March Explore! By Master Naturalist Pam Johnson Look for the returning songbirds! It is a transition time. The snow is still lingering and so are the winter birds. But some sparrows are starting to migrate and stop over in Illinois. During migration, fox sparrows...

Big sky nature reserve Main Parking Lot/5557 S Massbach Rd, Stockton, IL Valley of Eden Bird Sanctuary Lot/5559 E Rush Creek Rd, Stockton, IL The almost 900-acre Big Sky Nature Reserve is divided into two sections, the Valley of Eden Bird Sanctuary and the Home Farm...

Buehler Preserve 102 Jefferson St, Galena, IL.  Thanks to the generosity of former Galena Mayor, Robert Buehler, and his 1999 land donation, the Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation owns this 25-acre property. The Galena River Trail, a favorite of bikers, hikers, and...

Casper Bluff Land & Water Reserve 870 S Pilot Knob Rd, Galena, IL.  Not only does Casper Bluff Land & Water Reserve boast some of the most commanding views of the Mississippi River and its backwater sloughs, it is also an archaeologically significant site. The...

Horseshoe Mound 1679 N Blackjack Rd, Galena, IL. Due to Jo Daviess County zoning regulations, Horseshoe Mound cannot be used as a wedding location. The preserve is currently closed. It will also be closed April 5-6, April 19-20, and April 25-27.    Located at the...