Prairie Hills Wetland Reserve (PHWR) Bio Blitz will be a morning event filled with community science opportunities! Join a community effort to observe and identify as many species as possible on the nature preserve Friday, June 5. From 9 AM - Noon there will be staff and volunteers available to explain how a Bio Blitz works and to hand out tools. We recommend you download the app iNaturalist beforehand although paper data collection is also acceptable. People are welcome to participate all day as PHWR and its trails are open to the public from dawn and until dusk.
There will be a bonus Bird Banding Demonstration led by Travis Wilcoxen of Millikin University at 9 AM. Visitors will be able to watch and ask Travis questions. There will also be kids activities and materials provided for families to borrow during the event.
Prairie Hills Wetland Reserve is 550 acres of beauty ranging from wetlands, prairies, and woodlands. There is a parking lot and a picnic table. Located just off the Illinois River Scenic Byway, the address is 22360 US-24, Canton, IL 61520.
“A Bio Blitz is a great way to meet other people interested in nature and explore the diversity that exists in just one place,” says JD Webb, the Program Coordinator at Prairie Land Conservancy. “I hope folks come out to hike the trails, help collect data that will be used by scientists, and just take a moment to slow down and breathe in nature.”
The mission of Prairie Land Conservancy is to protect wildlife habitat, open spaces, natural areas, and sustainable agriculture within west Central Illinois.
PLC is a Land Trust Alliance accredited conservation land trust and a division of Prairie Hills Resource Conservation and Development. With over 2,400 acres of land in our care, we work every day to protect, restore, and enhance woodlands, prairies, and wetlands for future generations to enjoy.
