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Jasper County Prairie Ridge State Natural Area
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Introduction
During the nineteenth century, mating calls from millions of colorful greater prairie chickens boomed across vast stretches of Illinois tallgrass prairie. Two hundred years later, fewer than 50 remained. Once abundant, these symbols of the Prairie State diminished rapidly as the American West was settled.
In response to the drastic decline of the prairie chickens due to the loss of grasslands, the Prairie Chicken Foundation of Illinois was organized in 1959 with the single purpose of preserving the prairie chicken. In 1961 the first sanctuary of 77 acres was acquired in Jasper County. Through 1996, 2,180 acres were developed as grasslands in Jasper and Marion counties, mostly by private groups and individuals working in cooperation with the Prairie Chicken Foundation of Illinois, The Illinois Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy, the Illinois Natural History Survey, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and AmerenCIPS.
Today, this 4,100 acre state natural area provides grassland and wetland habitat for more than 80 of Illinois’ species in greatest need of conservation, including 26 state threatened and endangered species and the last remaining prairie chicken populations.
Natural History
This state natural area has the distinction of having the Illinois’ largest breeding population of northern harriers, short-eared owls as well as the only population of greater prairie chickens all of which are state endangered grassland birds. The National Audubon Society has recognized Prairie Ridge as an “Important Bird Area” for its large populations of nesting greater prairie chickens, American bitterns, king rails, upland sandpipers, northern harriers, short-eared owls, sedge wrens, loggerhead shrikes, Henslow's sparrows and dickcissels. Because numbers of many grassland birds have tumbled by more than 60 percent since the 1960s, the healthy populations at Prairie Ridge give regional importance to this grassland habitat complex.
The introduction of the ring-necked pheasant, which is native to Asia, is a threat jeopardizing prairie chickens in Illinois. The pheasants occupy established prairie chicken nests with their own eggs - known as nest parasitism. The pheasant eggs hatch after a shorter incubation period, confusing and distracting the prairie chickens. The abandoned prairie chicken eggs never hatch, and therefore fail in repopulating the species.
Several wetlands have been developed to attract species requiring open prairie marshes. King rails, least bitterns and American bitterns have been documented to nest near these wetlands. Yellow rails are seen each year during migration. Many species of waterfowl use these wetlands during migration while mallards and blue wing teal nest here. On spring evenings, the calls of amphibians resonate from the marshes, including the unique call of northern crayfish frogs. Illinois reptiles including Blanding’s turtles, prairie king snakes, blue racers, and a large population of ornate box turtles also call Prairie Ridge home.
Numerous prairie insects occur on tracts with native prairie vegetation, including several species of native bees, butterflies, damselflies and dragonflies. Of these prairie insects, there are several which have rare or restricted occurrence in Illinois. The most notable is the prairie cicada, which is perhaps the rarest large insect in the state.
Today
In recent years, intensive restoration and management practices at the prairie chicken preserves in Jasper and Marion counties have included the introduction of new prairie chickens from surrounding states to the local population in order to strengthen genetic diversity. Additionally, in February 2006, The Nature Conservancy played an integral role in helping the Illinois Department of Natural Resources acquire 320 acres in Jasper County to benefit prairie chickens. Adjacent to existing protected habitat, the new parcel represents the largest tract ever acquired to benefit the greater prairie chicken, and will contribute towards the state’s plan for recovering between 850 and 2,500 birds.
Visitors to the Jasper County Prairie Chicken Preserve must obtain permission before entering the preserves to ensure that large stretches of land remain safe for prairie chicken breeding and feeding.
