Peoria
Audubon Society is a chapter of
National Audubon
Society
&
Affiliate chapter of
Illinois
Audubon Society












Sanctuary Update
On May 14, 2014 Peoria Audubon
members got together and squabbled, haggled, and generally went
tooth and nail against their birding brothers and sisters… all
for a good cause! We held our Sanctuary Fundraising Auction to
raise money for our endowment fund dedicated to our Sanctuary
Initiative. This year’s auction raised $2,126 for the
Chillicothe Bottoms Project.
This latest fundraising effort has
put our sanctuary fund endowment balance over the $55,000 mark!
As an endowment, we hold these funds with the Community
Foundation of Central Illinois and utilize the interest and
investment results to help with sanctuary development and future
stewardship projects. Our feature sanctuary project is
Chillicothe Bottoms, in partnership with Illinois Ducks
Unlimited. We also have some funds dedicated to our Brimfield RR
Prairie Preserve and it’s stewardship and care.
A site was selected that we now call
Chillicothe Bottoms. This 236 acre Ducks Unlimited
property is home to high quality emergent wetlands, buttonbush
swamp, and floodplain forest.
Although not yet open to the public,
Peoria Audubon and Ducks Unlimited are partnering to develop the
property into a future Peoria Audubon Sanctuary with access.
For the last year, Peoria Audubon
has been conducting a bird census, and we have documented 150
species that utilize this unique blend of critical habitat
The Sanctuary Committee is again meeting to
develop a strategic plan on moving forward. |
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Sanctuary News
Why a Sanctuary? | Why Peoria Audubon?
| What Kind of Sanctuary? |
Why a Sanctuary Fund? | Make a Donation | Brochure
The Illinois River valley is a
critical migratory corridor for both land and water birds, connecting
southern wintering areas with northern breeding ranges. During migration,
these birds rely on the wide Peoria Lakes and forested river bluffs to
feed and rest. The Illinois River valley is also home to over one hundred
breeding bird species who use wetlands, forests, and prairies to nest and
raise young.
As development has pushed the
boundaries of our cities and suburbs further into rural areas, habitat for
birds has correspondingly dwindled. Peoria Audubon's Sanctuary Initiative
is working to reverse this trend.
Why a Sanctuary?
In 2000, Peoria
Audubon initiated a Sanctuary Fund as the first step toward its goal of
establishing a sanctuary for birdwatching in Central Illinois. The goals
for the sanctuary are to:
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Protect birds and bird habitat.
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Provide the public with a quality
wildlife watching experience.
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Educate the public about birds,
their role in Central Illinois ecosystems, and their conservation
needs.
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Demonstrate effective bird
conservation practices.
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Promote Central Illinois as a
destination for eco-tourism.
Peoria Audubon is committed to
partnering with other local, state, and national organizations as
necessary to turn this goal into a reality. Peoria Audubon believes that a
local Audubon sanctuary can fill an important role in Central Illinois
and, in the end, will further the efforts of all groups dedicated to
preserving what remains of our natural heritage.
Why Peoria Audubon?
Peoria
Audubon believes the next decade will provide unique opportunities for
protecting bird habitat in Central Illinois.
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Peoria Audubon has a long
tradition of advocacy for birds, bird habitat, and the Illinois River. A
sanctuary is a natural complement to these efforts.
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Peoria Audubon continues to be the
definitive source of information about Central Illinois Bird populations
through its Spring and Christmas bird counts, breeding bird surveys, and
the new Central Illinois River Census. This knowledge is essential for
selecting and managing an effective bird sanctuary.
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Peoria Audubon, with its directed
focus on birds, is well-positioned to partner with area tourism groups
and capitalize on the growing popularity of birdwatching and events such
as Central Illinois Eagle Day.
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Peoria Audubon is a nonprofit
charitable organization dedicated to birds, bird habitat, and bird
conservation.
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Peoria Audubon is a chapter of
National Audubon and an affiliate of Illinois Audubon, and able to tap
resources at the state and national level.
What Kind of Sanctuary?
Peoria
Audubon has decided to initially look for a sanctuary property that fits
the following criteria:
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Preferably wetland habitat.
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Of a size and potential quality to
be of "ecological value" with high quality breeding and migratory bird
habitat.
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Accessible for public wildlife
viewing.
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Within 20-30 miles of
Peoria.
Why a Sanctuary Fund?
In 2000,
Peoria Audubon initiated two funds managed by the Community Foundation of
Central Illinois. The Peoria Audubon Non-Endowed Fund will be used to
purchase a Central Illinois bird sanctuary once a suitable location is
found and adequate funds are available. The Peoria Audubon Endowed Fund is
a capital fund that will be used to generate income for ongoing
maintenance of a sanctuary.
The funds are intended to:
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Provide accountability to donors
and ensure that contributions are used for sanctuary acquisition and
maintenance.
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Ensure professional investment
management and conformance with all related accounting and tax
requirements.
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Improve Peoria Audubon’s ability
to accept non-cash donations, including stocks, bonds, land, and other
assets. (Contact the Community Foundation of Central Illinois at
309-674-8730 for more information.)
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Enhance Peoria Audubon’s
fund-raising ability and sharpen the focus of annual efforts such as the
March Auction and the November Birdseed Sale.
Make a Donation
The Peoria Audubon Sanctuary Funds are managed by the
Community Foundation of Central Illinois. Donations can be made to the
Peoria Audubon Non-Endowed Fund for purchase of a Central Illinois bird
sanctuary once a suitable location is found and adequate funds are
available. Donations can also be made to the Peoria Audubon Endowed
Fund, a capital fund that will be
used to generate income for ongoing maintenance of a sanctuary
.
Send
contributions to:
Community Foundation of Central Illinois
331 Fulton Street
Suite 310
Peoria, IL
61602
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A Donation Form is available in Adobe Acrobat PDF format.
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Corporate Matching
Remember that donations to the Sanctuary Fund are
tax-deductible, and that several employers, including Caterpillar and
State Farm will match donations. Caterpillar matching gift forms
can be found at:
Caterpillar Matching
Gifts Program.
Peoria Audubon is incorporated in the State of
Illinois with 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, making all charitable
contributions tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law.
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