Plant Power: Ecologists map vegetative makeup of Smart Wetlands to Guide Ecosystem Management
In an exciting development for TWI’s Smart Wetlands program, staff ecologists have taken a step toward better understanding the evolving vegetative makeup of our farm-based Smart Wetlands sites, designed to improve water quality. Beginning in 2023, plant surveys were conducted at the sites for the first time. The surveys add to an existing body of water, soil, and nutrient data already collected for the purpose of better understanding, monitoring, and improving the Smart Wetlands going forward. (Continue reading)
Native swamp milkweed (foreground) and hybrid cattail were identified in the recent surveys.
Smart Wetlands Are a Reason to Be CHeerful
The Wetlands Initiative is pleased that our Smart Wetlands are considered A Reason to be Cheerful. The story along with photos and video from wetlands in Livingston and Marshall County, IL can be found at https://reasonstobecheerful.world/farmland-constructed-wetlands-healthier-watersheds/
Reasons to be Cheerful is part of musician David Byrne’s effort to re-imagine “the world through projects that inspire and educate.”
Don’t Miss the Next Screening of FLUDDLES
There are a couple more opportunities to attend a screening of the new movie FLUDDLES by Turnstone Strategies. TWI co-sponsored the production of this story about the ephemeral wetlands that appear in Illinois to support migrating birds.
The next screenings will be held at McHenry County (IL) College on November 28, 2023 and another on December 9, 2023 in Decatur, IL. TWI is also working to arrange a screening in the Chicago metro area and we’ll share those details once they are available. You can get the details on the upcoming screenings and learn more about the movie at https://www.turnstoneimpact.com/fluddles.html.
“FLUDDLES chronicles the wildlife of agricultural wetlands of Illinois. Sometimes described as “big puddles,” fluddles appear in the spring and fall and provide habitat and forage for a diversity of waterfowl and shorebird species,” says Bob Dolgan, founder of Turnstone Strategies.
A festive Fall Field Day at Feather Prairie Farms
Hunters, hunting dog trainers, and landowners enjoyed a field event at Feather Prairie Farms near Dwight, IL, in mid September. In addition to touring ag tile treatment and restored wetlands, visitors heard Univerisity of Illinois researchers Dr. Mike Ward and Dr. Auriel Fournier discuss upland birds, waterfowl, and wetland management. Following dinner, Dan Irhke of Gun Dog Success discussed how to evaluate a puppy to determine if it has the right attributes to become a great hunting dog and then demonstrated how he and his staff train dogs to be hunting companions.
