2026 Update:
We are pleased that we have received another generous grant from the Illinois Prairie community foundation Nature and Environment Fund. The $2000.00 awarded to the FBC Community Pollinator Habitat Phase three will be used for educational signs. The Support from IPCF has allowed us to do so much to enhance the habitat.
Since beginning the Prairie Habitat project, the Facilities committee has been hard at work making additions to the pollinator habitat. Some of our money from the Illinois Prairie Community Foundation grant has been used to purchase 4 bluebird nest boxes. These were installed at the edges of the habitat to give the birds a good flight path and to be easily accessible for clean out. In order to try to attract bluebirds as intended, we need to be diligent about checking the boxes once a week and cleaning out other bird eggs before they hatch. We need to monitor the boxes from May – September. If you are interested in signing up to assist with this necessary task, please see Sue Strauch who will be compiling a list of names. Instructions will be provided on how to clean out the box.
We were also gifted a purple martin house which you will see at the top of a tall pole off the parking lot. This was donated to us by the Grand Prairie Bird Alliance who will be maintaining it. Eventually we hope that the church will take on this responsibility. This has been strategically placed so these birds have an open flight path from the pond at Northpoint to the box. It may take a year before we see these birds, but we do hope that they will come!
Additionally, we have had donations to provide for benches visitors can use to enjoy the paths mown into the habitat.
