Orland GrasslandA Vision For Tomorrow

Virginia Rail Sora Rail

If you are interested in more information about this project, contact one of the partners or an Orland Grassland Volunteer:

Orland Grassland
Look to the past ... ... envision the future.

Eastern Bluebird

Rufous-Sided Towhee

Forest Preserve District of Cook County Volunteer Resource 6100-A N. Central Chicago, IL 60643 773-631-1790

Orchard Oriole

Northern Harrier

Long-Eared Owl

Audubon Chicago Region 1718 Sherman Avenue #210 Evanston, IL 60201 847-328-1250
Sedge Wren

Henslows Sparrow Eastern Meadowlark

Openlands 25 E Washington, Suite 1650 Chicago, IL 60602 312-863-6275

American Woodcock Yellow-Billed Cuckoo

Orland Grassland Volunteer

Paul Nelson

Ruddy Duck Sandhill Crane

Blue-Winged Teal
Heidi Natura

Visit our website for more information: www.orlandgrassland.org

Orland Grassland
Look to the past . . .
The region which holds the Grassland was shaped by glaciers twelve thousand years ago. When settlers first explored and mapped in the early 1800s, the land was rich rolling prairie and wetland home to thousands of now-rare plant and animal species. The prairie ecosystem created some of the most fertile earth in the world. The vision of the prairie expanse was so beautiful, it inspired writers and artists. The culture of the early settlers revolved around agriculture. Farming supported and enriched them; the worth of a person was the farming value of the land. The very survival of a family depended on the harvest. The prairie was plowed up, and the wetlands were drained so that additional acres could be made profitable. Cattle were fenced in, so they trampled and grazed the same acreage repeatedly. By the mid 1800s, the prairie was almost gone.

grasses gone. Birdsongs and animal abundance gone. One one-hundredth of one percent of the prairie was left. A few focused, dedicated people sought change. And, little, by ever so little, change is coming. The 960-acre, Orland Grassland site was purchased in the 1960s by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County. At first, the prairie was not restored, but at least the land was saved. Recent voices have brought attention to the Grassland, heralding its qualities for rare plant and bird species. It is one of the largest grassland expanses in Cook County and it already contains species of the highest conservation concern. Today, there is a collaborative restoration plan underway with the Forest Preserve District, Corporation for Open Lands, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers-Chicago District, Audubon-Chicago Region, and the Village of Orland Park. Instrumental to the ongoing success of the Grassland are the helping hearts and hands of the Orland Grassland Volunteers. Ecological restoration already begun at Orland Grassland has doubled the size of grassland bird habitat. Restoration activities include disabling existing drain-tiles, adding native plant diversity and selective removal of invasive trees, brush and problem weeds. With restoration efforts, there will be improvement of oak savannas, wetlands and the remnant prairie.
Marlene Hill-Donnelley

Henslows sparrow, northern harrier, orchard oriole and sandhill crane will call the Grassland home. Bobolink, dickcissel and short-eared owl will be seen again. Seas of color from compass plant, blazing star, smooth white lettuce and little blue stem will rhythmically sway as it did for thousands of years. Orland Grassland is on its way to resplendent good health. From its blueprint of the past comes a future filled with promise and vitality.

What Can I Do?

Good questioneasy answer: Volunteer. The complex ecosystem of the Orland Grassland is not yet able to evolve on its own or sustain itself. Volunteers and professionals are working hard to get it there, but it will take time. Volunteers cut brush and small trees to free bur oaks that cant survive in the shade. Precious, rare seeds are gathered off site and raked into the grassland. Invasive species that prevent prairie and oak woods species from thriving are selectively removed. Whether you help on a single workday, or every workday; whether you are on your own, or organize a group to adopt a part of the site; whether you know a lot, or start out knowing very little about plants, birds and biodiversity, you are important to the Orland Grassland. You can make a difference.

Envision the future . . .

As people gained financial security, they also gained awareness. Many began to realize that some preserves of nature would enrich our lives in ways that just could not be bought in stores or read in books. What had once prolifically covered the Midwest from Ohio to Nebraska, Canada to Texas, was hardly to be found. Seas of colorful wildflowers and waving