Next Nature Speaks program looks at Lake in the Hills Fen
The Prospect Heights Natural Resources Commission and the Prospect Heights Public Library are co-sponsoring a Nature Speaks program titled "Lake in the Hills Fen" by David Schwaegler from 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, April 21.
Schwaegler has been a volunteer at Lake in the Hills Fen since the late 1980s, before the natural area achieved Illinois Nature Preserve status. His roles include bird monitoring, butterfly monitoring, conducting plant inventories, phenology studies, tour guide and nature steward, among others.
His presentation will unravel and expose the unparalleled beauty and complexity of this best-kept secret in Illinois.
Like many of Illinois' native prairies, the 500-acre site has had a tremulous path to becoming a preserved natural area, despite the many rare and irreplaceable flora and fauna that exist.
An impressive total of nine unique and distinct native communities make up this dynamic ecosystem - a calcareous floating mat, graminoid fen, low shrub fen, hanging fen, calcareous seep, sedge meadows and marsh, perennial stream, a dry gravel prairie and mesic gravel prairie.
As a master photographer and compelling storyteller, Schwaegler will take you on a guided pictorial tour through this unique landscape. You will learn firsthand about the history and the people who fought so hard to preserve it.
More than 400 species of plants, 80 species of birds and 40 species of butterflies call the Lake in the Hills Fen home, and Schwaegler's photographs of them will speak for themselves.
Register for this free program by visiting www.phpl.info, as it will take place virtually through the library's Zoom platform. Instructions for logging into the program will be emailed to registrants on the day of the program. It will also be recorded and encore presentations will be shown at dates and times to be announced.
Nature Speaks is a partnership between Prospect Heights Natural Resources Commission and the Prospect Heights Public Library.
Additional information about the Natural Resources Commission's native prairie restorations and other activities can be found at www.phnrc.com.