Agencies
Services
Nature Preserve Area
8
County
Marion
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
Topographic Quad
Omega
Topo Map
For Further Information
Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Biologist, Prairie Ridge State Natural Area, 4295 North 1000th Street, Newton, IL 62448, (618/782/2685)