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Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation

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Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation

Preserving and stewarding land and water for the lasting well-being of all people and wildlife.

06/05/2026

Will sightings of the Rusty-patched Bumblebee in Jo Daviess County be up again as they were in 2025? That is the question our volunteer group of monitors will answer following their bumblebee surveys this year at JDCF's Wapello and Mąą Pįį Preserves.

The group has been conducting surveys since 2020 with mixed results but 2025 proved to be a banner year for the Rusty-patched, which has been placed on the Federal Endangered Species List. A 2025 survey re-cap, bumblebee ID info, and ways you can help local bee populations can be found here: https://jdcf.org/rusty-patched-bumblebee-sightings-up-in-jo-daviess-county/

Our stewardship staff, alongside volunteers and researchers, have been conducting a wide variety of wildlife surveys on JDCF preserves over the past year - from grassland birds at Big Sky to wild turkeys at Mąą Pįį. Stay tuned as we tally the results! All photos (c) JDCF.

05/28/2026

To remain steadfast in our mission over the next 3-5 years, JDCF has launched the Inspiring You to Preserve Our Future campaign to ensure we meet our coming funding needs for…

Education & Outreach: No Child Left Inside
Land Protection: Clean Water & Healthy Landscapes
Land Stewardship: Caring for Our Resources
Operational Support: Attracting the Best Talent

We have already seen a significant impact on our work through new staff dedicated to stewardship, land protection, and education. We have also established the Nancy Hamill Winter Endowment For Our Future which will provide a permanent, stable source of income that is not reliant on the economy or government funding.

We invite you to bring your family, friends, and neighbors to Big Sky this Saturday so that they can learn more about JDCF's mission and programs during a one-hour gathering. Bird experts Tom Clay and Roberta Asher will speak on the importance of bird conservation and JDCF's critical role in providing natural areas for people and wildlife. And although his official start date is not until June 22 Nathan Aaberg, our new CEO, will be offering a few words as well. There will also be time to explore the many miles of trails at the reserve and do some birding yourself! We hope to see you there.

05/26/2026

Are you someone who enjoys hiking through miles of grasslands, prairies, and woodlands teeming with rare and wonderous bird species? Then JDCF's Big Sky Nature Reserve, one of the most beautiful places in Jo Daviess County, is for you!

Join us for an open house/fundraiser on Saturday, May 30th from 10-11:00 am to learn more about Big Sky from birding experts, meet JDCF's new CEO/President, Nathan Aaberg, and wish current Executive Director, Steve Barg, well as he enters retirement.

You will also have an opportunity to join JDCF's community of supporters and volunteers by donating to our 'Inspiring You to Preserve Our Future' fundraising campaign. You will learn why doing so is a decision that will benefit people, nature, and wildlife in our region for years to come.

The 900-acre Big Sky Nature Reserve is located at 5557 S Massbach Rd, Stockton, IL. Look for the JDCF event signs along the roadway. All photos Barbara Baird/JDCF.

05/20/2026

Join us on May 30 and let us inspire you to join JDCF's amazing conservation-minded community of over 1,000 supporters. You will:

*Visit one of the most beautiful places in Jo Daviess County you've never been to.

*Hear bird experts Tom Clay & Roberta Asher speak about the rare and wondrous birds found at the 900-acre Big Sky.

*Meet JDCF’s new CEO/President Nathan Aaberg and thank current executive, Steve Barg, as he heads into retirement.

*Learn more about our conservation work, education programs, and ongoing priorities.

We hope to see you there!

05/19/2026

The Stewards of the Upper Mississippi River Refuge, NW River Valleys Group of the IL Sierra Club, Wild Ones Tri-State Driftless Area, Northwest Illinois Bird and Nature Alliance, Dubuque Audubon, and Friends of Brickhouse Slough are teaming up to offer this behind the gates tour of Lost Mound. Space is limited. Please email [email protected] to sign up!

05/15/2026

Horseshoe Mound Preserve is now open daily dawn to dusk and free of charge. Located at 1679 N Blackjack Rd, Galena IL, the preserve boasts incredible views of the tri-state area from three different vantage points. Head on up and share the view today! If you enjoy your visit, please consider using the QR code in the welcome kiosk to make a donation in support of the site. As a nonprofit, JDCF receives zero local tax dollars for the purchase and long-term care of our properties.

05/13/2026

Breaking news! JDCF welcomes Nathan Aaberg as our new CEO/President.

“We are thrilled to share that Nathan Aaberg has been selected as the new CEO/President of the Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation following a comprehensive six-month executive search. Nathan will officially assume his role on June 22, succeeding our current executive director, Steve Barg, who is retiring after 13 years of dedicated service,” says JDCF board chair, Alan Wenzel. “Nathan will bring a passion for nature, his ability to build partnerships among diverse groups to accomplish strategic goals, and his background in promoting conservation-friendly agriculture to his work at JDCF. We are looking forward to Nathan's leadership in continuing the growth of JDCF's education and outreach efforts and expanding our cooperative relationships with conservation minded partners within our region.”

For more information about Nathan, visit https://jdcf.org/news/.

The public will have opportunities to meet Nathan and wish Steve well in retirement at one of two open houses JDCF is hosting in the coming weeks. Stay tuned.

05/12/2026

JDCF gives thanks to each and every one of our amazing volunteers who helped us celebrate World Migratory Bird Day last Friday! The day started with a guided bird walk on the Galena River Trail followed by tabling a booth at the Galena High School where over 150 students were introduced to the world of birding. Now is a great time of year to grab your binoculars and go birding on a JDCF preserve or in your own backyard! (photos (c) Maureen Bardusk/JDCF)

05/06/2026

Spring has sprung at the Casper Bluff Nature Reserve located at 870 S Pilot K**b Rd, Galena, IL. The prairie is alive with spring ephemerals including a sea of eastern shooting stars in a recent prairie restoration next to the entrance lane. Be sure to visit before they are gone! If you enjoy your experience at Casper Bluff, please consider using the QR code at the welcome kiosk to make a donation to support the preserve. As a nonprofit, JDCF receives no local tax dollars for the purchase, restoration, or ongoing care of our properties.

04/28/2026

Spring has sprung on JDCF's preserves with the blooming of spring ephemerals, the return of song birds and waterfowl, and the emergence of bumblebees and other pollinators. Unfortunately, ticks are also active this time of year, lying in wait for a human or animal host to feed on. The American Hiking Society lists a few, easy steps to prevent tick-borne illness including wearing light colored long-sleeve shirts and long pants, tucking your pants into your socks, staying towards the middle of the trail, and using a permethrin product on your skin and clothes. For tick ID info and more useful anti-tick tips, visit https://americanhiking.org/ticks/.

Address

126 N Main Street PO Box 216
Elizabeth, IL
61028

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+18158589100

Website

http://www.jdcf.org/

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