[BCNnet] McCormick Place Bird Sanctuary being installed

[Judy Pollock]

After two years of planning, the McCormick Place Bird Sanctuary is now
being installed by the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority and the
Chicago Park District.  (Audubon has consulted on this project from its
inception and is organizing a volunteer stewards group to take care of the
site.)  The Sanctuary will be located along the lakefront south of
McCormick Place's Lakeside Center, west of the new firefighter's memorial.

In case anyone happens by there and wonders about what's happening, I
wanted to post a description of what's planned.

Over the next month or so, the installation of the project should be
completed.  It will include:

A 7-acre fenced prairie above the underground parking garage.  This prairie
will not include plants with strong taproots such as the silphiums, nor
will it include the tall grasses big bluestem or Indian grass, which can
sometimes create dense stands that are not used much by birds. 

An observation platform near the southeast corner of this prairie. 

A 3-acre unfenced prairie and trail south of the parking garage on the west
end of the site. (acreages are approximate.)

A multi-level water feature in that same area.  (if you've ever watched the
variety of bird species that use the drinking fountains there, you can
imagine how great this will be!!)

Thinning of the hawthorns along the east side, and replacement of the weeds
there (including the toxic wild parsnip) with native understory vegetation.

Planting of a screen of native shrubs east of the hawthorns, which will
serve as a windbreak.

Installation of other native shrub and understory plantings along the east
and south sides.

Increasing the tree diversity by planting oaks and possibly elms. 

Paths in from the bike trail, and interpretive signs along the trails and
in McCormick Place as well.

One of the nice things about this prairie is that it will be a true
sanctuary in the city.  It is not very accessible by car - it is most
easily reached by bike, or by walking  - up from 31st street, down from the
museum campus, or across from the south loop area.  

As you know, prairie plants (and trees for that matter) can be rather
slow-growing.  By this fall, the area should begin to attract a few more
birds, and the expectation is that over the next few years, as more things
grow, the site will come into its own.

If you're interested in the stewards group, contact Shelly Britton -
sbritton@audubon.org

Judy Pollock
jpollock@audubon.org