Friends of Nachusa Grasslands
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​​Stop 7 — Wetland Stop

During the great seasonal migrations of the long ago, Illinois wetlands served as “stopovers” where millions of wetland birds rested and refueled. Demands of agriculture and development have shrunk this once vast wetland acreage to less than 10% of its former size. This remnant wetland has never been plowed; it is composed of original native vegetation which began to form after the last ice age.
​
Wetlands serve as a home for many species.
This remnant is home to several species of breeding birds; look carefully, and listen for a sweet trill and/or a descending whinny and you may detect the presence of a Swamp Sparrow and/or a Sora Rail. It is also home to various species of frog, toad, turtle, salamander & snake. This remnant also serves as a refugium for ​many wetland species of plant which have become uncommon. These include cord grass, rice cut grass, swamp ​​milkweed, 
Turk’s cap lily, blue joint grass, spiked lobelia, northern bog violet, tussock sedge, marsh marigold, and water plantain. The new and developing science of restoration ecology holds out hope that drained acreage can be rehydrated and replanted with seeds from refugia like this one.
​
Wetlands serve as a filter.
Wetlands are also one of nature’s great filters and cleaners. When Franklin Creek overflows, the wetland traps sediments containing excess nutrients and other pollutants; the silt slowly settles out and then the sparkling water seeps back to the creek.

The hiking tour ends at this stop. To return, follow the trail back the way you came.

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2075 Lowden Road             |           Franklin Grove, IL 61031              |             Contact Us


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© 2022 FRIENDS OF NACHUSA GRASSLANDS
  • Home
  • About Friends
    • Mission and Leadership
    • Endowments
    • Heritage Heroes Initiative
    • Friends Annual Reports
    • Newsletters >
      • PrairiE–Update (email)
      • A Prairie Calling (print and digital)
    • Commenting Policy
    • Friends Annual Meeting 2021
  • Plan Your Visit
    • Hours & Parking
    • Directions and Map
    • Visitor Center
    • Public Bison Tours
    • Pet Policy
    • Hiking >
      • Hiking Guidelines
      • Hiking Destinations
      • Stone Barn Savanna Tour
      • Visitor Center Trail
      • Scavenger Hunt
    • What's In Bloom?
    • Bison Viewing
    • Exploring Nachusa Grasslands on Your Own
    • Things to Do
    • Places to Eat and Stay
    • Local Sites to Visit and Explore
  • Donate
  • Calendar
  • Volunteer
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Thursday and Saturday Workdays
    • Stewardship Teams
    • Workdays – November to February
    • Workday Email List
    • Steward Login
  • Stewardship
    • Nachusa Stewardship
    • Restorations
    • Planting Histories >
      • Stewardship Unit Planting Histories
      • Planting Histories in Chronological Order
    • Stewards and Staff
    • Groups and Committees
    • Available Units
    • Controlled Burns
    • Prescribed Fire Recruitment
    • Restoration Publications
    • Stewardship Resources >
      • Weekly Top Picks
      • Seed Collection Guides
      • Invasive Plant Management
      • Invasive Identification
      • Monitoring
      • Links & Resources
  • Science
    • Science at Nachusa Grasslands
    • Science Symposium 2022
    • Science Symposium Abstracts >
      • Science Symposium Abstracts 2019
      • Science Symposium Abstracts 2018
      • Science Symposium Abstracts 2017
      • Science Symposium Abstracts 2016
    • Science Grants >
      • Science Grants 2022
      • Science Grants 2021
      • Science Grants 2020
      • Science Grants 2019
      • Science Grants 2018
      • Science Grants 2017
      • Science Grants 2016
      • Science Grants 2015
      • Science Grants 2014
      • Science Grants 2013/2012/2011
    • Potential Research Topics
    • Scientific Publications
    • Testimonials >
      • Dr. Holly Jones
      • Dr. Nick Barber
      • Kimberly Elsenbroek
    • Science Videos
    • Become a Citizen Scientist >
      • About Citizen Scientists
      • Butterfly Monitoring
      • Calling Frog Monitoring
      • Dragonflies & Damselflies
      • RiverWatch
  • About Nachusa
    • General Info
    • Prairie Smoke Annual Reports
    • Plant Inventory >
      • Common Names
      • Genus Species
    • Animal Inventory >
      • Amphibians
      • Birds
      • Bison Bison >
        • Bison
        • Bison Babies Broadcast Videos
      • Fish
      • Insects
      • Mammals
      • Other Arthropods
      • Reptiles
    • History
    • Jobs
    • Hunting
    • Geology >
      • Geology Part 1
      • Geology Part 2
      • Geology Part 3
    • 30th Anniversary Memories
    • Websites of Interest
  • BLOG AND MEDIA
    • Nachusa Blog
    • In The News
    • Photo Gallery >
      • Spring Photos
      • Summer Photos
      • Autumn Photos
      • Winter Photos
      • Visitor Photos
    • Submit Your Photos
    • Videos
  • Contact Us / FAQs