By Alyssa Nyberg, Restoration Ecologist at Kankakee Sands
Conrad Station Savanna Nature Preserve, located on the north end of Kankakee Sands, is an ideal place for a springtime walk. Not only will you be delighted by spring wildflowers, you will likely also get to see a flying checkerboard!
Though many birds migrate back to Indiana in the spring, red-headed woodpeckers (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) are year-round residents here in Newton County. These red, black and white feathered birds, thus affectionately called checkerboards, are especially easy to see before the trees leaf out – zipping between tree trunks in search of insects to eat, or perched on tree trunks in search of nesting cavities.
Watch for the bright red feathers on their head which provide a stark contrast to their black wings and white underbelly and tail. Both males and female red-headed woodpeckers have these color markings, and they want to be seen!
The healthy open savannas and woodlands of Conrad Station Savanna—in which red-headed woodpeckers can feed, find safety and raise their young—are their preferred habitat. This habitat is greatly enhanced by the used of prescribed fire. The science shows that there is a strong positive correlation of red-headed woodpeckers with burned areas.
Prescribed fire is a critical component of keeping grasslands and woodlands healthy and thriving. These systems evolved with fire – the plants depend on it, as well as the insects and animals of those habitats. Healthy ecosystems are ones that can resist decline, adapt to change, and be sustained over time. TNC and Department of Natural Resources staff regularly conduct prescribed burns here in Newton County, and in fact all over the United States.
The Nature Conservancy is an international organization and conducts prescribed fire all over the world! In fact, Indiana Kankakee Sands staff member, Olivia Schouten (Indiana TNC) and Rob Littiken (Illinois TNC) recently returned from a week-long workshop in the country of Belize in Central America where they were involved in an education exchange on prescribed burning. Olivia attended the fire workshop for the first time to grow her experience specifically on the topic of Wildfire Response. Rob returned again this year to assist with the planning and presentation.
Our very own Indiana TNC staff are featured in a 5-minute video to help familiarize people all across the globe about the benefits of prescribed fire. The video is called “Return the Burn” and can be found at on our Indiana webpage.
Interested to possibly join our prescribed fire team of staff and volunteers? Great! There is a free online course through the National Wildfire Coordination group which takes about 40 hours to complete, and a mandatory instructor-led field day. Once you are certified as a Firefighter Type 2, you can help keep natural areas healthy and home to the stunning red-headed woodpeckers, and so many other grassland and savanna species. Reach out to us at indiana@tnc.org or 317-951-8818 to find out more.
This Spring, as you walk among the ruins of the old town of Conrad in Conrad Station Savanna nature preserve, let the red-headed woodpeckers remind you that this special place, like so many other natural areas in Indiana, are thriving thanks to the dedication of a many trained staff and volunteers and a robust fire program.
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The Nature Conservancy’s Kankakee Sands is an 8,400-acre prairie and savanna habitat in Northwest Indiana, open every day of the year for public enjoyment. It’s an exciting year for Kankakee Sands, as we are making major improvements to popular areas within the preserve. If you plan to visit, please check our Facebook page to see if any of the areas you want to see will be impacted by the construction. For more information about Kankakee Sands, visit www.nature.org/KankakeeSands or call the office at 219-285-2184.
Friends of the Sands 