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 Tales and Trails

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Many people would like to be a part of something important, something valuable, something that leaves the earth a better place. Recently, a friend of Wildlife Prairie State Park generously left a planned estate gift of $100,000.00. Through our donor’s benevolence, we are able to further our mission in protecting and preserving the environment and the wildlife native to Illinois through our 2,000 acre zoological park.

Your contribution is already working to help the conservation efforts at Wildlife Prairie State Park. Would you like to make your gifts more meaningful while planning your financial goals as well? By naming Wildlife Prairie State Park as a beneficiary of your gift planning, you leave a legacy of conservation, education and recreation for future generations to enjoy as well as possibly gaining maximum tax rewards and maintaining financial security for you and your family. Talk to your advisor about Living Wills, Living Trusts, retirement accounts like IRAs, and securities such as appreciated stock or real estate. If you have already made Wildlife Prairie State Park a part of your planned philanthropy, please have your advisor contact us. We thank you for becoming an important partner in our goal to maintain the beauty of our natural world right here in Central Illinois.

For more information, email development or contact our office at 676-0998. We would be happy to assist you!

Please use the following designation when naming for planned gifts:
Friends of Wildlife Prairie Park, Hanna City, Illinois

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Wednesday, November 11, 2009

How fast can a racing pigeon travel? Between 65-70 miles per hours when they’re in a Mercury Tracer!

Several weeks ago Sterling Middle School contacted the park about a pigeon they had found near the school. They were concerned because the bird had an identification band on its leg. They called us thinking it might be one of our birds and we had them bring the bird out to the Park. (Our pigeons aren’t free-flighted). After checking the internet and making several long distance calls we learned that the bird was one of 500 that had been released for a special race.

Unfortunately only nine of the 500 birds had so far returned home, so we were determined to make sure number 10 got home. We kept her and fed her for a couple of weeks until we could make arrangements for her trip. On Friday 11-06 one of our volunteers drove to Chicago and completed our part of getting #10 to her rightful owner. Hopefully when she’s entered into another race weather conditions won’t be so bad that she gets lost. However, if she or a friend of hers ends up down here…we’re ready with the pigeon feed!

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Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Great Blue Heron Rescue: Our veterinarians from Wyoming Veterinarian Services never know what they might have to deal with down here. Aside from the specified requests, they’ve pretty much learned to expect the unexpected. Last month when veterinarian Dr. Derek McFarland came out to remove stitches from Benny bobcat’s leg he also helped us out with an emergency situation. A Great Blue Heron had gotten entangled in fishing line and couldn’t free itself. Several park staff and Dr. McFarland worked as a team to capture, examine, and release the bird.

Our Executive Director Jeff Rosecrans, and Animal Curator Nancy Ream approached the bird from opposite directions along the water line. (One of them slipped into the water but she shall remain unnamed!). Jeff was able to grab the bird and safely put it into the net Nancy was holding. Herons are beautiful birds but they also have sharp beaks and toes so caution was used. Once it was netted we placed it on the dock to be untangled and checked out. Director of Education, Bonnie Cannon gently held the heron while Dr. McFarland cut away the fishing line and thoroughly examined the bird for any injuries. Everything looked fine so we released it and watched it fly away.

The lake where the heron got tangled is a non-fishing lake, but evidently somebody didn’t pay attention to the No Fishing signs. This is a good reminder to everybody that enjoys fishing….please be careful with lines, hooks, bobbers, etc. that can get tangled in trees, underwater brush, and branches because it can have a devastating effect on wildlife. This heron was fortunate that it was discovered and rescued – it could have turned out differently had it not been spotted by a visitor at a place where people were able to help.”

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