Illinois
Department of Natural Resources
PRAIRIE
RIDGE STATE NATURAL AREA
4295 North 1000th Street
Newton, IL 62448
618-783-2685
E-mail: scott.simpson@illinois.gov
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PRAIRIE
RIDGE STATE NATURAL AREA
Prairie Ridge State Natural Area is one of the best sites in Illinois for observing rare species of grassland wildlife. Whether your interests are bird watching, nature study, photography, or simply enjoying the prairie vistas, Prairie Ridge SNA is a great place to visit.
The core site for the Prairie Ridge State Natural Area (PRSNA) was acquired in the early 1960's following the drastic decline of the greater prairie-chicken due to habitat loss. This 4101 acre state natural area provides grassland and wetland habitat for 36 species of special concern, including 16 state endangered, eight state threatened, five watch list, and six area sensitive species. It is the only large grassland habitat complex in the entire Southern Till Plain Natural Division of Illinois.
Prairie Ridge
is unique in that, while the Illinois Department of Natural Resources
(IDNR) manages the entire 3,500 
acres,
nearly 200 acres remains under ownership of the Illinois
Audubon Society and has been developed as grassland/wetland habitat
and an environmental education area. About 200 acres owned by AmerenCIPS
adjacent to nearby Newton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area have been
placed by the company under management of IDNR. Of the land IDNR owns,
567 acres are dedicated nature preserves and 2814 acres are registered
as land and water reserves.
Management
of this area includes the development of grassland plant communities of
introduced grasses and native prairie species. Wetland communities have
been constructed to provide habitat for 15 state threatened and endangered
wetland dependent species. The site contains a mosaic of habitat types
including cool season grasses, restored native grasses, wetlands, native
remnant prairies, habitats prepared by annual discing for brood-rearing
of prairie-chickens and other birds, woodlands/old 
fields,
cropland being converted into grassland, and miscellaneous areas such
as buildings sites and waterways.
Prairie
Ridge has the distinction of having the state's largest breeding population
of northern harriers, short-eared owls as well as the only population
of greater prairie-chickens - all of which are state endangered grassland
birds.
Swallowtail on Liatus
Short
Eared Owl Barn
Owl
In
1995, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service identified 17
birds dependent on grasslands or wetlands associated with grasslands
in a region that includes Illinois and seven other Midwestern states
as species of special management concern. This status is due to:
1) documented or apparent population declines; 2) small or restricted
populations, and/or 3) dependence on restricted or venerable habitats.
Fifteen of those 17 species occur at Prairie Ridge and 12 are known
to breed at this site, giving regional importance to this grassland
habitat complex. (see below)
Status
a
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service species of Special Management
Concern in the Midwest, 1995;
b
Population trends estimated form Breeding Bird Survey
data and surveys for endangered species.
* Not considered because non-migratory.
| Species | USFWSa | Illinois | Estimated Population Trend in Illinois, 1967-1997b |
| Northern Harrier |
SMC |
Endangered |
too rare |
| Greater Prairie Chicken | 0 | Endangered | -80% |
| Upland Sandpiper | SMC | Endangered | -20% |
| Short-eared Owl | SMC | Endangered | too rare |
| Loggerhead Shrike | SMC | -90% | |
| Dickcissel | SMC | -70% | |
| Field Sparrow | SMC | -65% | |
| Grasshopper Sparrow | SMC | -85% | |
| Henslow’s Sparrow | SMC | Endangered | too rare |
| Eastern Meadowlark | SMC | -65% |
The main objective at Prairie Ridge is development of a grassland ecosystem capable of maintaining viable populations of grassland species, including permanent resident and migratory species, with emphasis on threatened and endangered species. Secondary goals includes the development of a prairie preserve characteristic of the presettlement flora of the Southern Till Plain Natural Division of Illinois and providing opportunities for ecological research, education and wildlife viewing.
In all of
modern America, there is no more lost, plaintive, old-time sound than
the booming of a native prairie-chicken, wrote John Madson in his tribute
to tallgrass prairie, Where the Sky Began. "Booming"
is the sound male prairie-chickens produce during their communal courtship
display on a lek or booming ground. The males inflate their orange air
sacs (tympani), erect their black neck feathers (pinnae),
stomp their feet and emit the three noted booming sound, 'who-OOM-oom.'
The sound has been likened to blowing over the mouth of an empty jug and
can be heard up to a mile away. This annual ritual was nearly eliminated
from the Prairie State.
The gray prairie soils of Southeastern Illinois were poorly
drained, acidic and low in productivity. The chief crop was
redtop grass which was grown principally for seed. By the
early 1900's, redtop seed was an important money crop in southeastern
Illinois, an area which maintained the title "Redtop
Capitol of the World"until after WWII. In 1934 about
85% of the world production and 95% of the U.S production
of redtop grass seed were grown in southeastern Illinois.
Redtop grown for seed production provided nesting cover for
prairie-chickens and was responsible for maintaining prairie-chicken
populations in this region of the state. After WWII, redtop
farming was being phased out in favor of grain farming, due
to the use of agriculture limestones and fertilizers. Yet,
various federal farm programs continued to provide critical
nest cover in the 1960's. A census of prairie-chicken flocks
in a 20-county area in southern Illinois in 1962 revealed
179 flocks containing approximately 2000 birds. A survey of
prairie-chickens by the Illinois Department of Conservation
in 1959 and 1962 led to the selection of the management areas
in Jasper and Marion counties. In response to the drastic decline of the prairie-chickens due
to the loss of grasslands, the Prairie-Chicken Foundation
of Illinois was organized in 1959 with the single purpose
of preserving the prairie-chicken in Illinois. In 1961 the
first sanctuary of 77 acres was acquired in Jasper County.
Between 1961 and 2003 in Jasper County, 12 tracts totaling
2346 acres were developed as grasslands in Jasper County,
mostly by private groups and individuals working in cooperation
with the Prairie-Chicken Foundation of Illinois, The Illinois
Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy, the Illinois Natural
History Survey, the IDNR and AmerenCIPS. In Marion County,
seven tracts totaling 1207.5 acres were purchased between
1967 and 2001 for prairie-chicken management. These grasslands
currently support the last remaining Illinois prairie-chicken
populations. Several wetlands have been developed
to attract species requiring open prairie marshes. King rails,
least bitterns and American bitterns have been documented
to nest near these wetlands. Yellow rails are seen each year
during migration. Many species of waterfowl use these wetlands
during migration while mallards and blue wing teal nest here.
On spring evenings, the calls of amphibians resonate from
the marshes, including the unique call of Northern crayfish
frogs. Numerous prairie insects occur
on tracts with native prairie vegetation. Of these prairie
insects, there are several which have rare or restricted occurrence
in Illinois. The most notable is the prairie cicada, which
is perhaps the rarest large insect in Illinois. Another interesting
find was made in 1995, when researchers discovered a previously
undescribed species of leaf hopper. Visitors may encounter various mammals
such as cottontail rabbits, coyotes, deer, mink and muskrats. Large wintering
concentrations of raptors are common at this site due to high densities
of small mammals such as southern bog lemmings, prairie and meadow Government
Land Office Survey notes of 1820 indicate that 87% of the
site that is now Prairie Ridge was dominated by prairie, with
the balance in forest. Following European settlement of Jasper
and Marion counties, these prairie areas were converted to
agriculture. The Walters’ Prairie (Jasper County) was
cropped until the mid 1950's and since that time has remained
fallow, allowing for colonization by native prairie species.
About 178 native plant species have recolonized these former
crop fields. The Soldner tract (Marion County) also has a
five-acre prairie remnant with many native prairie plants.
Lead plant, compass plant, blazing stars and a few species
of orchids can be found growing on these prairies. Throughout
Prairie Ridge1000 acres have been restored to native prairie
vegetation. Also, Twelve-Mile Prairie, a
railroad remnant prairie which boasts 472 species of native
plants, is adjacent to the Marion County area. The remainder
of the grasslands on this site were seeded into cool season
grasses such as redtop, timothy and brome to mimic the redtop
seed production era which maintained the prairie-chicken for
many years. The Prairie Chicken Foundation
of Illinois (PCFI) was organized in 1959 by the Department
of Conservation, Illinois Natural History Survey, Illinois
Audubon Society, Izaak Walton League, Federation of Sportsman’s
Clubs and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) with a single purpose:
preserving the prairie chicken in Illinois. The PCFI purchased
five tracts totaling 297 acres between 1962 and 1967 in Jasper
County. In 1965 the Illinois Chapter - The Nature Conservancy
formed a special Prairie Grouse Committee (PGC) to raise additional
funds for land acquisition for prairie chickens. The PCFI
was disbanded in 1973 and it’s assets were transferred
to the PGC. The Illinois Chapter of the Nature Conservancy
was active for many years at Prairie Ridge State Natural Area
serving to pre-acquire land for the Department of Natural
Resources. TNC maintained ownership on nearly 1200 acres until
2000 when their land holdings were sold to the Department
of Natural Resources. TNC now lists Prairie Ridge as a Priority
Site for their Eco-Regional Planning Process. Since 1999,
the Illinois Audubon Society (IAS) has become very active
at Prairie Ridge State Natural Area and has purchased nearly
700 acres, of which 160 acres remains under their ownership.
The IAS in cooperation with IDNR , developed their land holdings
as additional grassland/wetland habitat and also developed
an environmental educational area. The IAS remains active
at Prairie Ridge to assist with acquiring additional habitat
for grassland wildlife and securing grants for numerous management
and educational projects. The Illinois Natural History Survey,
Illinois Nature Preservers Commission and Illinois Endangered
Species Board remain active in providing management recommendations
at Prairie Ridge. Most recently these agencies in cooperation
with IDNR have developed a Plan for the Recovery of the Prairie
Chicken in Illinois. The Jasper and Marion County Soil and
Water Conservation Districts have been actively pursuing Conservation
2000 grants to provide additional grassland habitat on private
land through Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Incentive
Payments. Eastern Illinois University and the University of
Illinois have been involved in numerous wildlife research
projects at Prairie Ridge. Prairie Ridge State Natural Area
is a unique site in Illinois, dedicated to conserving the
rarest members of Illinois’ native tallgrass prairie
and marsh communities. It offers one of the most spectacular
viewing opportunities for grassland wildlife in Illinois.
The number of endangered species found at PRSNA is very high,
and great care is taken to ensure the continued protection
and presence of these species. As a result access to the interior
portions of this site is restricted and wildlife viewing is
limited to roadsides. Roadside viewing is often excellent
for prairie-chickens, loggerhead shrikes, northern harriers,
short-eared owls and dickcissels. A wildlife viewing guide
and check list of birds are available upon request. By arrangement,
groups and individuals can be given a tour of the site by
site staff. The Illinois Audubon Society’s environmental
educational area, known as the Robert Ridgway Grassland Nature
Preserve, is open on an daily basis for wildlife viewing and
hiking. This area has been restored to prairie and has a self
guided interpretive trail and a wildlife viewing platform
over looking a wetland surrounded by native prairie plants. The acquisition and establishment
of Prairie Ridge State Natural Area were due to successful
cooperation between private, governmental and commercial groups
working together to protect a unique natural resource. Scientific
and educational use of the area is allowed by permit, issued
by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Hunting,
trapping and fishing are not allowed at this site. For more
information about the area, contact Site Manager, Prairie
Ridge State Natural Area, 4295 North 1000th Street,
Newton, IL 62448 (618) 783-2685 or the Illinois Audubon Society,
P.O. Box 2547, Springfield, IL 62708 (217) 544-2473 or www.illinoisaudubon.org Office Driving east from Effingham or
west from Newton on State Highway 33 turn south on Bogota
Road (990 N 900E) and go 4 miles to first curve in road. Go
straight off curve to crossroads (600N 900E), turn left (east)
for 1 mile or first crossroad (600N 1000E) then turn right
(south) and go 1 3/4 miles to white house with wire fence. From State Highway 130: Turn
west at St. Marie road (600N 1390E) and go 4 miles to (600N
1000E) and turn south (left) and go 1 3/4 miles to white house
with wire fence. Robert
Ridgway Grasslands Nature Preserve From Prairie Ridge's Office continue
south to first crossroads (400N 1000E) and turn left (east)
and travel 0.6 miles to parking lot.
The
greater prairie-chicken, a grouse native to Illinois, was listed as common
to abundant prior to European settlement. Prairie-chickens occurred on the
21 million acres of native prairie that existed in Illinois; about 60 percent
of the state's total area. Peak prairie- chicken numbers of 10 - 14 million
birds probably occurred from about 1850 - 1860 at the time when there was
a patchwork of prairies interspersed with grain fields, creating optimum
habitat for prairie-chickens. By 1900, only about 1 million acres of the
original prairie and marsh remained in Illinois. Prairie-chickens still
existed in 92 counties by 1912. The prairie-chicken hunting season was permanently
closed in 1933 when there was an estimated state-wide population of 25,000
birds. Agriculture intensified and by 1940 the range of the prairie-chicken
was limited to 50 square miles of sand prairie along the Green River in
Lee County, about 2600 square miles of “gray prairie” (so-called
for the lighter soils than the “black prairie” of northern and
central Illinois) in southeastern Illinois, and a few poorly drained areas
of the Kankakee drainage. At this time, the need for publicly owned refuges
was stressed and two were purchased; the Green River Conservation Area in
1939 and the Iroquois County Conservation Area in 1944. Unfortunately, prairie-chickens
disappeared form both areas by 1960.
Wildlife
Prairie
Ridge State Natural Area not only prevented the extinction of the prairie-chicken
in Illinois but also provides critical grassland habitat for 15 other
state endangered and eight threatened grassland species. Nine threatened
or endangered bird species are know to breed at Prairie Ridge. Northern
harriers, short-eared owls, upland sandpipers, Henslow’s sparrows,
loggerhead shrikes are some of the rare birds regularly found at this
site. Barn owls have been found to nest here occasionally. Prairie Ridge
hosts a diversity and abundance of other grassland birds such as dickcissels,
eastern meadowlark, grasshopper sparrows, savannah sparrows and Bell’s
vireos. About 250 bird species have been recorded at Prairie Ridge.
voles,
and deer mice.Vegetation
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