Group works to create wildlife area

Site would be near Forest Glen

DANVILLE — The work may be rooted in the present, but a recently announced Pheasants Forever project is geared solely toward the future.

The Vermilion County chapter of Pheasants Forever announced this week that is has acquired an option to purchase 107-plus acres of land to be used for a wildlife area by the Vermilion County Conservation District.

“Conservation is not about tomorrow, it’s about 100 years from now,” said Ken Burkhamer of the local chapter. “The projects we’re looking at doing aren’t so much for us, but our grandkids.”

The wildlife area, once complete, will consist of land purchased from Spring Water Farms Inc. The acres border the Forest Glen Preserve, just east of the main entrance. It is intended to be restored to upland prairie habitat and used for public hunting, outdoor education and other recreation.

With the project announcement comes the fund-raising for the effort. Burkhamer said it is expected to cost as much as $440,000 to complete the project, which would include a parking lot and picnic benches, among others. Thus far, Pheasants Forever has raised more than 90 percent of that amount through grant funding from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Fund, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and the Build-A-Wildlife Conservation Fund.

Upon completion, the area will be the first finished property of the Build-A-Wildlife Conservation Fund in the state.

Burkhamer said the fundraising effort’s goal is $50,000 for the purchase and restoration. Volunteers also are being sought to help with various planned events to raise the money. No specific events have been announced.

The actual history of the project actually goes back almost 10 years when the Vermilion County chapter of Pheasants Forever decided to buy a permanent wildlife area.

They were contacted about the property in January 2008 and began research on it. Pieces began falling into place, Burkhamer said, and the project launched forward.

The site, which will be donated to the Vermilion County Conservation District, will be named the Busby-Meyer Wildlife Area after late chapter members Carl Busby and Mark Meyer.

FYI

Anyone interested in assisting Pheasants Forever in the fundraising efforts is asked to call Ken Burkhamer at 649-6688 or e-mail him at ken.burkhamer@att.net. Contributions can be sent to Vermilion County Pheasants Forever, P.O. Box 191, Danville, IL 61834.

Prairie habitat in works near Forest Glen preserve

By Pat Phillips
Champaign News-Gazette

Thursday June 18, 2009

WESTVILLE – The Vermilion County Chapter of Pheasants Forever is about to make its dream come true, and the Vermilion County Conservation District will benefit from that dream.

The chapter has an option to buy about 107 acres from Spring Water Farms on the east side of the entrance to Forest Glen Preserve, extending north to other portions of the preserve and farther east almost to the state line. The organization is now raising money for matching grants to buy seeds and make upgrades to turn the plot into an upland prairie habitat.

Several years ago, the local land preservation group started a fund to buy land where people could hunt pheasants, after creating and preserving a habitat conducive to the birds.

Two men who were friends, members of the chapter and hunting partners, Mark Meyer and Carl Busby, volunteered tirelessly, according to associates on behalf of the chapter and responsible use of land.

When the men died within a short time of one another and the organization's special project money started to mount, it seemed only fitting to name the fund the Busby-Meyer Land Acquisition Fund, said Ken Burkhamer, the acquisition chairman.

"I can still see those guys together out hunting dove, then kicking back and having a beer afterward," said Thomas "Tuck" Meyer, Mark's brother.

Mr. Meyer often visited Mr. Busby's farm to hunt on his property, said Mr. Busby's son, Tim Busby.

"Over 20 years of time, Dad and Mark were very active volunteers. Our families were very humbled and proud at the same time to have the project dedicated to Mark and Dad."

"When we were first approached about the project, we were surprised to know that the land east of the Forest Glen entrance wasn't part of the conservation district's property," said Mike Hannan, chapter treasurer. "We had looked at other parcels for a project, but the timing was never right. Now we have a willing seller who will work with us on the timing of the grants we need to secure and is patient with us as we jump through a lot of hoops on the state, national and Pheasants Forever levels."

Judy Morgan, Spring Water Farms secretary/treasurer, is excited about the buy.

"We had it on the market and there wasn't too much interest and then we were approached about the possibility of working with the conservation district and Pheasants Forever," Morgan said. "I've raised some pheasants and fell in love with the birds. I can't think of a better use of the land."

Morgan said the family-owned agricultural company farms the plot, but was looking to divest itself of the Illinois property since it is registered in Indiana and having property in two states is not advantageous for tax purposes.

"These are such good people to work with," Morgan said. "We need to conserve the land and they'll see that it happens."

The group hopes to have all the matching money in place by the end of September.

"This is really the perfect piece of land," Burkhamer said.

Burkhamer said that Vermilion County historically has been considered one of the "golden places" for hunting, especially since some of the surrounding counties have little or no hunting areas.

"I remember hunting with my grandfather and wondering if my grandson and his grandson will have the opportunity to hunt," he said. "But, even more important is the creation of the upland prairie habitat, so we don't lose more of what we had in the past."

The chapter is attempting to raise the final $50,000 needed for matching grants that will cover restoration of the land as prairie with sorghum, corn, sunflowers, prairie grass and some flowering species, which will provide food for wildlife as well as beauty for the area and for future maintenance. It will also cover a picnic area, signs and small gravel road. $390,000 has been committed to the project with $250,000 coming from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Fund and $50,000 from Build-A-Wildlife-Area Illinois fund and other money from the American Wetlands Conservation Act, the Vermilion County Conservation District Foundation and the Illinois State Council of Pheasants Forever.

"The preservation of the land and keeping it from being developed is really important," said Ken Konsis, executive director of the conservation district. "The wooded area will be part of the Illinois Nature Area. This acquisition gives us the opportunity to be good stewards, expand education programs for young people and with their help, reseed tilled acreage for a native prairie."

"In all this hustle and bustle, we need an untouched, beautiful, quiet spot to just sit and think," Burkhamer added. "This project can provide that spot."