Busse Prairie Preserve, typically closed to the public, will welcome visitors for rare open house

Rock River Current
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BELOIT, Wis. — A 327-acre nature preserve that is typically restricted from the public will welcome visitors this month for a rare open house.

The Jerry and Kathy Busse Prairie Preserve, 7329 W. St. Lawrence Ave., will open to the public from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 28. The prairie was acquired by the Natural Land Institute in September, and staff will be stationed at key points around the preserve to show off its features and talk about future plans.

The preserve is home to grassland and wetland habitats, several small ponds, Lake AJ, the Vanderpoel Family Bur Oak Grove and the Stephen and Dorothy Baits Trail. There is also a bald eagle’s nest and possible sightings of sandhill cranes, osprey, Henslow’s sparrows, meadowlarks, boblinks and multiple other birds.

Alan Branhagen, executive director of the Natural Land Institute, said that the Busse Prairie Preserve “is like the meadowlark capital of the world. They have a beautiful whistle that you are sure to hear while there.”

Bobolinks are another common spotting.

“Bobolinks are known as the upside-down bird because the male is light on top and dark on the bottom, while most birds are dark on top and light on the bottom,” Branhagen said.

Visitors should wear waterproof footwear due to wet trails. Hiking is mostly flat and easy to moderate.

To register for the event, call 815-964-6666 or go HERE.