Middle Rock Conservation Partners

05/02/2026

The Illinois Audubon Society’s official Spring Bird Count date is May 9, 2026.

Home Spring Bird Count **2026 SPRING BIRD COUNT: MAY 9** The Spring Bird Count (SBC) is an annual bird count conducted by volunteers on the Saturday between May 4 and May 10. The censuses are conducted in all 102 counties in Illinois; however, in any given year, a few counties are not censused. Each...

02/12/2026

Today, we conducted a prescribed burn at a 14 acre sedge meadow at Gremel Wildlife Sanctuary southeast of Amboy. Illinois Audubon Society’s Director of Land Stewardship, Jamie Arntzen, led the burn with volunteers from I.A.S., Middle Rock Conservation Partners and Nachusa Grasslands. The sedge meadow burned very well. Regular fires will help suppress weeds in this area that has also had a lot of willow removal done over the last couple years. We’re excited to see how this unit develops this spring!

11/17/2025

Last week, M.R.C.P. volunteers conducted a prescribed burn at the David O. & Helen M. Wiegel Memorial Tallgrass Prairie in northwest Lee County. This 12 acre site, often called “Mound Hill”, is owned and managed by the Lee County Natural Area Guardians (LeeN.A.G.). It is the second highest point in Lee County and can be seen from quite a ways off as one approaches. There is remnant prairie on the hill but the flatter, lower areas were once plowed and are being reseeded with seed harvested from above. The regular application of fire will help reestablish the prairie plants and push back on invasive species. At present, no public access is allowed .