Peoria Audubon Society is a local affiliate of both:
National Audubon Society & Illinois Audubon Society
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State of the Birds 2011 Report on Climate Change
Clck to download full report (PDF) In this 2011 State of the Birds report, we consider one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time, climate change. How will the impacts of climate change influence our bird populations and their habitats? |
Stay Current ...
Need to find out the latest on national issues? National Audubon's Issues and Action site is the answer! For a biweekly update on national environmental issues, there's Audubon Advisory. With each issue, you learn where Audubon stands and how to voice your opinion. Subscribe online today.
For periodic updates on state environmental issues, consider joining the Illinois Sierra Club Activist Network. It provides breaking news on state-wide environmental issues via email. Subscribe online today.
Another good source of information on state issues is the Bird Conservation Network. Primarily active in the Chicago area and surrounding counties, this site's associated email discussion list has kept abreast of issues such as the proposed Open Lands funding cuts in the FY2005 state budget. The site contains information on joining the email list as well as an archive.
Conservation News
2010 Prairie in Peoria County
A 6.20 acre parcel of restored native prairie was donated to Peoria Audubon Society in August 2010. The 1/2 mile long strip, near Brimfield, IL was once railroad right-of-way. With the rails and ties removed, the property is only 104 feet wide, but has been documented by the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission to contain greater than 100 native prairie species, including 4 reintroduced populations of the state endangered Queen of the Prairie (Filipendula rubra).
Brimfield Railroad Prairie Nature Preserve
Much of the credit for the growth of biodiversity of prairie species goes to the local volunteer group The Jubilee Prairie Dawgs, who have been managing the site. The structure and composition of the prairie community has been improved through prescribed burns, brush cutting, and exotic plant removal from a program that was initiated in 1992.
Black Swallowtail Butterfly on Thistle
Part of Peoria Audubon's Land Acquisition Policy is that the area should have significant ecological value and provide habitat for native species of fauna and/or flora. The diverse number of native prairie species is supporting a like number of fauna.
The prairie preserve is not developed to handle large numbers of visitors, but all inquiries and questions on the prairie should be sent to the Peoria Audubon Board at audubon@peoriaaudubon.org.
Click Here for more information on the Brimfield Railroad Prairie Nature Preserve.
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Peoria Green Edge Plan |
2008 Green Edge Development Proposed in Peoria
With the economic downturn of 2008-2009, amid apparent lack of funding, the Green Edge plan has not taken off.
The Board of the Peoria Audubon Society, as detailed in the attached letter from March 2008, will continue to support conservation efforts that benefit the public and the public access to nature.
The Board of the Peoria Audubon Society continues to encourage dialog with community leaders for potential projects that promote harmony with nature for the general benefit of the public.
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in December 2007, Craig Hullinger, Economic Development Director for City of Peoria, came to the December Peoria Audubon Board Meeting to discuss potential economic developments in Peoria along the Illinois River. The discussion was to initiate a two-way dialog regarding the environmental impact of the proposed developments.
One of the plans, The Green Edge Plan, would connect Water Street with Grand View Drive with green space along the Illinois River. The vision would be to provide economic stimulus to an area in need of economic development while simultaneously providing housing and access to the river More...
New Bluebird Trail at Springdale Cemetery
Springdale Cemetery established a bluebird trail, courtesy of volunteers from Peoria Audubon Society and Peoria Wilds. On March 17, 2007, Peoria Wilds volunteers performed a controlled burn and then installed three bluebird nest boxes near the Springdale savanna.
On March 24, 2007, volunteers from Peoria Audubon installed another six bluebird boxes around the Springdale cemetery property. Paula Ferguson and others from Peoria Audubon monitor the nest boxes on a weekly basis to check the nests, and help the bluebird broods succeed. More...
Thanks for your help!
The Savanna at Springdale Cemetery in Peoria is a native remnant of the tallgrass oak savanna that once covered Illinois River bluffs prior to European settlement - and the only such remnant located within the city of Peoria. In 2006, the Peoria Audubon Board was informed that Springdale Cemetery Management Authority had considered converting the savanna to burial plots.
The Peoria Audubon Board went on record to the Cemetery Authority asking that the savanna be maintained in its natural state rather than converting it to burial plots. Thanks to your help, the natural state was preserved. More...
Deer at Springdale Cemetery Savanna
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The Peoria Wilds a local not-for-profit grass roots organization spent countless hours restoring the tallgrass oak savanna to it's historic, pre settlement condition. "This natural area is a rare remnant of 10,000-year-old tallgrass oak savanna, the ecological community that dominated the Illinois River bluffs prior to European settlement. Tall prairie grasses, such as Big Bluestem and Indian grass, oak trees, and wildflowers were common in this community." |
$11,000 Bird Habitat Project Completed in 2006
Peoria Audubon improved 10 acres of habitat for savanna birds such as Eastern Towhees, Field Sparrows and Eastern Wood Pewees at Oak Bluff Savanna over the last two years (2005-06). The work was financed entirely by a $5500 grant from the Midwest Forester's Partnership and volunteer matching work by Maury Brucker and Emiko Yang on their property near Henry, Illinois.... More
Enjoy the Results ...
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Plum Island, adjacent to Starved Rock State Park, purchased as a wildlife sanctuary by the Illinois Audubon Society.
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Cooper Park Wetlands, on the East Peoria waterfront, dedicated as a Land and Water Reserve.
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Singing Woods, north of Peoria, dedicated an Illinois State Nature Preserve.
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Fondulac Seep, along the East Peoria bluffs, purchased by the Fondulac Park District.
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Duck Island, south of Banner, purchased by the State of Illinois.
