High-quality Prairie in Jeopardy from Expansion at Chicago Rockford International Airport

By Christine Williamson, Conservation Chair
Photo Cassi Saari

Bell Bowl Prairie is located on Chicago Rockford International Airport property and is in the way of construction to make increase capacity for shipping cargo.

The 25-acre, ancient gravel prairie includes about five acres of very high-quality native plants, according to Rockford-based Natural Land Institute on its website.

The prairie is classified as a Category 1 Illinois Natural Areas Inventory site by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the highest quality-rating for a natural area because of the rarity and quality of its plant community.

A small portion of the prairie already has been destroyed, but the recent discovery of Rusty-patched Bumblebees, a Federally endangered species present on the property, has delayed construction until Nov. 1.

The prairie, located in Winnebago County, is not extensively birded, according to eBird, but 88 species have been recorded at the site with species of interest including Loggerhead Shrike; Red-shouldered Hawk; Upland Sandpiper; Bell’s Vireo; Blue Grosbeak; Lark Sparrow; and Western Meadowlark.

Chicago Ornithological Society members are urged to speak in support of preserving Bell Bowl Prairie, which you can easily do by clicking https://www.naturalland.org/bell-bowl-prairie/ to sign a letter to Governor J.B. Pritzker and email or call airport board members, local politicians, the IDNR and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Given that construction on the prairie site may begin Nov. 1, please don’t delay sending a note to the governor and other relevant legislators and stakeholders asking them to preserve all of Bell Bowl Prairie.