Please join us in celebrating Nachusa Grasslands "Autumn on the Prairie" September 18, 2010, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. We will have almost all our raptor ambassadors there, and 2 falconers will have their birds there as well. Hope to see you there!! Candy and Steve

The preserve is located 3 miles northwest of Franklin Grove, on Lowden Road. Extra directional signs will be posted. Franklin Grove is two hours west of Chicago, and is celebrating that same day with three historical attractions nearby. To contact the preserve call 815-456-2340 or visit the TNC web site at www.nature.org/illinois or nachusagrasslands.org

The Nature Conservancy – Nachusa Grasslands,
8772 S. Lowden Road, Franklin Grove, Illinois 61031

Come on out to Bird Fest at Colored Sands Bird Banding Station this weekend! We will be there all day Saturday with most of our "live" education raptor ambassadors, taxidermy specimens, as well as some other cool stuff. Fun day for the entire family.

We have 3 new education ambassadors - a Barn Owl, a Merlin Falcon, and a tiny little owl called a Northern Saw-whet Owl!! Keep watching our website for pictures, etc., about our newest arrivals.

"Marshall" Featured in Guide Book!!

CHECK THIS OUT!! Our education ambassador, Marshall, a male Northern Harrier, is featured in a book by Stan Tekiela. Stan is a naturalist, wildlife photographer, and author of numerous field guides. He photographed Marshall last summer, with the purpose of featuring him in his 'just released' field guide, titled "Birds of Prey of the Midwest." The guide can be purchased from Stan's website, stantekiela.com.

Join us at Rock Valley Garden Center this Saturday, February 20 at 2 p.m. for a "live" bird of prey presentation. Rock Valley Gardens is located just north of East State Street in Rockford at 785 North Bell School. Rock Valley Garden Center's phone number is 815-398-1937. Hope to see you there!!

Great Horned Owl Released!

Abathea, our education Great Horned Owl, was released in November 2009! She was an ambassador for Northern Illinois Raptor Rehab & Education for 2 years. She consistently showed signs of being releasable. We had another wildlife rehab center in Chicago reassess her, and it was their opinion as well that she was releasable.