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
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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...
Takeaways from the 2024 ANCA Annual Summit
By Taylor Buley Working at a Nature Center and for a Conservation District allows for myriad opportunities. There are many conferences and summits out there for staff to explore and to help expand their professional network. One organization that we connect with here at Macon County Conservation District is the Association of Nature Center Administrators, or ANCA. ANCA is a non-profit professional organization that is dedicated to leaders in the nature and environmental learning profession. Their mission is to promote and support the best leadership and management practices, and ANCA serves more than 700 members across North America. They are...
Built by Nature, Crafted by Us. Here’s the Story Behind the New Timber Frame Pavilion at Friends Creek Conservation Area
For the past several months, there has been a project that we have kept quiet about while our staff worked hard to complete it. We sat down with Friends Creek Site Superintendent, Andy Murphy, to learn all the details about this newest structure at the Friends Creek Conservation Area group camp site. What is this structure we are standing by called? This is a King Post Pavilion. The top of the main bents are shaped to look like the king chess piece. You mentioned the term “bents”, care to talk a little bit more about those? Yeah, those are...
You know those heart-melting stories about unlikely animal besties that make the world go “awww”?
Yeah… this is not one of those stories. 😂🦝🦌
Drop a 🦝 or 🦌 in the comments—whose side are you on?
🦅 Everett the Eagle has an urgent announcement… only 6 seats remain!
Our Van Trip to Keokuk for Bald Eagle Appreciation Day is almost full, and these final spots won’t stick around for long. Join us this Saturday, January 17 to witness one of the Midwest’s most impressive winter wildlife spectacles along the Mississippi River—live raptor programs, educational exhibits, Native American culture, vendors, and prime eagle-viewing opportunities. Best part? You get the experience without the stress—leave the driving to us and just enjoy the view.
If this trip has been on your radar, now’s the time to swoop in and grab your seat. 🪶
👉 Register now to claim one of the last 6 spots:
www.maconccd.org/events/van-trip-to-keokuk-for-bald-eagle-appreciation-day/
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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 at www.maconccd.org/events/
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🦅Today is National Save the Eagles Day, and what better way to celebrate than by seeing these incredible birds where they truly soar? Join us for one of our guided Eagle Viewing Van Trips and observe bald eagles in their winter habitats while learning why conservation success stories like theirs matter.
We’re headed to Keokuk for Eagle Appreciation Day on Saturday, January 17, and to the Peoria area for eagle viewing on Saturday, January 31 and Saturday, February 7. We’ll handle the driving—so you can sit back, relax, and keep your eyes on the sky.
Spots are limited, so grab your seat and come celebrate National Save the Eagles Day the wild way—outdoors, together, and up close with a true conservation icon.
Head to our website to register for these trips before all the spots fill up! www.maconccd.org/events/
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