Spring 2002

One of the state's finest woodlands attracts a plethora of migrating birds

Lake County, Illinois

Walk through the Ryerson Conservation Area woodlands along the Des Plaines River on a spring day...listen!...a wood thrush’s distant floating trills get interrupted by the mournful shrieking Klee-yur of the red-shouldered hawk. Next to your feet are sedges springing from the soil, and spring beauties — pink and delicate — absorbing sunshine.

This 552-acre wildlife sanctuary in Deerfield, owned by the Lake County Forest Preserves, contains one of the state’s finest woodlands. Visitors can delight in squirrels licking sap from maple trees in February, skunk cabbage blooming in March, ephemeral ponds teeming with blue-spotted salamanders and spring peepers in April, and budding oaks and other trees along the river attracting a plethora of migratory birds, including as many as 30 or more species of warblers on one May day. Dr. Scott Robinson, a leading scientist in songbird study who works at the Illinois Natural History Survey, says preserves like Ryerson Woods "are priceless for migratory birds."

The Des Plaines River has played an important part in the history of the land that is now Ryerson Woods. In pre-settlement days, lightning fires swept westward across Illinois, maintaining prairies. The river served as a fire break, allowing the development of a rich mesic forest. Songbirds undoubtedly used the river corridor to migrate long before humans settled here. Ryerson Woods contains 460 species of flowering plants, 16 species of mammals, nine species of reptiles, seven species of amphibians, and 300 species of birds, 64 of which breed in summer, including the state-threatened red-shouldered hawk.

Ryerson Woods retains its historical majesty because of the foresight of Lake County’s early residents as well as the dedication of their descendants and others who care for it today. In the early 1930s, Chicagoan Edward L. Ryerson purchased what is now Ryerson Woods and built a cabin. He helped establish the Lake County Forest Preserve District in the late 1950s and donated part of his land to create this preserve. Today, 279 acres of the woods are dedicated as an Illinois Nature Preserve. The Friends of Ryerson Woods helps to restore and protect the nine ecosystems here. One of Ryerson’s descendants, George Ranney, Jr., serves as vice-chair to the Friends of Ryerson Woods.

Ryerson Woods also has a proud history of ecological management. Prescribed burning and deer control, once controversial, have proven highly beneficial to the ecosystem overall. (The deer exclosure near the Visitor’s Center vividly demonstrates the need to keep populations in check.) In the absence of fire, sugar maples were eliminating reproduction of the ancient oaks. Under a natural fire regime, there was space at Ryerson for both oaks and maples, but sugar maples can emerge as seedlings and remain for years until an opening in the canopy allows sun in. Oak seedlings, are adapted to sunnier conditions and die if enough light isn’t present. A forest consisting mostly of sugar maples provides less food for wildlife habitat than one that also includes oaks, hickories, and other trees.

The Lake County Forest Preserves staff and volunteers are working to restore that balance. "During the past few years, we have suppressed thousands of maple seedlings at Ryerson Woods," says restoration ecologist Ken Klick. He and other staff members and volunteers are also serving as surrogate squirrels, planting acorns to encourage more oak growth. Joan Palinscar, Ryerson Woods’ volunteer steward, arranges workdays to cut buckthorn and remove garlic mustard.

Restoration here has created conditions for the state-endangered purple-fringed orchid to bloom again. A volunteer found this rare plant growing in large numbers at Ryerson Woods several years ago after botanists had feared it had disappeared forever.

The Visitors Center serves as an important link to Ryerson Woods’ history. Edward Ryerson and his wife, Nora, built the Greek Revival style house, which is now listed on the National Register of Historical Places. The building is being renovated thanks to voter-approved bonds and private donations — and there are more improvements in the works.

Picnicking and pets are not allowed. Bicycling is permitted on paved roads only. Six miles of flat trails are open for hiking and for cross-country skiing in winter, weather permitting. Public and school programs abound year-round. In May, the Friends of Ryerson Woods and Lake County Forest Preserves sponsor the Smith Symposium, a series of workshops and restoration projects as well as a silent auction, dinner, and keynote speaker. April, May, June, September, and October are prime-time for birding. AutumnFest and Halloween Hikes are in October, and maple syrup demonstrations are in March.

For more information, call (847) 968-3321 or visit www.ryersonwoods.org.

— Sheryl De Vore

What is Chicago Wilderness? | Store | Donations | Contact Us | Home

Copyright 2006 Chicago Wilderness Magazine, Inc.
Revised .