Science meeting tracks Emiquon progress

The notion that all science is “cold and hard” was debunked nicely at the Emiquon Science Meeting Thursday.

Doyn Kellerhals, a graduate student at the University of Illinois at Springfield, presented her research on the bacteria that decompose leaves of silver maple trees. Bacteria are very difficult to tell apart until they are examined at a DNA level.

She is learning that bacterial communities change as leaves break down. And different bacteria are at work in different habitats.

Kellerhals reminded the audience that the small things really do matter.

“I really like talking about the fish and the ducks, but this is where it all starts.”

Kellerhals was featured in a March 5, 2010, article in the State Journal-Register.

Download a PDF of the article:
20100305-SJR-Emiquon-progress.pdf

Waterfowl research going on at Emiquon Preserve

Recently, wildlife technicians Danielle DeVito and Curt Kleist, of the Illinois Natural History Survey of the Forbes Biological Station in Havana, have been studying the migration of water fowl at the Emiquon Preserve.

Their mallard research, based at the Therkildsen Field Station - a teaching and research facility owned by UIS - is part of a larger effort to transform Emiquon from farmlands to floodplain.

Their research and details about Emiquon were featured in a February 4, 2010, article in the Illinois Times.

Download a PDF of the article: 20100204-ILTimes-mallards.pdf

Emiquon to host public lecture on mallards

A public lecture titled “Monitoring Mallard Movements in the Illinois River Valley and Beyond” will be hosted at the UIS Alfred O. and Barbara Cordwell Therkildsen Field Station at Emiquon on Tuesday, January 26 at 6:30.

The presenters of the lecture will be Danielle DeVito and Curt Kleist, waterfowl research technicians with the Illinois Natural History Survey, Forbes Biological Station in Havana.

The information about the lecture was published in the January 22, 2010, Galesburg Register-Mail.

Download a PDF of the article:
20100122-GalesburgRM-Mallards.pdf

UIS part of the "miracle" at Emiquon

Chicago Sun Times reporter Dale Bowman toured The Nature Conservancy's Emiquon Preserve in late summer and found himself "stunned" by the results that have been achieved in such a short time. Much of that success he credits to the "clout" of The Nature Conservancy and the "intellectual strength" of UIS. His article about the experience appeared in the September 21, 2008, Sun Times Outdoors section.

Download a pdf file of the article
20080921-CST-CreatingaMiracle.pdf

Early morning star party a success

Nearly two dozen people attended a special version of a UIS Star Party, held August 13 at the Emiquon Nature Preserve near Havana, even though it began at 3:30 a.m.

Assistant Professor of Astronomy/Physics John Martin led the program, which focused on the Perseids Meteor Shower. Emiquon Field Station Director/Associate Professor of Biology Mike Lemke and staff from the Nature Conservancy were also on hand to talk about the preserve's return to its natural river floodplain state.

Participants were encouraged to stay and watch the day begin on the marshland.

Brenda Rothert, reporter for the Peoria Journal-Star, attended. Download her article

20080813-PSJ-LookontheBrightSide.pdf

Stargazing at Emiquon

UIS' Emiquon Field Station is hosting an early morning program that will combine an opportunity for star-gazing with the chance to watch as the marsh creatures wake up and begin a new day.

The August 6, 2008, Canton Daily Ledger carried a notice of the event.

20080806-CDL-StargazingatEmiquon.pdf

UIS' new Emiquon Field Station opens

UIS has opened its new state-of-the-art field station at the Nature Conservancy's Emiquon Preserve, on the Illinois River near Havana.

State Journal-Register reporter Chris Young attended the ribbon-cutting ceremonies on Friday, April 25, and spoke to station director Michael Lemke as well as to officials from Dickson Mounds Museum and the Illinois chapter of the Nature Conservancy. UIS, Dickson Mounds, and the Nature Conservancy are partners in the project, which will provide learning opportunities not only to students and scientists, but to the general public.

Download a pdf file of the article
20080426-sjr-EmiquonFieldStationopens.pdf

Emiquon Field Station will open this spring

When UIS' new Emiquon Field Station opens this spring, the partnership that has been established among the university, the Nature Conservancy, and Dickson Mounds Museum will allow for a sharing of resources as well as educational and research programs that would previously have been very difficult.

An article in the February 2, 2008, State Journal-Register reports on the progress of construction and gives readers a preview of the possibilities the facility has to offer.

Download a PDF file of the article:
20080202-sjr-EmiquonFieldStation.pdf