Society.
Congratulations to the Decatur Audubon and everyone whose dedication helped make this achievement possible!
#birdcityillinois #DecaturIL #auduboncouncil #DecaturAudubon
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📢Open house announcement!📢
We will be holding a Public Open House on Tuesday, August 11 from 5-6pm at the Rock Springs Nature Center. The open house will provide Macon County residents with an opportunity to view proposed plans for improvements to the Kaufman Lakeside Conservation Area.
The primary objectives of this project are to create a new hiking trail, small parking lot, interpretive shelter, a pollinator garden, and a fishing pier, adding another publicly accessible recreation area for the community to enjoy.
The meeting will take place in the Monarch Room in the lower level of the building, directional signage will be present. Residents will have a chance to view printouts of the plans, and feedback, comments, and questions are welcome and encouraged. 📋
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If you weren't able to make our History of Macon County Conservation District program we had on July 11, you're in luck! We recorded the program and it can now be found on our YouTube channel! This program is presented by long-time employee Melody Arnold and covers the early years of the District, and how and why it was formed. The video is approx. 48 minutes long and includes a brief Q&A session at the end. Have any questions or would like to know more about something? We'd be happy to get the answers for you!🎥
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