Peoria Audubon Society is a local affiliate of both:
National Audubon Society & Illinois Audubon Society
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State of the Birds 2010 Report on Climate Change
Clck to download full report (PDF) In this 2010 State of the Birds report, we consider one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time, climate change. How will the impacts of climate change influence our bird populations and their habitats? Accelerated climate change as a result of human activities is altering the natural world as we know it, diminishing the quality of our environment. This report calls attention to the collective efforts needed to protect nature’s resources for the benefit of people and wildlife. |
Stay Current ...
Need to find out the latest on national issues? National Audubon's Issues and Action site is the answer! For a biweekly update on national environmental issues, there's Audubon Advisory. With each issue, you learn where Audubon stands and how to voice your opinion. Subscribe online today.
For periodic updates on state environmental issues, consider joining the Illinois Sierra Club Activist Network. It provides breaking news on state-wide environmental issues via email. Subscribe online today.
Another good source of information on state issues is the Bird Conservation Network. Primarily active in the Chicago area and surrounding counties, this site's associated email discussion list has kept abreast of issues such as the proposed Open Lands funding cuts in the FY2005 state budget. The site contains information on joining the email list as well as an archive.
Conservation News
Green Edge Development Proposed in Peoria
Craig Hullinger, Economic Development Director for City of Peoria, came to the December Peoria Audubon Board Meeting to discuss potential economic developments in Peoria along the Illinois River. The discussion was to initiate a two-way dialog regarding the environmental impact of the proposed developments.
One of the plans, The Green Edge Plan, would connect Water Street with Grand View Drive with green space along the Illinois River. The contiguous riverbank location is presently owned by several land owners. This includes the City of Peoria, the Peoria Park District, and 5 or 6 commercial entities.
Two of the owners, the City of Peoria and Peoria Park District account for about half the proposed area. The Green Edge plan may include construction of an island or islands along the west bank of the river. The vision is to have walk ways going out to the islands such that the population would be in closer contact with nature.
The plan also calls for construction of several “condominium-style” units on the west edge of the green edge. A road would separate the “condos” from the green edge. Most of the existing bike path would remain intact. The “condos” would be adjacent to the low volume existing railway.
The vision for the “green edge road” would be to extend the south end of Grand View Drive on to downtown Peoria. The vision would be to provide a connection of the “River City” with the river.
Several Peoria Audubon Board members met a second time with the Peoria Planning Commission in January to provide more detailed discussion on the Green Edge Plan. Jason Beverlin, Conservation Chair of Peoria Audubon Society drafted a response. Then, Pete Fenner on behalf of the the Peoria Audubon Society Board submitted the following response (PDF) to the Peoria Planning Commission
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March 14, 2008
Peoria Planning Commission City of Peoria 456 Fulton St., Ste. 402 Peoria, IL 61602
To the Chairman and Members of the Peoria Planning Commission: RE: Green Edge Plan
The Peoria Audubon Society Board would like to thank you for providing us with the opportunity to review and comment on the Green Edge Plan located on Peoria Riverfront. Peoria Audubon Society is encouraged by the enthusiasm the City is showing for an important resource like the Illinois River.
We believe the pursuit of a public access trail along the river’s edge will improve quality of life for Peoria residents and supports conservation and nature based tourism. With the designation of the Illinois River Road National Scenic Byway, we feel that providing for public access to the river’s edge demonstrates the value this community places on the Illinois River.
We do have concerns with other portions of the Green Edge Plan. Our understanding is that a portion of publicly owned property would be used for the development of private condominium residences. Trading riverfront public ground for private benefit is a lot to ask of a community. It was mentioned that additional ground would be acquired as a result of the private development, but we have not been made aware of where that acquisition might take place and what size it would be. More information is needed on what the public will get in return for losing public space.
We do see some potential conservation benefits with islands in general, however more information is needed on the design and location before their conservation value can be fully understood. We do not believe that the proposed islands are an adequate trade for the lost public ground.
Again, thank you for providing the Peoria Audubon Society Board with the opportunity to review the Green Edge Plan.
Sincerely,
Pete Fenner, President Peoria Audubon Board Peoria Audubon Society 677 East High Point Terrace Peoria, IL 61614 |
New Bluebird Trail at Springdale Cemetery
Springdale Cemetery established a bluebird trail, courtesy of volunteers from Peoria Audubon Society and Peoria Wilds. On March 17, 2007, Peoria Wilds volunteers performed a controlled burn and then installed three bluebird nest boxes near the Springdale savanna.
On March 24, 2007, volunteers from Peoria Audubon installed another six bluebird boxes around the Springdale cemetery property. Paula Ferguson and others from Peoria Audubon monitor the nest boxes on a weekly basis to check the nests, and help the bluebird broods succeed. More...
Thanks for your help!
The Savanna at Springdale Cemetery in Peoria is a native remnant of the tallgrass oak savanna that once covered Illinois River bluffs prior to European settlement - and the only such remnant located within the city of Peoria. In 2006, the Peoria Audubon Board was informed that Springdale Cemetery Management Authority had considered converting the savanna to burial plots.
The Peoria Audubon Board went on record to the Cemetery Authority asking that the savanna be maintained in its natural state rather than converting it to burial plots. Thanks to your help, the natural state was preserved. More...
Deer at Springdale Cemetery Savanna
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The Peoria Wilds a local not-for-profit grass roots organization spent countless hours restoring the tallgrass oak savanna to it's historic, pre settlement condition. "This natural area is a rare remnant of 10,000-year-old tallgrass oak savanna, the ecological community that dominated the Illinois River bluffs prior to European settlement. Tall prairie grasses, such as Big Bluestem and Indian grass, oak trees, and wildflowers were common in this community." |
$11,000 Bird Habitat Project Completed in 2006
Peoria Audubon improved 10 acres of habitat for savanna birds such as Eastern Towhees, Field Sparrows and Eastern Wood Pewees at Oak Bluff Savanna over the last two years (2005-06). The work was financed entirely by a $5500 grant from the Midwest Forester's Partnership and volunteer matching work by Maury Brucker and Emiko Yang on their property near Henry, Illinois.... More
Enjoy the Results ...
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Plum Island, adjacent to Starved Rock State Park, purchased as a wildlife sanctuary by the Illinois Audubon Society.
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Cooper Park Wetlands, on the East Peoria waterfront, dedicated as a Land and Water Reserve.
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Singing Woods, north of Peoria, dedicated an Illinois State Nature Preserve.
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Fondulac Seep, along the East Peoria bluffs, purchased by the Fondulac Park District.
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Duck Island, south of Banner, purchased by the State of Illinois.
