Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge – New Proposal for Northern Illinois Wildlife Refuge
April 7, 2010
Article in: Bird Conservation
There is a new proposal currently underway to create a new National Wildlife Refuge close to Birdfreak Headquarters (aka, northern Illinois). This new refuge would be called Hackmatack NWR and located in Walworth County in southern Wisconsin and McHenry County in northern Illinois.
The name Hackmatack (hack-ma-tack) is an Algonquin Indian word for the Tamarack Tree. The American Tamarack is just one of dozens of rare species that can be found in the proposed area for Hackmatack. Bird species such as Whooping and Sandhill Cranes, Bobolink, American Bittern, and Kentucky Warbler can all be found here.
Currently, the Friends of Hackmatack are seeking signatures (and donations) for a feasibility study in the area. Please read the petition and add your name and help make this new refuge a reality!
We support efforts to encourage the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to study the potential for the establishment of a national wildlife refuge in the northeastern Illinois and southeastern Wisconsin area. Such a refuge would promote economic benefits to the citizens of the region, protect unique wildlife habitats, expand recreational opportunities, and protect our waterways and drinking water.
Learn more and sign your name!
Duck Stamp Success
June 18, 2008
Article in: Bird Conservation
Every time a Duck Stamp is bought, precious bird habitat is conserved. For every Duck Stamp purchased, 98 cents of every dollar goes directly to purchase land.
We found more proof showing how wonderful Duck Stamps are for conservation. The Mirgratory Bird Conservation Commission approved 18,118 acres of wetland and grassland habitat for Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge along with quite a few other grants.
From the U.S. Department of Interior Press Release: As part of a suite of wetlands acquisition and conservation grant approvals, the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission today approved $4 million to purchase more than 18,000 acres of prime prairie wetland and associated grassland habitat for the Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge in northwestern Minnesota – one of the largest purchases ever using dollars generated from Federal Duck Stamp sales and import duties on firearms and ammunition.
This huge land purchase shows how hunters and conservationists can come together and proof that Duck Stamps work.
This acquisition also secures habitat for three other National Wildlife Refuges.
- Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge – Oregon – 180 acres
- Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge – North Carolina – 1,481 acres
- Lake Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge – Maine – 1,129 acres
Also approved:
- $24 million in federal funding to protect, restore, enchance and manage over 107,000 acres of habitat in North America under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA)
- $1.67 million for 27 projects affecting 28,657 acres in 24 states under the NAWCA Small Grants program
- $19.7 million for four Canadian projects affecting 80,000 acres
- $640,000 for two projects protecting 2,470 acres in Mexico
South Dakota NWR Budget Problems
December 6, 2007
Article in: Bird Conservation
South Dakota National Wildlife Refuges are facing a $15.7 million deficit in funding.
Nearly 200,000 people visit South Dakota refuges each year: places like Lacreek and Waubay NWRs. These wonderful places for wildlife as well as four others and six wetland management districts are losing out on restoration and management efforts.
The Badlands of South Dakota
South Dakota harbors a lot of grasslands, a habitat in serious decline. Grassland birds as a whole are some of the most periled species in the U.S. Without proper funding, we could be losing out on all the wonderful efforts that have been put in place to protect wildlife.
At Sand Lake NWR alone, a staggering one million Snow Geese congregate during their annual migration. – C.A.R.E.
It is high time that not only this deficit be erased, but that much more money gets put into our nation’s greatest natural wildlife areas.
Wisconsin NWR Budget Issues
November 20, 2007
Article in: Birding
Wisconsin National Wildlife Refuges are facing a $16.7 million deficit in funding, greatly hurting the management of these wonderful bird havens.
A typical scene at Horicon in July
Horicon National Wildlife Refuge staffing will be reduced to a single maintenance worker, shared with three other refuges. This will severely impact maintenance of the miles of dikes and levees upon which the 32,000 acres of Horicon marsh… -C.A.R.E.
The lack of proper funding will also hamper efforts to restore Whooping Crane populations at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge as well as protect federally endangered species such as the Piping Plover.
Wisconsin is home to 7 National Wildlife Refuges and gets over 1.5 million visitors a year. To learn more about ways you can help support these wildlife havens, visit RefugeNet. Or you can check out Pathways to Nature – Friends of Necedah.
Refuge Watch
October 25, 2007
Article in: Bird Conservation
Started on September 20th of this year, Refuge Watch is a wonderful blog showcasing the “News and Events From America’s National Wildlife Refuges”.
Why exactly are National Wildlife Refuges important? How about because they are home to:
- over 700 species of birds
- around 220 species of mammals
- approximately 250 reptile and amphibian species
- more than 200 species of fish
- over 250 threatened or endangered plants and animals
- used by millions of birds during spring and fall migrations
Little Blue Heron at Santa Ana NWR
All 50 states have at least one refuge and in total there are 548 National Wildlife Refuges. No matter where you live in the U.S. there is a refuge relatively nearby. The refuge system provides wonderful natural places for not just for birding but for photography, hiking, fishing, boating, hunting, and other wildlife viewing. Without our refuges we would lose much more than great places to go birding.
This is why it is vital birders unite as one group to promote the importance of the National Wildlife Refuge system. It is up to us to convey the conservation message and to support proper funding for our wildlife refuges.
Illinois NWR Budget Issues
October 10, 2007
Article in: Bird Conservation
Illinois is the proud home of 11 National Wildlife Refuges, protecting land along the mighty Mississippi River down to cypress swamps in the southern part of the state. These refuges provide habitat for millions of migrating birds including the endangered Piping Plover.
Unfortunately, Illinois’ NWRs are facing a $47 million budget deficit, reducing the ability to properly manage vital habitat, provide proper maintenance of roads and buildings, and allow for adequate staffing in biological and educational fields.
Due to budget shorfalls, Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge has been forced to eliminate the refuge’s entire environmental education and interpretive programs, which was attended by more than 5,000 schoolchildren. ~fundrefuges.org
Are the hundreds (thousands?) of Bald Eagles that use the Mississippi River in winter worth proper funding?
Some Illinois Refuge Facts
- Cypress Creek provides nesting habitat for Cerulean Warblers and Acadian Flycatchers as well as an ecosystem that still has top predators like bobcat and coyotes.
- Chautauqua has been named a Globally Important Bird Area and a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network site due to the large numbers of waterfowl and shorebirds that use the 6,000 plus acres
- Upper Mississippi River – Lost Mound Unit is spectacular during migration, protecting land along the Mississippi Flyway; Blue Grosbeak and Upland Sandpiper have nested in the area
- Over 1.5 million people visit Illinois refuges each year providing economic incentives to communities all around the refuges
The National Wildlife Refuges in Illinois provide some of the best birding, nature-watching, hiking, fishing, and photography opportunities in the state. Without proper funding, these wonderful places will be degraded and effect not just the wildlife here, but birds that use the Mississippi Flyway to get to places way beyond.
Birdfreak Partners With NWRs
September 26, 2007
Article in: Bird Conservation
Well, it isn’t an official partnership, but the Birdfreak Team has made it a top priority to promote the National Wildlife Refuge System.
We will be highlighting the problems the NWRs face and potential solutions to these problems. We have birded on numerous NWRs and they are some of the best places to bird.
Common Loons and Trumpeter Swans are typical sights at Seney National Wildlife Refuge in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
As part of our overall effort to promote bird conservation, we feel the NWRs are in one of the best positions to provide instant habitat protection as well as long-term conservation of a large number of endangered and threatened birds.
Join us in our partnership to protect this nation’s most valuable resource – natural habitat!
