Why Rare Birds Are Drawn to Rollins

Years of restoration at the Rollins Savanna forest preserve near Round Lake have drawn a different kind of visitor and some national recognition.

The state-endangered yellow-headed blackbird, a migratory species, is among several other species that stop at the county’s second largest forest preserve in its travels.

Now known as a bird watcher’s delight, Rollins has been designated as an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society. Less than two years old, the program’s goal is to identify the state’s most important bird areas.

The effort is a collaboration of several avian groups as well as Chicago Wilderness, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Illinois Natural History Survey.

Rollins was designated an Important Bird Area because of its habitat that supports the yellow-headed blackbird and several other species including the sand-hill crane, great blue heron, common egret, spotted sandpiper, red-winged blackbird, and the rare horned lark and Eastern meadowlark.

“It means we are providing a habitat for these rare and significant species that for the most part are declining in the region,” said Jim Anderson, natural resource manager for the Lake County forest preserves.

Purchased about 15 years ago, the 1,225-acre preserve opened to the public last fall. Years of work included the removal of 11 miles of drain tiles, restoration of 250 to 300 acres of wetlands and creation of hundreds more acres of wetlands.

Audubon noted the preserve’s oak woodlands, savannas, prairies and wetlands as providing an essential habitat for bird breeding, wintering and migration.

“It’s sort of like the Field of Dreams story – it really is build it and they will come,” Anderson said. “A soon as we started doing the work, the birds starting moving in.”

Similar efforts to attract birds have shown success at MacArthur Woods and the Middlefork Savanna in the southeastern part of the county but Rollins is the only one to receive bird designation.

Illinois Beach State Park near Zion, Great Lakes Naval Training Center near Highland Park and Lake/McHenry wetlands complex in the far northwestern part of the county are among 11 designated areas in the Chicago area.

“This year, the birds moving through Rollins Savanna have been off the radar,” Anderson said of the increase of birds. “Most people see these little birds flitting around but don’t understand what’s there.”

Preserving bird habitat becomes more important as development continues. Habitat loss is one of the most serious threats facing birds in across North America and the world, according to Audubon.

Anderson said the district hopes to have interpretive signage installed at Rollins. The preserve also contains a native seed nursery as well as a multi-use trail for hiking, biking, cross- country skiing and nature and wildlife observation.