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See for Yourself STORY BY BURKE SPEAKER Simplicity. It's not plentiful in today's technology-driven web world. And it's not too easy to find, even when you're searching for it diligently. You certainly won't discover it while fighting traffic, rushing around at work or crammed in front of the computer.
DNR's divisions of Education, Natural More often than not, simplicity is found in the wilds of the animal kingdom rather than the breadth of the human domain. For many, the elusive state of simplicity can be truly obtained only when they can watch an otter bumbling alongside a river, or a pair of white-tailed deer darting through a darkened forest. The Department of Natural Resources has compiled a list of what it believes to be the top 15 wildlife viewing areas for those of you who love all things wild. Each of the northern Illinois destinations selected in this issue is included in DNR's publication, the Illinois Wildlife and Nature Viewing Guide. So relax, grab some binoculars and enjoy some great Illinois wildlife. Just remember to contact the park to avoid arriving on days when the area is closed for designated hunting seasons. After all, simplicity is just a short drive away. Northern Illinois Sites 1. Castle Rock State Park Nestled in the confines of the Rock River Valley 5 miles south of Oregon, Castle Rock State Park has three premiere wildlife viewing
Illinois Beach State Park
locales. The first is a 4-acre wetland near the park's southern end. A platform overlooks the wetland, offering spring through fall viewers the opportunity to see abundant waterfowl, including ducks, geese and heron. White-tailed deer, fox and raccoon also frequent the vicinity year-round, though the ideal time of day to see them is in the early morning or late afternoon. The second area. Castle Rock Scenic Overlook, boasts an observation platform atop a 200-foot sandstone bluff that beckons visitors to a sight of turkey vultures and a variety of hawks soaring high above April through October. The third area for great wildlife viewing is one of the park's hiking trails, appropriately called Wildlife Viewing Trail. Summer evenings, visitors likely can hear the hoot of the great homed owl and the lonely song of the whip-poor-will. Coyote, wild turkey and rabbit also call this area home throughout the year. Site superintendent Grant Afflerbaugh believes the best part of the park is its isolated feel. "The park is more of a natural area, a pristine area," Afflerbaugh said. "There's not a lot of development here, so you can head out on the trails, get more privacy and not be so crowded." Contact the park at (815) 732-7329. 2. Mississippi Palisades State Park "Because of our location along the river and the large tracts of unbroken forest, there's a unique opportunity to view wildlife that's not available elsewhere," said site superintendent John Jachino. From the mighty limestone bluffs of the 2,500-acre Mississipi Palisades, overlooking the majestic Mississippi River, the one creature that rises above the rest is the bald eagle. Though sightings are dependent upon ice cover on the river and weather conditions, bald eagles can be seen perched in the trees or gliding on the air currents from January through March. Beginning in the spring, egrets, heron and turkey vultures are sighted along the river, and in June, one may even catch a glimpse of newborn fawns or young turkeys. The 13-mile trail system stretches through forested ravines that also hide deer, red and gray fox and coyote. Keep an eagle-eyed lookout for these creatures that are seen yearlong, though ideally in the fall and usually in the early mornings or evenings. Wild turkey are especially active during the spring breeding season, so watch and listen for these shy creatures on trail hikes in the morning or early evening. The park lies within a major migratory corridor, so bird lovers can see migratory songbirds in the spring months and migratory waterfowl in the fall. One unusual creature that resides here for about nine months out of the year is the pileated woodpecker, a giant woodpecker that heads south for the winter months. Undoubtably, the beauty of the wildlife matches the beauty of the scenery at this park, located just three miles north of Savanna. Contact the park at (815) 273-2731. 3. Illinois Beach State Park When you first enter this park north of Waukegan, ponds drenched with mallards, egrets and geese foreshadow a grand birding experience. Known for spectacular birdwatching because of its locale along the shores of Lake Michigan, this major flyway sees more than 250 different species of birds during the fall migration period. In fact, fall is the peak time of year for the park's renowned hawk (raptor) migration. Hawk species such as the stoic red-shouldered hawk and regal American kestrel as well as the peregrine falcon follow the shore of Lake Michigan as they
travel from the north to winter in warmer southern regions. Any place in the park is a great viewing area as flocks arrive in the hundreds. Other birds are seen from the spring to fall season, such as the sandhill crane and common loon. "You can even see many of the birds year round," said park naturalist Susan Wright. And this 4,160-acre birders paradise hosts more than just our feathered friends. In winter months coyote, fox, raccoon and white-tailed deer frequent the area during dusk and dawn. While it is more difficult to see the wildlife in the summer because of the thick foliage in the park, watch for turtle, tiger salamander and great horned owl encounters. You'll be pleasantly surprised how much wildlife thrives so close to the Windy City. Contact the park at (847) 662-4811. 4. Volo Bog State Natural Area Just a short drive west from Illinois Beach State Park, Volo Bog abounds with innumerable species. A fine birdwatching area, all types of marsh and puddle duck can be seen in the springtime, including mallard, coot and blue- and green-winged teal. Canada geese, heron, great egrets, hawks, woodpeckers, warblers and bluebirds also are viewed in the spring and summer throughout this nearly 1,000-acre natural area. Make sure to stop at the interpretive center where a full-time interpreter can aid you in wildlife identification. There
are even guided tours of the bog on the weekends for those looking for more in-depth identification aid. In addition to the bog itself, there are about 5 miles of walking trails that take you through various wildlife habitat. An observation blind allows a sneak peek at beaver, mink and muskrat (the latter being ideally viewed on the Volo Bog Interpretive Trail during early mornings throughout the year). And the area has the largest known nursery colony of little brown bats in Illinois, although the location can only be seen on special tours in late July and early August. Every evening, frogs, owls and coyote are heard heralding the night's arrival. "The great diversity of habitat gives way to a great diversity of wildlife," said Volo Bog naturalist Stacy Miller. From beaver to gray tree frogs, it's worth the journey to this premier wildlife destination. Contact the site at (815)334-1294.
5. I&M Canal State Trail Because many bird species migrate through here, this 61-mile hiking and bicycling trail area is a prime smorgasbord for birders. The trail provides opportunities to see egrets, eagles and the occasional osprey. All migratory waterfowl can be spotted from October through January and from March until April. Some birds, such as red-tailed hawks, can be seen year- round. During the spring, summer and fall, turkey vultures, blue herons, bluejays, cardinals, woodpeckers and kingfishers are abundant.
"You'll see quite a bit of waterfowl from the trail between Brandon Road and the town of Morris," said I&M Canal natural resource specialist Jill Jackson. "The whole trail is tree-lined, so it's good viewing for many birds." Take notice of the more common mammals that inhabit northern Illinois on this trail that runs parallel to the Illinois River from Rockdale, southwest of Joliet, to LaSalle/Peru. Beaver, muskrat, raccoon, opossum, fox and deer are found along the trail in the early morning or late evening, year- round. You can catch a glimpse of turkeys and some coyotes throughout the year as well. For reptile lovers, snapping and painted turtles are best sighted from spring to fall. Contact the site at (815)942-0796. 6. Goose Lake Prairie After decades of human expansion, and with 75 percent of its territory now farmland, Illinois no longer boasts the prairie sea that greeted early European settlers. But set foot in Goose Lake Prairie, the largest remnant prairie in the state, and you'll catch a glimpse of what once dominated Illinois. It's home to wildlife, such as the ring-necked pheasant and numerous rabbits, and you'll also find deer grazing along the trails or marsh hawks and turkey vultures soaring through the sky. Seven and one-half miles of trails have been built through the area to allow visitors to experience the prairie and an opportunity to view wildlife. The site also has a visitor center and a full-time interpreter to help identify many of the animals and plants that inhabit the area. Conservation worker Art Rohr noted the site features the kill-deer—a favorite among children. The killdeer is a bird that, when its nest is approached, will feign a broken wing to lure the intruder from the area. Another interesting part of the site is the up and coming Butterfly Barn, a building that will host numerous butterflies, including the fritillary and monarch. While not yet finished, it eventually will be a unique addition to this formidable location. Contact the site at (815) 942-2899. Next month, part two of the top 15 wildlife viewing sites will profile the southern half of Illinois.
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