Nygren Wetland Preserve, Rockton, IL.
Led by Dan Williams. Organized by Lenny Edgin and Sherry Courtney.
Nygren is a beautiful wildlife refuge located in Rockton, Illinois, owned by the Natural Land Institute, a 501(c)(3) non-profit land trust which was created in 1958 by George Fell, one of the founders and first executive director of The Nature Conservancy. It covers over 700 acres of pristine wetlands, woodlands, and prairies, making it a diverse and important ecosystem in the area. It is a waystation for Sandhill Cranes as they migrate south for the winter.
On this field trip, between the evening and daytime walks, we hope to see a variety of waterfowl and raptors, including Northern Harrier and Rough-legged Hawks and early migrants like Lapland Longspurs and late sparrows. We will also look for Northern Shrike, and Barred and Short-eared Owls. We may also be visiting Ferguson Forest Preserve and Sugar River Forest Preserve during this trip.
This trip will be led by Dan Williams, who has lived in Winnebago County for over 50 years and has been birding for more than 45 years. He is currently a member of the Illinois Ornithological Records Committee. He has been the President and past board member of the Natural Land Institute, the owner of the Nygren Wetland Preserve, and a former member and past chair of the Land Advisory Council, a citizens advisory committee of the Winnebago County Forest Preserve District. The purpose of the LAC was to advise the Forest Preserve Commission regarding land acquisition opportunities.
