C-Notes #3 – Illinois Land Acquisitions and Awards
September 6, 2008
Article in: Bird Conservation
Farm to Floodplain: For over 80 years, farmland at Emiquon in Illinois has been manipulated to remain dry. In 2007, the Nature Conservancy shut down pumps turning 7100 acres into a wetland that attracts thousands of waterfowl and Bald Eagles.
Read more about this project in Jason’s Journal (Jason is the Deputy Director of the Illinois River Program)
Boone County Illinois conserves new land: The Boone County Conservation District recently acquired 80 acres of new land from two separate adjoining land owners. The site will be called the Piscasaw Fen Conservation Area. The site is along a riparian corridor and contains both woodland and wetland habitats. The acquisition was funded by grants from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, the Grand Victoria Foundation and Chum’s Foundation.
Organization of the year: The Nature Conservancy in Illinois has been named Organization of the Year at the 2008 Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame Banquet for 50 years of extraordinary contributions.
Mining for Declining Birds
July 14, 2008
Article in: Bird Conservation
The American Bird Conservancy is working to restore land around decommissioned mines. Partnered with the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, the goal is to manage habitat for breeding Cerulean Warblers, Wood Thrushes, and other mature forest birds.
Golden-winged Warbler
In addition to mature forest restoration the land is being managed for more open area species such as Henslow’s Sparrow and Golden-winged Warbler.
Read about the Appalachian Mountains Joint Venture
