“Weigh in on Conservation District Master Plan”
May 17, 2018 | Herald & Review
“Decatur – The Macon County Conservation District is crafting a master plan to guide its next decade, and officials want the community’s help. Residents can take part either by attending a meeting from 6 to 7 p.m. May 23 at the Decatur Civic Center or by taking an online survey at PlanMaconCountyConservation.org. The survey will be available from Friday, May 18 to June 15 . . .”
“No iPads Here: 1880s-Style Harvest Fun Comes to Rock Springs”
October 29, 2017 | Herald & Review
“Decatur – Mary Morrow was on a roll with pumpkin rolling Sunday afternoon at the Rock Springs Conservation Area’s Fall Harvest Festival. Competing against several other kids on a downhill slope outside the Nature Center building, Mary stood out before the race got going because she was dressed in period 1880s clothing . . .”
“Healthy Burn for Prairie”
September 28, 2017 | Herald & Review
“Decatur – Prairie used to cover most of Illinois. Fires occurred routinely and naturally, which rejuvenated the prairie grasses and maintained their health, said Richie Wolf, Rock Springs Nature Center manager. The Macon County Conservation District has used prescribed burns since 1978 to restore conservation areas for several reasons . . .”
“Macon County Conservation District Worker Signs Off After 4 Decades”
September 8, 2017 | Herald & Review
“Decatur – In 1976, Jeff Tish was hired by the Macon County Conservation District to operate a tractor at what was then known as Friends Creek Regional Park. Looking back on that day, the life-long nature lover from Decatur considers it as something that he ‘could have only dreamed of’ . . .”
“Friends Creek Area Expanding”
July 14, 2017 | Herald & Review
“Cisco – Those who enjoy Friends Creek Conservation Area now have more to love. Thanks to a $368,280 grant from the private Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, the Macon County Conservation District was able to purchase the farm directly north of Friends Creek and will be returning the land to its natural state – savanna and prairie – during the next two years . . .”
“Tires, Trash Provide Eco-Education on Sangamon River”
April 24, 2016 | Herald & Review
“Decatur – Dave Steele and his family made a game out of Saturday’s Sangamon River cleanup. The group made note of every candy wrapper that they found during the hour-long cleanup, and it did not take long to make their bag of garbage look like a used vending machine . . .”
“Conservation District Celebrates 50 Years: Rock Springs Exhibit Notes People, History”
January 24, 2016 | Herald & Review
“Decatur – The Macon County Conservation District didn’t exactly evolve like planned, but 50 years in, it’s hard to argue with the results. The original idea was to develop the Oakley Reservoir into a conservation area . . .'”
“Perfect Fit: Lifelong Friends Spend Careers with Conservation District”
January 14, 2016 | Herald & Review
“Decatur – Steve Drew has known Alan Roberson so long, they used to play marbles together. From the mid-1960s, when they went to Pugh School together along with Roberson’s older brother, Terry, to the mid-1970s, when they both began working for the Macon County Conservation District . . .”
Most of us carry on with our days without too much thought or consideration as to what is going on around us. But can you imagine what life would be like without your morning coffee? To no longer have the opportunity to smell a fresh flower? Or to never again enjoy the rich taste of pumpkin or the sweet taste of a watermelon?
Whether we acknowledge it or not, pollination, the transfer of pollen from one flower to another, is critical to fruit and seed production and is often provided by pollinators such as bees, beetles, birds, bats and butterflies.
“It is pretty incredible to wrap your head around the idea that nature invented pollination to survive.” Macon County Conservation District Program Services Manager Jeff Tish said. “Their existence is to keep life moving forward.”
Pollinators play a key part in our quality of life and the stability of our ecosystem. Unfortunately, due to habitat loss, disease, environmental changes and excessive and misuse of pesticides the population of pollinators is declining.
American honeybees alone, which pollinate more than 90 commercial crops in the United States, have dropped by more than 30 percent in the last 20 years. The decline is so significant that some scientists believe it is the biggest crisis we face today.
Pollination plays a key part to life on Earth but often goes unseen by the human eye. While the majority of us can appreciate the beauty of nature, many of us have no idea how much a part of it we really are.
Over 75% of the world’s flowering plants depend on pollinators such as bees, hummingbirds, beetles and butterflies to reproduce. These plant species account for one third of our diets in addition to medicine, fabric, even chocolate and coffee.
Many of these plants are crucial to world agriculture. Pollinators increase the quality and quantity of over 90 crops including apples, blueberries and cucumbers by up to 30%. Without the existence of these pollinators fruits and vegetables would become scarce, prohibitively expensive or in some cases even extinct.
“Pollination is remarkable in demonstrating exactly how connected we are to the world around us.” Macon County Conservation District Executive Director Kathy Merner said. “The extinction of pollinators would not just cause the human race to suffer but birds and small mammals who survive on berries and seeds would starve along with the omnivores and carnivores that continue up the food chain.”
“Nothing lasts forever.” Merner said. “We encourage people to stop and notice the wonder of nature, learn about the world around them, create a butterfly garden, start recycling, and support and treasure your natural areas.”
One easy and effective way to protect pollinators in your area is to provide the habitat and nutrition they need to survive in your backyard, school or workplace. Check out these suggestions on how to create a pollinator garden.
Butterflies are attracted to bright flowers, including reds and purples with a wide landing platform. They need water sources, open areas exposed to full sun and moist soil to get needed minerals. incorporate eastern redbud and sumac trees, wild columbine, common and prairie milkweed, tickseed, purple coneflowers, boneset, sunflowers, blazing stars, cardinal flowers, gray-headed coneflowers and aster.
Attracting Birds
Hummingbirds play the primary role of pollination for birds in North America. They enjoy warmer climates and are attracted to bright colored tubular flowers with shades of scarlet, orange, red or white. Trumpet vine or creeper, phlox, evening primrose, horsemint, lupine, Michigan lily,butterfly weed and wild columbine all can attract hummingbirds to your garden.
In general, bees are typically attracted to bright white, yellow or blue colors. They need flowers that are shallow, have a landing platform and are tubular. They are often attracted to fresh, mild and pleasant odors. Try incorporating maple and willow trees, wild roses, blackberry and raspberries, thimbleweed, swamp milkweed, prairie clover, purple coneflowers, gentians, sunflowers, blazing star, cardinal flowers, goldenrod and violets.