Thanks to major restoration efforts, Burnham Prairie’s mix of marsh, wet sand prairie and savanna create attractive breeding grounds for marsh birds—and a serene spot for birders.

On this page:

• Locations & Things to Do
• Nature Notes

Locations & Things to Do

Nature Notes

The wetlands at Burnham Prairie are attractive breeding grounds for marsh birds, including common gallinule, Virginia rail and American bittern. Restoration efforts here focus on protecting the mix of marsh, wet sand prairie and savanna that keeps these birds coming back to raise their young.

Within Burnham Prairie Nature Preserve’s emergent wetland and marshes, remnant populations of American reed, bur reed, and mermaid weed abound. Though small, Burnham Prairie’s sedge meadow is highly diverse, boasting strong remnant populations of plant species including tussock sedge, blue-joint grass and chairmaker’s rush.

The Forest Preserves worked with the US Army Corps of Engineers to build an earthen berm to prevent polluted stormwater from entering the wetlands. Ongoing invasive species control, including prescribed burns, protects the native plants that help these marsh birds thrive.