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photo: Dick Todd |
Things to See: Butterflies and Other Insects
Good Chicago Wilderness sites to see butterflies and other insects:
Bluff Spring Fen, Elgin, IL
Located near Route 20 and Bluff City Boulevard
The site includes a high quality fen and is a good place for butterfly watching. View four ecosystems from one trail. Visitor features include foot trails, and parking. For more information call (847) 464-4426.
Bobolink Meadow, Jackson Park
Located south of the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, IL
This prairie habitat is home to a variety of butterflies, dragonflies, and birds. It contains plants such as nodding wild onion, plant cup and aster. For more information, call (312) 747-2200.
Gompers Park Wetland
Located on the Southwest corner of Foster Avenue and Pulaski Road, Chicago, IL
This restored wetland is home to great blue herons, warblers, turtles, bullfrogs and a variety of butterflies and dragonflies. It is a good place for bird watching, walking and nature study. Volunteer opportunities are also available. For more information call (312) 747-2200.
Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area, IL
Located at 5010 North Jugtown Road, Morris, IL
This state natural area features views of tallgrass prairie containing native grasses such as big bluestem, and wildflowers including violets, asters and goldenrod and is a good spot for butterfly watching. Wild inhabitants include deer, coyote, red fox, beaver and badger. The park offers seven miles of hiking trails, picnic areas and a visitor center. For more information, call (815) 942-2899.
Illinois Beach State Park
Located on the lake front in Zion, IL
Located on the shore of Lake Michigan, this natural landmark is a good place to spot butterflies. It is one of the Midwest's richest, most biologically diverse areas. Visitor features include foot trails, wheelchair trails, horse or bicycle trails, toilets, a visitor center, picnic areas and parking. For more information call (847) 662-4811.
Indian Boundaries Prairies, Markham, IL
Located near U.S. Route 57 and Interstate 294
The Indian Boundary Prairies feature a great diversity of insects, particularly butterflies and moths. For more information call (847) 462-9789.
Middlefork Savanna Forest Preserve
Located in Lake Forest, IL
The Middlefork Savanna preserve features a mix of oak savanna and woodlands, wet and mesic prairies, sedge meadows and marshes. It supports an impressive list of uncommon birds, butterflies and other species that require large open areas for survival. Visitor features include parking, trails, drinking water and restrooms. For more information, call (847) 367-6640.
Nelson Lake Marsh, Batavia, IL
Located on Nelson Lake Road south of Main Street, Batavia, IL
This emerging fen features fringed gentian, tway blade orchid and bog birch. Visitor features include foot trails, parking and toilets. For more information, call (630) 232-5980.
Paul Douglas Nature Sanctuary Wooded Island, Jackson Park
Located just south of the Museum of Science and Industry,
Chicago, IL
This wooded island contains 16 acres of remnant oak savanna and open woodland. It hosts as many as 250 migratory and resident bird species and is also home to a variety of butterflies and dragonflies. For more information, call (312) 747-2200.
Sand Ridge Nature Center, South Holland, IL
15891 Paxton Avenue, South Holland, IL
This site features four to six thousand year old dunes. Ancient sand and gravel bars can be seen along the trails and at nature center buildings. Four trails, totaling nearly four miles, are maintained for hiking. A butterfly garden attracts a variety of insects and hummingbirds. For more information, call (708) 868-0606.
Additional Resources
photo: Lake County Forest Preserve District |
- The Butterfly Monitoring Network
Chicago Academy of Sciences
The Butterfly Monitoring Network's mission is to monitor changes in butterfly populations on Illinois natural areas, using citizen scientists to collect field data, and to make the data and analyses available to land managers and management agencies. For information about becoming a butterfly monitor, call (847) 464-4426.
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