Daisy and Brownie scouts scattered milkweed seeds following a lesson about seeds and the relationship between certain plants and animals. Click here for more.

At the end of the work day, scouts were treated to an "owl prowl," a nighttime hike featuring seven species of owls found in Illinois.

Diary of a Restoration

2nd Installment, October 27, 2002

On Sunday, October 27, girl scouts from the Shemamo Council gathered at the Illinois Raptor Center for an afternoon of removing multi-flora rose and other non-native shrubs. A number of native oaks, red buds and other trees now have less competition as they try to grow and mature. Around 50 girls turned out for the afternoon of work.

The IRC habitat restoration is broken into three portions, with some work being done in all three areas. Follow this link for a photo album.

1. Prairie: A 1.5 acre prairie reconstruction is on schedule to be planted in the spring of 2003. The parcel has been closely mowed and raked by volunteers before being professionally sprayed to kill non-native vegetation. Spraying was determined to be preferential to tillage due to the potential for erosion, and the need to till the site continuously for two growing seasons to eliminate weeds.

2. Woodland and bottomland forest: A spring burn is planned to complement removal of multi-flora rose. An early burn, in February or March, should reinvigorate surviving woodland wildflowers. Funds are being sought to reintroduce wildflowers and reforest the bottomland area with native trees.

3. Savanna: The 5-acre parcel known as "Daffodil Valley" was the site of a seed-scattering exercise by Daisy and Brownie scouts Sunday. Scouts learned about the Monarch butterfly's dependence on plants of the milkweed family, and then scattered milkweed seeds.

Scouts also spread a tarp over a 10x25 foot area to smother weeds. A prairie study garden, made up of mature transplants, will be planted there in the spring. Scouts should see results in just one growing season, compared to 2-5 years for the prairie planted from seed. Smothering is an alternative to tillage and spraying when establishing small garden plots.

Scouts cleared multi-flora rose and other brush to promote the growth of oaks and other native trees in woodlands on Illinois Raptor Center property.

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