Official Government Website
Departments: Forest Preserve

DeKalb County Forest Preserve

Notice:
3 miles of the DeKalb County section of the Great Western Trail will be closed for trail safety as new the limestone resurfacing project begins in April or May 2023.
This project will be completed by May 31st 2023.
Once the contractor begins, the resurfacing and compacting work is estimated to take one week if weather is favorable.
Sections of the 3 miles will be closed when contractor is working.
Thank you for your patience while this work is being done.


The mission of the DeKalb County Forest Preserve District is to acquire lands in order to preserve, protect, restore and restock the flora, the fauna and the natural beauties of such lands, in their natural state and condition, for the education and recreation of our citizens.

The following short paragraphs are an attempt to express a few of the details and a bit of the essence of the various DeKalb County Forest Preserves. We live in a thriving agricultural community that was, 160 years ago, an ocean of prairie grass, with scattered islands of woods and oak savannah’s. These preserves serve as small living museums that give us the opportunity to study and reflect on the past, add serenity and beauty to our present, offer many recreational and educational opportunities and plan thoughtfully for the future.

New Education Programs, Camp Russell Registration and Volunteer Opportunities and Public Events have been posted!


Local birder and photographer Ken Reinert led the Afton Spring Bird Walk.

It was a fun outing, as we had 10 in our party!

66 species counted between 9-11 am!

Some highlights included Sora, Green Heron, Least Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Great Crested Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Eastern Kingbird, Blue-headed Vireo, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Marsh Wren, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Eastern Meadowlark, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Black-and-white Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Northern Parula, Magnolia Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Palm Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting

Special thanks to Karen Lund for her assist with this walk.


 

TERRY HANNAN
Superintendent

Phone: 815-895-7191
thannan@dekalbcounty.org

Legislative Center
200 N. Main Street
Sycamore, IL 60178
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Please call to schedule a visit

TERRY HANNAN
Superintendent

Phone: 815-895-7191
thannan@dekalbcounty.org

Legislative Center
200 N. Main Street
Sycamore, IL 60178
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Please call to schedule a visit

Notice:
3 miles of the DeKalb County section of the Great Western Trail will be closed for trail safety as new the limestone resurfacing project begins in April or May 2023.
This project will be completed by May 31st 2023.
Once the contractor begins, the resurfacing and compacting work is estimated to take one week if weather is favorable.
Sections of the 3 miles will be closed when contractor is working.
Thank you for your patience while this work is being done.


The mission of the DeKalb County Forest Preserve District is to acquire lands in order to preserve, protect, restore and restock the flora, the fauna and the natural beauties of such lands, in their natural state and condition, for the education and recreation of our citizens.

The following short paragraphs are an attempt to express a few of the details and a bit of the essence of the various DeKalb County Forest Preserves. We live in a thriving agricultural community that was, 160 years ago, an ocean of prairie grass, with scattered islands of woods and oak savannah’s. These preserves serve as small living museums that give us the opportunity to study and reflect on the past, add serenity and beauty to our present, offer many recreational and educational opportunities and plan thoughtfully for the future.

New Education Programs, Camp Russell Registration and Volunteer Opportunities and Public Events have been posted!


Local birder and photographer Ken Reinert led the Afton Spring Bird Walk.

It was a fun outing, as we had 10 in our party!

66 species counted between 9-11 am!

Some highlights included Sora, Green Heron, Least Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Great Crested Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Eastern Kingbird, Blue-headed Vireo, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Marsh Wren, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Eastern Meadowlark, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Black-and-white Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Northern Parula, Magnolia Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Palm Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting

Special thanks to Karen Lund for her assist with this walk.


 

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