Lakewood project for the birds
With the exception of a few ducks bobbing for food, the Broberg Marsh is quiet this time of year, as many migrating birds already have passed through.
For much of the year, however, this northern section of the Lakewood Forest Preserve near Wauconda is packed with a remarkable variety of birds and other creatures.
With the help of a hefty private donation, Lake County forest preserve officials are set to make a good thing better and will proceed with the restoration of 600 acres adjoining the marsh to the north and east.
Lakewood, the district's largest forest preserve at 2,748 acres, is already considered a bird paradise with more than 100 species of birds calling it home for all or part of the year.
Restoring the area north of the dog exercise area between Gilmer and Fairfield roads was in future plans for Lakewood. But it was known that grants and other funding would be needed to cover the bulk of the cost.
A donation of an undisclosed amount from Gordon McLean of Lake Zurich turned out to be a perfect match. It will be used to underwrite a substantial part of the $1.2 million project and allow it to proceed more quickly than anticipated. The forest preserve district board is expected to approve the gift at its meeting Tuesday.
McLean's late wife was an avid bird watcher and naturalist who especially appreciated migratory birds. The couple also enjoyed the dog exercise area.
McLean thought creating a bird sanctuary would be a way to recognize his wife's passion and celebrate the times they shared at Lakewood, according to Barb Vicory, development officer for the district.
The idea is to restore land mostly used for farming to its original state as a mosaic of wetland, prairie and savanna habitats. Much of that will be accomplished by removing drain tiles installed by farmers decades ago.
"You pop out the tiles and the natural wetlands come back," said Gary Glowacki, wildlife biologist for the district.
Native trees, shrubs, grasses and wildflowers will be planted and invasive species controlled as part of the restoration.
By expanding and improving the environment for all aspects of birds' lives from nesting to rearing, both the number and type of birds in that portion of Lakewood are expected to increase.
Ultimately, the improvements will result in one of the largest unbroken habitats in the forest preserve system.
"It's a real cliché, but build it and they will come," said Jim Anderson, the district's natural resource manager.
The area currently is not accessible to the public, but planned trails will offer views without disturbing the habitat.
Lake County has the largest concentration of wetland bird habitat in northern Illinois, according to Mike Redmer, fish and wildlife biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Restorations of this type for years have been undertaken by various entities throughout the Chicago area, but the size of the Lake County project is of note, he said.
"The bigger the site, the more likely it is to have that mosaic," he said. That, in turn, benefits other animals.
Anderson cited the district's 1,200-acre restoration of the Rollins Savanna near Grayslake as a successful example.
"We've been overwhelmed with results," Anderson said. He noted that a bald eagle was spotted there recently.
"There's more land to do it at Lakewood and then there's Ray Lake farm. We're looking at this as a 10-year project," he said.