“Why It Matters” – March CORFA Photo Contest Winner!

By Joan VanGorp, Friends of Neal Smith NWR (IA)

 Jim Osborn’s post of the Bluebird Box Project at Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge, Illinois received the most likes in March. Jim wrote that thanks to this project at the refuge, the species is making a comeback. Volunteers regularly monitor the approximately 100 boxes on the refuge. One of the photos shows a nest with six new eggs! What a great project to help this beautiful bird!

Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge, located in southern Illinois, was established in 1947. The refuge's 44,000 acres of land and water contain a wide diversity of flora and fauna. Major habitat types on the refuge include hardwood forest, agricultural land, grazing units, brushland, wetlands, and lakes. The refuge provides significant resting areas for migratory birds utilizing the Mississippi Flyway.

The western 24,000 acres of the refuge provide a wide range of recreational opportunities and include a 4,050-acre wilderness area. The eastern portion, 20,000 acres, is a wildlife sanctuary, and public use is limited. Industrial activities on the refuge range from manufacturing and storage facilities to administrative offices. Many buildings now housing industries were used in the manufacturing of explosives during World War II, and they are still used for military ordnance production today.

Established in 2000, the Friends of Crab Orchard Refuge have worked collaboratively with the refuge staff and the community to fundraise, provide volunteer services, and support refuge programs. The Friends are dedicated to enhancing the use of the refuge for wildlife conservation, recreation, agriculture, and industry. They have more than 180 members and operate the Woodland Gift Shop.