Summer News

There's Always Something New

Photographer Carol Freeman has been coming to Somme for many years. Here's her recent photo of the first "buckeye" she's seen here after all this time. The buckeye migrates and wanders, so it might turn up most anywhere. We're happy to welcome it to Somme Prairie Grove.

Enjoy more photographs of the preserve at Carol's gallery.

Birds And Bugs

Here are some recent photos from amateur photographer Lisa Culp.

New sign (but is it better?)

The Forest Preserve District has called this site Somme Prairie Grove for at least 15 years. But the signage has been slow to catch up. The original sign read "Somme Woods Prairie." This year that sign was replaced by one that reads "Somme Prairie Nature Preserve." The actual Illinois Nature Preserve (and former Coast Guard property referenced by the new sign) is actually west of the railroad tracks and behind the Northbrook Post Office. Maybe some day the sign will get the name right. In the meantime, the new sign at least conveys the idea that the site is important (and does a good job of holding up the Information Box and the Mouse House).

Ongoing Notes

What are the colored flags about?

• Some just mark the trail system.
• Some are used by the summer interns to mark work that needs to be done or weed infestations that have to be checked again.
• Some mark rare plants that are being studied by the Chicago Botanic Garden. Please don’t walk over to look at them. Those same plants are also near the footpaths.

“No Parking” signs at the Waukegan Road pull-off.

The Village has had trouble with this “service road” area being used for overnight truck parking, garbage dumping, etc. Although serving as temporary access to the preserve, it has also been a source of vehicle trespass, dumping, plant and seed poaching, and other misuse.

Also—in time the plan is for this entire area to be closed off and vehicle access needs satisfied by a new turnoff from the expressway (with a traffic signal and the ability to turn both north and south on Waukegan). The entrance and egress for the businesses down this service road will be tied in with that, so this southern part of the service road will be closed.

Parking for Somme Woods Prairie, Somme Prairie Grove, and Vestal Grove will be at Somme Woods—one block south and one block east on Dundee Road. A trail with signage will connect that parking lot to this area with a “Walk Light” crossing at Dundee and Waukegan.

New “No Dogs Off Leash” signs.

Actually the law requires all dogs to be on leash in all forest preserves at all times. This rule will get extra attention by Forest Preserve District police at this preserve because (1) this fine ecosystem is so often visited by school and museum groups, (2) some loose dogs wreak havoc on rare ground-nesting birds, (3) the many rare and endangered plants at this precious site are under enough stress and trampling already without dog traffic that could as well use a less fragile preserve, and (4) there have been complaints of dogs being aggressive with preserve visitors.

Since the signs went up in spring 2006, there has been a dramatic increase in the nesting birds of open areas. The field sparrow, a ground-nesting bird on the watch list of declining species, has visited this preserve every spring but has not nested during the recent years of heavy use by loose dogs. This year at least one pair are busily bringing up their nestlings. The black-billed cuckoo—a steeply declining bird that builds a loose stick nest two to four feet off the ground in shrubs—is nesting for the first time in decades. Three pair of eastern bluebirds are nesting; there have never been more that one pair in recent years. There are many places where dogs can be walked, but this is probably the only site in the North Branch forest preserves where these birds are nesting.

Enjoy your visit to Somme Prairie Grove. Let us know if you have thoughts or questions.