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.
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...
District Project Updates
By Jerry Culp With the busy summer and fall seasons behind us, we’re turning our focus to several exciting new projects that will benefit both our community and local ecosystems. Here’s a look into three of our biggest projects. Indoor-Outdoor Classroom A new Indoor-Outdoor Classroom is being constructed in the lower level of the Rock Springs Nature Center thanks to funding from the Park and Recreational Facility Construction Act, or PARC Grant, through the State of Illinois. It will feature: Adaptive Classroom Space: With a glass wall that will open to the outside and cohesive flooring that translates...
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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