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For an exciting way to discover Illinois' great natural resources,
pick up a copy of the February issue of Outdoor Illinois, the
Department of Natural Resources' monthly magazine. For the first
time ever, nearly every page of the magazine has been devoted to
photographs illustrating the diverse wealth and captivating beauty
of Illinois' natural resources. This photographic edition of
Outdoor Illinois contains winning images from the 2004
Outdoor Illinois photo contest, as well as images from Department of
Natural Resources staff and other photo contributors.
Outdoor Illinois is a great tool for learning about Illinois'
natural, cultural and recreational resources and a bargain at only
$15 for a one-year, 12-issue magazine subscription. Call 1 (800)
720-3249 to subscribe. VISA and MasterCard are accepted.
* * *
For the latest information on Illinois waterfowl
seasons and Canada goose harvest details, call 1 (877)
249-3679.
* * *
The 185th meeting of the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission
will be on Tuesday (Feb. 1) at the Illinois Department of
Natural Resources building, Lake Level Conference Room A,
Springfield. The meeting begins at 10 a.m. and is open to the
public. For more information, phone (217) 785-8686.
* * *
Winter walk: Enjoy the "Wonders of Winter Walk" at
Giant City State Park, Makanda, on Feb. 3 from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
Join in a moderate one-mile hike and discover the many ways plants
and animals adjust to the winter cold. For more information, call
(618) 457-4836.
* * *
"Decorative Abstractions -- Reshaping the Common": Gallery
director Jim L. Zimmer will discuss decorative abstractions in art
at the Illinois State Museum Lockport Gallery's Second Sunday Series
in the main gallery of the museum on Feb. 13 at 2 p.m. The event is
free and the public is invited to attend.
Zimmer will explore how abstract imagery has been used by
decorative artists and artisans throughout time and provide examples
with a media presentation augmented with objects from his personal
collection. The talk will tackle the issue of why abstraction is
embraced in the decorative arts, yet often receives a cool reception
in the fine arts.
The "Art in the Abstract" exhibition, which will remain on view
at the Lockport Gallery through March 4, is a colorful exhibition of
35 paintings, drawings and prints dating from 1913 to 2002 by 28
Illinois artists, drawn entirely from the Illinois State Museum's
permanent collection.
The Illinois State Museum Lockport Gallery is located on the
first floor of the historic Norton Building at 201 West 10th St. in
Lockport. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon
until 5 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, phone (815) 838-7400.
* * *
Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grants: Schoolteachers
throughout Illinois are invited to apply for grants to help bring
their lessons to life as they take students to visit Illinois'
natural heritage. The popular grants have funded field trips to
state parks, nature centers and museums. Awards of up to $500 per
teacher are offered. Funds can be used to pay for transportation,
substitute teachers and other qualifying field trip-related
expenses.
Application forms for the Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant
program can be downloaded through
http://dnr.state.il.us. Forms are also available by e-mail
request to
teachkids@dnrmail.state.il.us or by calling (217) 524-4126.
Applications are due by Feb. 15.
The grant program is made possible by a donation from the Daniel
F. and Ada L. Rice Foundation of Skokie and the Independence Tube
Corporation of Chicago, with funds administered by the Illinois
Conservation Foundation.
* * *
Hunter survey deadline: All hunters who received free
permits to access Illinois Department of Natural Resources
public land sites are reminded that the due date to return harvest
surveys is Feb. 15. Hunters who may have misplaced or lost their
surveys should contact the site office that issued it.
Even if hunters received a free permit but did not hunt, return
of the survey is important to biologists and site staffs managing
these sites. If a hunter's survey is not returned, that hunter may
be ineligible to obtain a permit for the next year.
The Department of Natural Resources thanks the hunters who have
already returned their surveys.
* * *
Grant program notice: Applications are being accepted by two
funds in the Special Wildlife Fund Grant Program administered
through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Applications
are now being accepted for the Migratory Waterfowl Stamp Fund and
the State Furbearer Fund.
Migratory Waterfowl Stamp Fund grants may be awarded to
appropriate not-for-profit organizations that submit a project
involving the development of waterfowl propagation areas within the
Dominion of Canada or the United States that specifically provide
waterfowl for the Mississippi Flyway. Funds may also be awarded for
a project to implement the North American Waterfowl Management Plan
for the development of waterfowl areas within the Dominion of Canada
or the United States that specifically provide waterfowl for the
Mississippi Flyway. The application deadline is 5 p.m. Feb. 15.
State Furbearer Fund grants may be awarded to appropriate
not-for-profit organizations, governmental entities, educational
institutions or corporations that submit a project that strives to
educate hunters and trappers of fur-bearing mammals within the state
and the general public concerning the roles that hunting and
trapping have regarding fur-bearing mammal management. Projects
should also help inform hunters and citizens of the laws associated
with the harvesting of fur-bearing mammals; the techniques used in
the hunting and trapping of fur-bearing mammals; and the
conservation, management and ecology of fur-bearing mammals and the
promotion of products made from wild fur-bearing mammals. The
application deadline is 5 p.m. March 1.
Applications and additional information are available from the
Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Office of Resource
Conservation, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271;
phone (217) 782-2602; or at
http://dnr.state.il.us.
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The 125th meeting of the Illinois Endangered Species
Protection Board will be at 10 a.m. on Feb. 18 at Western
Illinois University's Kibbe Station, Alice L. Kibbe Field Station,
545 East County Road 1180, Warsaw. If anyone has reason to address
the board, the board requests advance notification of such intent
and an advance written copy of the matter to be presented. Without
an advance copy of such presentations, the board cannot make
on-the-spot evaluations concerning any matter and will not be able
to formally act on that matter during the current meeting.
* * *
The entry deadline for the annual Arbor Day Poster Contest for
fifth-grade students is Feb. 21. The theme for the 2005 contest
is "Trees are Terrific...and Energy Wise." For more information or
to receive a packet, contact Reinee Hildebrandt at
rhildebrandt@dnrmail.state.il.us or (217) 785-8771.
* * *
The Illinois State Museum presents the exhibition "Carolyn
Plochmann: Between Two Worlds," featuring 36 paintings by this
internationally recognized southern Illinois contemporary artist,
through Feb. 27 at the Illinois State Museum in Springfield.
Plochmann's work has been exhibited and collected beyond Illinois --
primarily for the last 30 years in New York City. The Illinois State
Museum, 502 S. Spring St. in Springfield, is open 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is
free.
* * *
Works by 40 photographers are paired with the words of 17 famous
poets in "A Tone Poem in Photographs and Verse," on exhibit
through Feb. 27 at the Illinois State Museum. The museum is open
Monday-Saturday 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
at 502 S. Second St. in Springfield. Admission is free.
* * *
Applications are now being accepted for the Illinois Wildlife
Preservation Fund Grant Program, administered through the
Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Office of Resource
Conservation, Division of Habitat Resources. This program is funded
through a voluntary checkoff designation to the Wildlife
Preservation Fund on the Illinois state income tax form.
Small Project Program proposals may address many types of
projects, including management, site inventories or education.
Examples of past projects include wildlife habitat improvement,
species enhancement, and education and research projects throughout
the state focusing on species ranging from birds to turtles and
habitat ranging from forests to prairies. Individual proposals are
eligible for grants of up to $2,000 from the Wildlife Preservation
Fund.
The Illinois Wildlife Preservation Fund Grant Program packet for
2005 includes a program explanation, instructions for completing the
application form and an application form. The application packet is
available at
http://dnr.state.il.us. The deadline for accepting applications
is 5 p.m. April 1.
* * *
"Illinois Whitetails": Be sure to pick up your copy of
"Illinois Whitetails," a book published in cooperation with
the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and edited by renowned
whitetail expert Gordon Whittington. The book includes all of the
entries in the Illinois Big Buck Recognition Program, a full-color
section with big buck stories from across the state, and the history
of Illinois' deer population and deer management. The price per copy
is $24.95. Proceeds from the sale of the book benefit the Illinois
Sportsmen Against Hunger program. To order "Illinois Whitetails,"
visit the Illinois Conservation Foundation website at
www.ilcf.org or call (217)
785-2003.
* * *
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Division of
Education, is sponsoring educator workshops through the ENTICE
program throughout 2005. ENTICE is the Environment and Nature
Training Institute for Conservation Education. These free workshops
offer continuing professional development units for teachers.
ENTICE workshops provide natural resources information,
instructional methods and supplemental educational materials. When
incorporated into classroom lesson plans, the materials encourage
and promote stewardship of the state's natural resources.
Visit
http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/education/
entice/Upcoming.htm for the complete schedule and a registration
form. Registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-served
basis. All applicants will be contacted. Contact
teachkids@dnrmail.state.il.us or (217) 524-4127 for more
information.
[Illinois
Department of Natural Resources]
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