by NIAS | Apr 28, 2024
Full Moon Campfire at our Silver Creek Biodiversity Preserve
We will take a leisurely stroll to observe blooming plants and resident birds at 7 p.m.; the campfire will start at 7:30. S’mores will be provided. Bring a lawn chair, flashlight and water (if desired).
The preserve is located about 2 miles south of Leaf River (S. Main St. in Leaf River becomes Leaf River Rd.). The preserve parking lot is just off of Leaf River Rd. If the weather is questionable call Mary at 815-938-3204.
Carpool from the Harbor Freight parking lot in Freeport at 6:15 p.m.
by NIAS | Apr 28, 2024
Spring Prairie Blooms at Elkhorn Creek
Tuesday, May 21, 10 a.m. – noon
Coordinator: Mary Blackmore 815-938-3204
Carpool from the Harbor Freight lot in Freeport at 9:30 a.m.
Enjoy the beauty of blooming spring prairie species at our Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve. We’ll stroll the trails looking for anything in bloom, but especially Cream Wild Indigo and Violet Wood Sorrel. There also should be plenty of birds to observe, perhaps even some late migrants. Trails can be steep with some uneven ground.
If weather is questionable, call Mary.
by NIAS | Mar 29, 2024
Listening to Amphibians at Elkhorn Creek
Wednesday, April 24, 6:30 p.m.
Coordinator: Mary Blackmore, 815-938-3204
Carpool from the Harbor Freight lot in Freeport at 6:00 p.m.
Join us at our Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve to listen to the spring advertisement calls of frogs and toads. While 6 species of amphibians have been identified at Elkhorn Creek over the years, our best chances are for hearing the rapid metallic clicks of the Western Chorus Frog and the long musical trill of the American Toad. We’ll walk near both wetland areas at the preserve that provide amphibian habitat.
Meet in the parking lot in the northeast corner of the preserve off of West Grove Rd. The preserve is located 3 miles southwest of Forreston in the SE corner of Freeport and West Grove Rds.
If weather is questionable, call Mary.
by NIAS | Jan 22, 2024
Skunk Cabbage Walk at Franklin Creek
Saturday, March 2
1:00-4:30 p.m. (Carpool 1:00 p.m.)
Carpool from the Forreston Municipal lot (on the south side of the village library)
Coordinator: Mary Blackmore
815-938-3204
Join us as we leisurely stroll the hard-surfaced paths at the Franklin Creek State Natural Area in northern Lee County looking for that wetland harbinger of spring, Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus). Restrooms are available just off the parking area.
If there is any snow cover, sometimes heat from the growing Skunk Cabbage melts a circle of snow around the emerging plant. On past trips we have been able to see the beginning of flowering on the spadix inside the distinctively mottled brown and yellow-green spathe. This is a fascinating plant!
Predicting plant emergence is an educated guess; be sure to sign up for this trip so that Mary can contact you if cancellation is necessary. Carpool from the Forreston Municipal lot (on the south side of the village library) at 1 p.m.
