The Nature Conservancy in Illinois

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The Nature Conservancy in Illinois

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Protecting nature in the Prairie State since 1957. Explore our work at nature.org/illinois.
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10/02/2026

Welcome to a jet-setting year in the life of a mallard duck 🦆📅

This incredible timelapse follows a single GPS-tracked drake (a.k.a. male) mallard duck and his movements from November 2024 through November 2025, representing some of the epic migration routes that millions of ducks take each year as he bounces between wetlands up and down the Mississippi Flyway — including TNC preserves like Emiquon Preserve in Illinois and Aspen Parkland Preserve in Minnesota, along with partner restoration projects like the newly restored McGregor Lake, a 200-acre backwater lake within the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge in Wisconsin.

The tracking video comes from the Five Oaks Ag Research and Education Center, which has deployed around 200 GPS transmitters in Arkansas over the past five years to understand mallard movements and habitat relationships during the winter. The data collected helps guide decisions about habitat management to better support migrating waterfowl populations throughout the flyway.

This mallard’s movements demonstrate how well-managed wetland complexes can act as connected networks that ducks and countless other birds depend on year-round. These kinds of networks only exist thanks to the many dedicated partners that work to protect them across borders, reminding us that conservation never happens in isolation — and that nature truly connects us all.

Thank you to Ryan Askren from Five Oaks Ag Research and Education Center for the original timelapse video and and mallard video clips! This work is a collaboration between Five Oaks, the University of Arkansas at Monticello, private landowners, and more.

10/01/2026

Never underestimate the power of one idea. 💡 Many of TNC’s first preserves in the Midwest originated from one scientist, nature enthusiast, or community member identifying environmental gems. After 60 years of collaboration, stewardship and innovation in Illinois and across the region, several of these preserves have grown immensely in scale—and have influenced more place-based land protection solutions far beyond their origin.

For instance, TNC founded its first preserve in Ohio in the 1950s with only 42 acres of prairie. Today, the Edge of Appalachia Preserve is home to more than 20,000 acres of rugged woodlands, prairies, waterfalls, and more incredible ecosystems that make up one of the most biologically diverse natural systems in the entire Midwestern U.S., supporting migratory birds and plenty of native grasses and wildflowers.

Learn more about the success of Ohio's place-based conservation efforts and get a glimpse of how similar strategies could be implemented here in Illinois. https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/edge-of-appalachia-lynx-prairie-trail/?en_txn1=s_p.reg_mw.eg.x.S2S.Organic.Social.FY27

09/27/2026

This , we're celebrating one of the most iconic ecosystems in the Midwest: the mighty Mississippi River basin. 💧

Encompassing 1.245 million square miles across two Canadian provinces and 31 U.S. states including Illinois, the Mississippi River and its tributaries nourish crops, transport goods, provide recreational opportunities and sustain robust fisheries. While the Basin is facing immense challenges like increasingly intense flooding, invasive species and more, TNC is working across the region to convene partners and implement key strategies that increase connectivity, support healthy habitats for wildlife and improve water quality.

Learn more about our work to protect the Mississippi River basin. https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/priority-landscapes/mississippi-river-basin/?en_txn1=s_fbo.reg_mw.x.x

09/23/2026

As the backbone organization for the Thrive Outside Chicago network, The Nature Conservancy works with the Outdoor Foundation to support community organizations that are connecting people and families with the outdoors. Through funding, capacity-building support, network coordination, and amplification, TNC helps strengthen this work year-round.

Thrive Outside Day on October 10 is a national celebration of these efforts and highlights the impact local organizations are having in their communities. In Chicago, we are proud to support Chicago Muslims Green Team, Out Our Front Door, Chicago Adventure Therapy, Chicago BIPOC Birders and Midwest Rock N Routes as they work to connect their communities with nature and the outdoors.

Check out the list of events planned for Thrive Outside Day on October 10 and in the weeks leading up to it at https://outdoorindustry.org/thrive-outside/thrive-outside-day/

📷 Cat Principe/TNC

09/22/2026

It's the first day of fall (aka the autumn equinox!! 🍁

For us, it's the start of the cozy season*, with hoodies, pumpkin spice, and crunchy leaves underfoot. But for wildlife in the Midwest, it's actual crunch time as they FALL into their winter routines. Some are stocking up. Some are slowing down. Some are scouting prime napping locations. (Relatable.) 🍁🎃

*At least it will be once the Midwest's second summer 🥵 ends.

09/19/2026

Happy National Mushroom Month! 🍄 Mushrooms play an incredibly important role in Midwest habitats and ecosystems, from breaking down organic matter to helping trees and other plants share nutrients and information underground. Many of these fascinating fungi can be found at TNC preserves, so keep an eye out on your next visit!

Swipe through the images above for some fun fungi facts—and tell us your favorite mushroom fact or share a fungi photo in the comments below! 🍄‍🟫📸

09/18/2026

Don't miss The Nature Conservancy’s Nachusa Grasslands Fall Festival! Tomorrow, September 19, come out to Franklin Grove, Illinois, and experience a fun day on 4,000 acres of restored tallgrass prairie with something for all ages.

Activities include guided hikes, riding tours to try to spot the buffalo herd, a discovery tent to learn about the plants and animals found at the preserve and more. The event is free to attend and parking is $5.

Nachusa Grasslands is celebrating 40 years of stewardship this year. There’s no better time to explore all that has been achieved than at the Nachusa Grasslands Fall Festival. See you there!

📆 Saturday, September 19, 2026
🕙 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, rain or shine
🚗 $5 per vehicle for parking
📍 Nachusa Grasslands Visitor Center
2075 Lowden Road
Franklin Grove, IL

Please note: The Nachusa Grasslands Fall Festival is a rain or shine event. Tours will continue during light showers. If lightning occurs, all tours will stop and visitors will be directed to their vehicles. If conditions worsen or the forecast changes significantly, the festival may conclude early.

Get all the details at https://nature.ly/4r2jHZ4

09/17/2026

One voice can create a ripple effect downstream—quite literally in the case of the beloved Wabash River watershed. 🚣🏾 The people who live in and around a treasured natural area, like Pete, are often the biggest champions for their protection, which is certainly the case along the Wabash.

Thanks to the passionate partners and communities rooted in the watershed, TNC has been able to conduct extensive research to better understand how to protect it. One critical study conducted in 2010 changed everything, directing TNC to adopt a novel whole-river-systems approach to freshwater conservation.

Over 15 years later, this strategy has resulted in over 150,000 acres of effective floodplain restoration efforts in the Midwest. This fresh approach has helped to protect habitat in the Watershed that countless people and hundreds of rare and endangered species depend on while inspiring more far-reaching projects beyond the region.

Dive deeper into the power of partnerships in the Wabash River watershed. https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/indiana/stories-in-indiana/wabash-river/?en_txn1=s_p.reg_mw.eg.x.S2S.Organic.Social.FY27

09/16/2026

Will you be in New York City next week for ? If so, register to attend The Nature Conservancy’s screening of In My Backyard, our new climate docuseries on Tuesday, September 22, at the IFC Center! https://form.jotform.com/262256355528159

Join series director Tonyisha Harris, TNC in Illinois manager of strategic climate initiatives, to view the first two episodes. You’ll be inspired to see what’s possible when local communities take action on climate solutions!

Rooted in joy and resilience, In My Backyard journeys across the U.S. to showcase individuals from frontline communities engaged in robust and innovative solutions to climate change. Following the screening, join the live panel discussion with cast members Roishetta Sibley Ozane with The Vessel Project, Diamond Spratling with Girl + Environment, Claudia Galeno-Sanchez with Women for Green Spaces, and Jerome Foster II with WAIC Up, moderated by Princella Talley.

The screening is free to attend. Please register ahead of time to secure your seat at https://form.jotform.com/262256355528159

🗓️ September 22, 2026
1:30 to 3:30 Eastern
📍 IFC Center
323 6th Avenue New York, NY, 10014

See you there!

09/15/2026

🐦 Are you looking for a great birding opportunity in the greater Chicagoland area? Join The Nature Conservancy staff at Markham Shkode Prairies on select Fridays and Saturdays from now through November on a guided bird walk at Paintbrush Prairie.

Walks take place at 8:30 a.m. at 3454 W. 155th St. in Markham, Illinois on:
• Almost all Fridays, August to November. (There will be no walk on September 18 or October 16.)
• Every 3rd Saturday

The guided bird walks last about an hour, are easy to moderate and are kid-friendly.

Please RSVP by emailing [email protected] and letting us know which bird walk you plan to attend and the size of your party.

Learn more about Markham Shkode Prairies at https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/markham-shkode-prairies/?en_txn1=s_fbo.reg_mw.x.x

Address

Wrigley Building, 400 North Michigan Avenue, Suite S1100
Chicago, IL
60611

Telephone

+13125802100

Website

https://www.nature.org/illinois

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