05/29/2026
In honor of American Wetlands Month, we’re celebrating a conservation success story unfolding right here in Naperville’s Atwater community!
This spring, residents have been delighted to spot a pair of Sandhill Cranes and their two baby colts exploring the neighborhood’s prairies and wetlands. What was once a golf course is now thriving habitat where people and wildlife live side by side — thanks in part to ongoing ecological management through The Conservation Foundation’s Natural Areas Assurance Program.
Neighbors have shared sightings, photos, videos, and even poems inspired by these “other than human neighbors.” It’s a beautiful reminder of how protecting wetlands and natural areas benefits both wildlife and our communities.