Volunteers Needed for Spring Creek Clean Up
Earth Day project will benefit wIld birds and native vegetation.
Definitely, wear pants, work boots and leather gloves and invest in a good bug spray. Once supplied, just show up at the aptly named, Spring Creek in Barrington Hills, ready to work.
The Clean Up Event, which takes place on Saturday, April 16 is sponsored by: Audubon-Chicago Region, Friends of Spring Creek Forest Preserves, Northwest Cook County Sierra Club, Spring Creek Stewards, Native Seed Gardeners, Tallgrass Restoration, LLC, The Riding Club of Barrington Hills and supported by Cub Scout Pack #209, Palatine, and Citizens for Conservation.
According to Donna Hriljac, who volunteers with The Sierra Club, there’s plenty to do and age doesn’t matter. Kids will be picking up after-winter debris and adults will be spending a large percentage of their time disposing of an invasive shrub called European Buckthorn.
Farmers initially introduced Buckthorn to the area and it has become a hazard to open land and its occupants. “It makes a really nice hedge row,” Hriljac explained. Once planted, though it overwhelms native vegetation.
The shrub also poses a problem for wild birds. The berries act as a diuretic, which aggressively spreads ingested seeds while killing off many native birds. “In winter its rough on them because they eat the berries because they’re always hungry,” Hriljac said.
The berry, along with factors such as deforestation and disease, have contributed to a substantial reduction in the wild bird population in the United States. According to US Forest Service: Wings Across the Americas, there are 850 species of birds in America and the US Fish and Wildlife Service lists 90 as endangered with more than 200 at risk.
One of the reasons Spring Creek is targeted for a cleanup each year is the size of the property. “It’s large enough to try and help restore the nesting birds.”
Birds can be very particular as to where they nest, according to Hriljac. “They require a certain amount of acreage before they nest because if there’s one tree in the middle that a hawk can sit on, they won’t nest there. So the area has to be cleared.”
Everyone involved hopes for a lovely Spring day, but Hriljac warns the cleanup day is much like the Postal Service, the job will be delivered no matter the weather. “As long as it’s not lightning, then we’ll stop early."
The event will last from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Lunch will be provided and U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean and John Rogner, Field Office Supervisor for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will speak during that time.
After the meal, participants will head out again and get to work. “The more work we do, the more the areas get cleared and the more critters get to live there,” said Hriljac.
If You Go:
What: Spring Creek Clean Up
When: April 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Spring Creek is north of Interstate 90, near Barrington Hills, just west of the Sears complex on Higgins Road.
From the New Sutton Road and Higgins Road intersection, it's about two miles west on Higgins Road. There will be Sierra Club signs near the drive.
Turn right on Spring Creek Drive, the work location is about one to two miles north on the access road.
Look for Sierra Club signs.
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