Marion County Prairie Chicken Sanctuary Nature Preserve

Marion County

Location and Access:

From Highway 37 in Kinmundy turn south on a county road and go 2 miles. The preserve is on the east side of the road.

Special Note: Entrance to this preserve is by permission only to minimize disturbance to the prairie chicken population.

Description:

The greater prairie chicken was once a very abundant bird in Illinois, but only two populations remain in the state. Unfortunately the Marion County population has been declining for the last four or five years.

This site is a mixture of native warm season and cool season grasses. In addition to providing favorable habitat for prairie chickens, upland sandpiper, grasshopper sparrow, dickcissel and northern harriers also nest at the preserve. Prescribed burning is used to maintain the grass communities. Management practices are being implemented to increase the population of grassland birds.

Ownership: Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Dedicated: February 1972

Size: 160 acres

Topo Map: Omega 7.5

For Further Information Contact: Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Biologist, Prairie Ridge State Natural Area, 4295 North 1000th Street, Newton, IL 62448, (618/782/2685)

1/2009 - R. Heidorn