CF

Saving Living Room for Living Things

A conservation newsletter published by Citizens for Conservation, Inc. Barrington, Illinois Vol. 3, No. 4 Winter, 1987

SATURDAY SESSIONS HOLIDAY CRAFTS, By Alison Hargreaves, Barrington Middle School

It was a sunny Saturday morning in November. At the Crabtree Nature Center a class had begun. God's eyes from yarn woven around twigs, creative critters from thistles, and notecards with pressed flowers were being made by children with the aid of grownups. The crafts were as different as the kids who were there. We could choose from many different natural materials. The ideas sprang from each material. Everybody went home with handfuls of creative makings to be shown to their families and used at holiday time.

BIRD FEEDERS FROM RECYCLED MATERIALS, By Stephanie Hargreaves, 1st Grade, Countryside School We went to Crabtree Nature Center to make bird feeders. We made them from things we sometimes throw away. We made feeders from milk cartons, detergent bottles, small logs, and empty grapefruit halves. And we strung popcorn, cranberries, and peanuts to hang on the trees outside. We learned how to hang suet outside so the birds can eat it and keep warm. At the end we sat by the window and watched the birds.

ANIMAL TRACKS, By Kristin Gruber, 5th Grade, Hough Street School

The January class at Crabtree was all about tracking. At first, we talked about how to identify different animal tracks. We learned some new words like "register", gait", and "bound". After looking at some mystery tracks on slides and identifying the owner of each of the prints, we made some tracks of our own. We used stamps and made imprints with plaster of Paris.

Finally, we went out to find some real tracks. Fortunately, it was such a cold day that Crabtree didn't have many visitors, so it was easy to find animal tracks -- such as deer, squirrel, and bird tracks -- all over. ANNUAL MEETING, January 29 Over 100 CFC members and friends gathered at the Barrington Hills Country Club for the annual meeting. The theme for the fifteenth anniversary of the organization was "CFC: Where We've Been, Where We're Going". Bill Miller presented a short history of CFC, beginning in 1970, when CFC's progenitor, the "Barrington Area Conservation Committee", was formed. A copy of the history is filed at the CFC office.

President Paul Hoffman reviewed projects and activities of 1986. Highlights included:

move of the recycling center to the west end of Liberty Street

acquisition of Steyermark woods in North Barrington and a 9-acre marsh along Route 14 west of Kelsey Road

prescribed burn of the Wagner Fen in early spring by a consortium of volunteers, led by volunteer stewards, George and Becky Luehring; establishment of a wooden plank walk in the fen, laid by George Luehring

expanded offering of nature study classes for children and adults and a series of summer field explorations in local natural areas

vigorous first year of prairie restoration project, in which over 70 volunteers collected 94 pounds of native prairie seed (see prairie article)

first fund-raising drive by CFC to raise money for the prairie restoration

computerizing of CFC mailing list, thanks to Jeanette Muench

participation in the Fourth of July parade, Sidewalk Days, and the Barrington Historical Society's Treescapes

After a short slide presentation about the prairie restoration project, Waid Vanderpoel explained the project in detail. He underscored the importance of volunteers and offered a vivid description of the experience of a volunteer seed collector in the expressed hope of attracting more harvesters.

CF gyms Citizens for Conservation, Inc. CHANGING BOARD

Three active contributors have retired from the CFC Board. Net Mullen has faced the ongoing challenges of stewardship as the chairman of the Stewardship Committee. She also has served as a member of the Real Estate Committee. Ray Kath chaired the Prairie Committee in its first ambitious year of the prairie restoration project. Ray has served also as an active member of the Stewardship Committee. Betsy Petersen leaves behind a record of conscientious service as Secretary of CFC. She helped rewrite the by-laws and has served regularly on the Nominating and Annual Meeting Committees.

These board members will be succeeded by Mark Spreyer, Education Coordinator at the Chicago Academy of Science and coordinator of the Chicago peregrine falcon release project; Daria Sapp, who made uncountable phone calls as volunteer coordinator of the prairie project; and Margaret Fox- Hawthorne, active member of the CFC Education Committee, board member of Prairie Woods Audubon, and frequent contributor of articles to conservation publications.

Instead of continuing as CFC board members, Jonathan Hamill and Bob Kosin will serve as board consultants.

The following will hold offices for 1987: Paul Hoffman, President; Walt Dalitsch, Vice-President; Dave Kullander, Treasurer; Sue Allman, Secretary.

thank you ****** thank you ****** thank you ****** thank you ****** thank you

- Daria Sapp, for coordinating prairie project volunteers. -- George Luehring, for faithful Tuesday morning help in the CFC office.

- - Tom and Ruth Vanderpoel, for hours of stuffing envelopes for the membership/ prairie project mailing. -- Mr. and Mrs. Tom Longeway, owners of Classic Sunglasses, for donating nine acres of marsh to CFC.

- - Henry Gron, Linda Coady, Mark Vanderpoel, and Jennifer Polasek, for illustrating the prairie brochure, map, and this newsletter.

- - Susan Hargreaves, for teaching several classes in the Saturday and Summer Sessions.

- - Crabtree Nature Center, for providing classrooms. -- Becky Luehring and Beulah Peirce, for helping to label newsletters.

- - Many volunteers who helped pick seed, burn the fen, and otherwise participated in restoration and stewardship efforts.

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Citizens for Conservation, Inc. WILLIAM H. MILLER CONSERVATION AWARD This award is given "in recognition of outstanding contribution to conservation in the Barrington area." This year, the recipient was Bunny Horne, long-time resident of Barrington and a founding member of Citizens for Conservation. In presenting the award, Frank Spreyer cited Bunny's active involvement on behalf of conservation in numerous clubs and organizations. She served as president of the Camp Reinberg Association, which brought inner city children to a natural setting and organized activities they normally would not experience. She helped found and presided over the League of Women Voters, a group that maintains active interest in conservation issues. Bunny was instrumental in hiring the first nature teacher at Country Day School (now Countryside) -- the beginning of the Nature Lady program which has expanded to include the entire school district. In 1973 she was honored with the prestigious Garden Club of America Zone XI Conservation Award for outstanding contribution to conservation locally, state-wide, and nationally. Frank concluded that Bunny's countryside property is testimony to careful management, and respect for plants and wildlife. "Hers," he said, "is a life of Photo courtesy of Barrington Courier Review conservation by example."

RECYCLING After many years of dedicated chairmanship of the Recycling Committee, Frank Spreyer has elected to hand that position over to Bill McMullen. Frank has seen the recycling center through three moves, three haulers, fires, vandalism -- but thanks to his supervision, it continues to operate 24 hours a day. Since the move to the west end of Liberty Street, volume has fallen off considerably. While newspapers usually must be picked up twice a week, recently the need has dropped to one pick-up every twelve days. Eighty-three tons of glass from Barrington were recycled in 1986 -- just over half the amount of the previous year. The League of Women Voters is formulating plans for recycling education, and has enlisted the cooperation of CFC. CHECK OFF LINE hla

When preparing your state income tax forms, you can contribute to the Illinois Nongame Wildlife Conservation Fund -- up to $10 Check individually or $20 on joint returns. Write the dollar amount of your contribution next to your checkoff on lla. Doing so US will NOT delay your refund. If you're not receiving a refund 01It or wish to further help Illinois wildlife, you can send a tax- deductible check to Illinois Nongame Wildlife Conservation Fund, Illinois Department of Conservation, 524 S. Second St., Springfield, IL 62706. Locally, this fund has helped pay for nesting structures on the island in Baker's Lake and for workshops on the eastern bluebird. A free bluebird workshop will be held on March 5 at 7:30 p.m. at the Veterans' Acres Nature Center in Crystal Lake. Call 815-675-2385 for registration and information. Two new brochures, also funded by non- game wildlife donations, are available free from the Illinois Department of Conservation, at the above address. They are "Landscaping for Wildlife", a 12-page booklet of ideas and plant species for backyard habitat; and "Wood Projects for Illinois Wildlife", 34 pages of workshop projects, including bluebird and screech owl houses. CFC,iv ews Citizens for Conservation, Inc. CONSERVATION ARTICLE We frequently get questions about the Natural History of Barrington -- what is it? when did it begin? what kinds of programs does it offer? We asked Barb Day to look into the background of this group that has been active in Barrington for over 40 years, and she graciously agreed. Barb herself knew little of the society. After several months of sifting through boxes of minutes and clippings, she expressed gratitude for the opportunity to "get a perspective on what I believe is one of the basic fibers of this community. The Natural History Society has been an important, quiet, strong undercurrent in Barrington; a caretaker of those things that are the reason many members of this community chose to live here." She was surprised, too, to find that her uncle, Jack Weidenmiller, was a member and served as secretary during the 60's. Barb gives special thanks to Shirley Peterson for help in preparing this article, which highlights, chronologically, activities of the Natural History Society from 1945 to 1974. THE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF BARRINGTON, By Barb Day

The first meeting was held on May 25, 1945 and Mr. James Plagge was selected to be temporary president. This Society was an outgrowth of The Barrington Bird Club formed in 1926. At subsequent meetings, committees were formed to study plants, stars, birds, insects and geology. Mrs. Robert Work was elected president and was a very active force in the Society's early development. Programs presented by guest speakers or members with expertise in particular areas have been the focal point of the meetings along with observations of unusual or rare birds and plants that members have seen. Speakers have included curators and adminis- trators from many institutions including the Chicago Natural History Society, Field Museum, Planetarium, Morton Arboretum, Shedd Aquarium, The Nature Conservancy, Crabtree Nature Center, The McHenry County Defenders, and other organizations that serve the natural world. Nature walks and field trips have been a primary activity from the beginning to such places as the Volo Tamarack Swamp (now the Volo Bog), Eustice Lake (now Crabtree Nature Center), Grassy Lake, Elgin to see a natural cedar swamp (Trout Lake), The Ridges Sanctuary, Wyalusing State Park, and Fernwood to name a few.

Dr. Julian Steyermark, botanist and assistant curator of the Chicago Museum of Natural History, was elected president in 1946, a post he held for six years. Dr. Steyermark is world renowned for his botanical studies leading to books on the flora of Missouri. Many local Barrington artists contributed to one volume of this study. Dr. Steyermark is even better known for his studies of Venezuela flora. Steyermark woods in Biltmore, now under the care of CFC, was owned and donated by Dr. Steyermark.

Concern for environmental protection has extended beyond Barrington and Illinois. In 1946 the Society wrote Congress protesting lumber cutting in Olympia National Park. In 1950 the Society voiced its first of many objections to proposed development on property adjacent to the Volo Bog. In 1959 the Society passed a resolution endorsing the establishment of The Indiana Dunes National Monument.

Also in 1946, a blue heron and 118 egrets were counted at Baker's Lake. At another Did you know if meeting that year the group listened to a snowy tree cricket chirp. you count the number of chirps in 13 seconds and add 42 you will have the correct outdoor temperature? In 1948, a red-shouldered hawk with three babies was spotted and 90 egrets were seen at Baker's Lake. CFCews Citizens for Conservation, Inc. 1952 was the first year the Society participated with a display in the Barrington Garden Clubs' Annual Show. Arrowheads and Indian pottery pieces were found in Biltmore and presented at a meeting. It was said that the bobwhite quail habitat was better in the Barrington area than anywhere else nearby.

In 1954 the Society sponsored its first of three natural hobby shows. Announcements were distributed to all of the Barrington area schools inviting students and adults to submit exhibits in any of the five classifications: Collections -- mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects, shells, plants, rocks and minerals, fossils, and miscellaneous specimens; Nature Arts and Crafts -- original work such as paintings and drawings; objects in clay, wood, metal, plastic, or paper-mache; birdhouses, feeders, and baskets; Photography -- black and white enlargements, slides, or motion pictures; Nature Literature -- original poems or stories; Studies In Nature -- fieldbooks, scrapbooks, reports or essays, microscope slides, posters, or shadow boxes. Ribbons were awarded in each group and category. Lectures were given at the show by several members of the Society.

In 1956 and 1957 when dutch elm disease was running rampant, the Society educated itself on the epidemic with a lot of attention given to the effect of spraying and what alternatives were available to eliminate the disease.

In 1958, the Park District asked the Society to work towards preserving Baker's Lake as a natural bird sanctuary. Eventually the Baker's Lake Nature Preserve Project was presented to the Society for consideration. It was to include a walking trail around the marsh, an observation tower at tree-top level, and a photographic blind at the water's edge. The project has not been established because of concerns over vandalism and personal liability.

The aurora borealis was seen by several members on February 10, 1958, and discussed at a meeting. That same year the second Sputnik was seen during a star-gazing expedition. Sixty-seven arrowheads from the Archaic period, 3-4 thousand years ago, found on East Hillside Avenue, were presented at a meeting.

In 1961, a joint meeting of the Society and The Nature Conservancy was held at the home of Dr. William Holmes, a past president of the Society, as part of the dedication festivities of the Volo Bog.

In 1967, the sunflower seed project was initiated and 6,600 pounds were sold. This project continues today and proceeds are donated to a variety of conservation organi- zations. The Alex Stillman-Audubon Nature Center, Bluff Spring Fen, Cary Prairie, Citizens for Conservation, Eagle Valley, Hawk Ridge, Illinois Audubon Society, Illinois Environmental Council, Illinois Nature Conservancy, Reed-Turner Woods, McHenry County Defenders, and The Ridges Sanctuary are current beneficiaries.

Over the years the Society has held meetings in many places -- members' homes, Barrington Elementary School (Hough Street), Grove Avenue School, Barrington High School, the Middle School. Since 1974 meetings have been held at the Barrington United Methodist Church on the second Thursday of each month, September to May, at 8 PM. Anyone interested is welcome to attend.

CFCNews Citizens for Conservation, Inc. FUND-RAISING UPDATE

Last autumn, CFC directors faced a dilemma. How could we finance our prairie restor- ation at the very time we were experiencing both rising expenses and falling investment income? Our solution? We initiated the first fund-raising drive in CFC's fifteen-year history. We developed a brochure and letters to tell our story.

Our story is simple and straightforward. The prairie preceded the earliest settler. It is part of our natural heritage. Only tiny, scattered bits remain and those are constantly shrinking. The little strips along the C&NW tracks already are too small to harbor threatened prairie birds and animals. However, CFC, thanks to a wonderful gift of land and to the dedicated efforts of volunteers, has the opportunity to recreate a prairie as it might have been in Barrington's pre-settlement times.

In early December, we launched our appeal for $22,000 -- $1,000 per acre -- to our members and to others in the community. We have received 99 contributions, totalling $13,300. We are most appreciative of this community support. While it will take years to make the prairie a reality, with the commitment of volunteers and financial support, we know the prairie will grow into a place of sunshine, color, birdsong, life, and dreams.

Waid Vanderpoel

Just in case our fund appeal didn't reach you, or became buried in the Christmas mail, or if you'd like to make an additional contribution, here is your chance to help us reach our $22,000 goal.

YES, I WANT TO HELP BRING THAT PRAIRIE ALIVE. Here is my contribution for $ In 1987 I'd like to help: grow plants (spring-summer) plant seed (late spring) collect seed (late summer, fall)

Signed:

Phone Number: CITIZENS FOR CONSERVATION P. O. Box 435 Barrington, IL 60011 Contributions to CFC are tax deductible. CFC, /V ews Citizens for Conservation, Inc. SLIDE PROGRAM AVAILABLE A new slide program, "Rebuilding a Prairie in Barrington", tells the story of the CFC Prairie Restoration Project. It is available to be shown to garden clubs, civic groups, and anyone interested in knowing more about the project. Call Sam at 382-SAVE to reserve a date.

PRAIRIE PROJECT

Over 90 pounds of prairie seed are spending the winter in a sort of hibernation: in plastic bags, sorted by species, packed in spare refrigerators. Seeds of the slower-growing and more vulnerable species have been sown in over sixty flats. These seeds require freezing and thawing (cold stratification), so are spending the winter outdoors.

In mid-spring, raised planting beds will be built and prepared on the prairie property. They will be screened to protect seedlings from rabbits and deer and will be the home for hundreds of seedling plants until these little prairie dwellers are large enough to compete with more vigorods, faster-growing grasses and flowers.

Also in the spring, we will stage "Operatir'n Sanctuary", a rescue mission to transplant prairie plants from a remnant tract doomed to the bulldozer. We will need volunteers: if you have a pick-up truck, we could make good use of it. We can turn destruction into opportunity and survival.

The big prairie planting will take place sometime in June. We'll have herbicided the Eurasian grasses, mechanically raked or disked, and laid out trails. We'll have the prairie site staked out in planting zones. At that time, we'll formally dedicate the prairie. We want to make that day a very special one.

VOLUNTEERS WELCOME AT EVERY STEP Waid Vanderpoel

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

CFC is growing! We're heartened by the response to our membership drive. While we welcome the dues, we welcome your active participation, too. Please look over the enclosed sheet and see if there's an area or two where you'd like to help. You can fold the sheet in thirds, tape or staple it shut, stamp, and mail it to CFC.

CF Cre w s Citizens for Conservation, Inc.

WANT TO HELP CFC?

MEMBERS KNOW THAT CFC IS AN ACTIVE GROUP WITH PROJECTS ON A NUMBER OF FRONTS. WE ARE ASKED, "IS THERE SOMETHING I CAN DO?" ANSWER - "THERE CERTAINLY IS!" WITH RECYCLING, EDUCATION PROGRAMS, A NEWSLETTER, A BUSY OFFICE, PRAIRIE RESTORATION, AND LAND STEWARDSHIP, EACH VOLUNTEER IS MOST WELCOME. THERE IS A ROLE FOR ALL, YOUNG OR OLD, STRONG OR WEAK, WHO WANT TO HELP CFC SERVE THE CAUSE OF CONSERVATION IN THE COMMUNITY.

HERE ARE ACTIVITIES IN WHICH WE NEED HELP: CHECK IF YOU CAN HELP.

EDUCATION (PHONE CONTACTS, TEACHING, DISPLAYS, ARRANGING)

PRAIRIE RESTORATION (SEED GATHERING, GROWING, PLANTING).

RECYCLING ("POLICING" AREA, PROMOTION, CONTACTING GROUPS)

OFFICE (TYPING, FILING, TELEPHONE CONTACTS, ARRANGING MEETINGS)

LAND MANAGEMENT/STEWARDSHIP (BRUSH REMOVAL, BURNING, PLANT/WILDLIFE INVENTORY, DEVELOPING MANAGEMENT PLANS, FOR EACH PROPERTY)

TELEPHONE CALLERS (VITAL! - FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO HELP IN A NON-STRENUOUS WAY)

EACH VOLUNTEER CAN BE ASSURED OF MAKING A WELCOME, NEEDED, CONTRIBUTION.

NAME ADDRESS TELEPHONE (PLEASE PRINT) Citizens for Conservation, Inc. Box 435 Barrington, IL 60011

CFC,ews Citizens for Conservation, Inc. IT009 qI 'NOIDNIUIRM SS? XOH NOTIVA2IRSNO3 ECM SNUZIIID SPRING BIRD WALKS

The Natural History Society of Barrington and Cook County Forest Preserve District will co-sponsor weekly bird walks in April and May. The walks will be led by Wendy Paulson. They usually last two hours, but participants are welcome to come and go as they please. In April all walks will take place on Wednesday afternoons, beginning April 8, at 3:30 p.m. at Crabtree Nature Center. Meet in the parking lot.

On April 1, we'll meet at Beese Park in Barrington at 3:15 and bird that area and Baker's Lake. Follow signs from Barrington Road and Princeton Avenue to parking lot.

CE, Laura Zerzan From "ECONEWS" May 1, 8, 15, 22, 8:45 a.m., Crabtree Nature Center

Bring binoculars and a bird guide if you have one, and dress for the weather. Telescopes would be useful at Baker's Lake.

Gill Moreland leads bird walks at Triple R Ranch in Cary the first Tuesday of every month at 8:30 a.m. Also in April, walks will take place on the 21st and 28th at 3:30 p.m. In May, walks will be led every Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. Call Gill at 639-4099 for more information.

BOOK BROWSING • DON COYOTE, by Dayton O. Hyde This book effectively weaves the spirit of the Oregon countryside, the spirit of the coyote, and the spirit of the author. The immediate story involves a coyote who adopts a human. Later, the human family adopts a coyote family into their home. The larger story is what happens on the 6000-acre cattle ranch where, unlike his coyote-hating neighbors, Hyde encourages coyotes. "In fact, if I were to design a kit for the beginning rancher, a pair of coyotes would have to be included." (New York: Arbor House, 1986. $16.95) M.S.

BIRD WATCHING WITH BEN, by Ben Gelman Ben Gelman began watching birds as a high school student in the Bronx. Now he is managing editor for the SIU Courier, a weekly newspaper published by Southern Illinois University. For years, he has written newspaper columns on birds and this book is a collection of some of those articles. His observations and commentary are personal and fresh, and should be of particular interest, because of his Illinois address, to those who enjoy watching birds in the Midwest. (Carbondale: SIU Press, 1985: available at Barrington Library) W.P.

SQUIRRELS, by George Peck This is one of the "Nature's Children" series, which currently offers more than 50 titles, from Alligators to Woodchucks. Each volume is slim but brims with color photos (one every two pages) and straight-forward, fact-studded text that changes focus on each page. The red and gray squirrels are the two species chosen for scrutiny. This book and others in the series are suitable for age 4 on up, adults included. (Available at Barrington Library) W.P. CFCrivews Citizens for Conservation, Inc. ALMANAC March 5 Eastern Bluebird Workshop, 7:30 p.m., Veterans Acres Nature Center, Crystal Lake, 815-675-2385. March 7 CFC SATURDAY SESSION "Making Maple Syrup"; call 382-SAVE for details. March 12 The Natural History Society of Barrington meets downstairs in Barrington United Methodist Church, corner of Hough and Lincoln, 8 p.m. All welcome. Program: "Edible Plants", by Cathy Hein of Chicago Academy of Science. April 4 CFC SATURDAY SESSION "Who's Who" (Owls), 9:30 a.m. Crabtree Nature Center, call 382-SAVE for details. April 9 Natural History Society, 8 p.m. "Baker's Lake", with Joel Greenberg of the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission, and others. May 2 CFC SATURDAY SESSION "Spring Wildflowers", 9:30 a.m. Crabtree Nature Center, call 382-SAVE for details. May 2 Northern Illinois Prairie Workshop, Joliet Junior College; call Marcella DeMauro, 815-727-8700, for details. May 14 Natural History Society, 8 p.m. Check local papers for program. May 16 CFC SATURDAY SESSION "Birds of Baker's Lake", 9:30 a.m. Barrington Library; call 382-SAVE for details.

Nonprofit Org. U.S Postage Paid Barrington, IL 60011 Permit No 80

Citizens for Conservation, Inc. Box 435 Barrington, Illinois 60011

OFFICERS

Paul Hoffman, President

Walt (Hansen, Vice President

David Ku'lender, Treasurer

Sue Allman, Secretary

STAFF DIRECTOR

Sam Oliver

EDITOR

Wendy Paulson

Office: 132 W. Station St. 2nd Floor, BACOG Building Phone 382-SAVE