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FISCHER WOODS AND PRAIRIE
In 1835, Conrad Fischer came to this area from Germany.
His main farm was south of Grand Avenue. Cattle were grazed
on most of Fischer Woods. The prairie there is in such good
condition today because the land was not torn up by plowing
and planting. The trees in these woods used to be more open
than they are now. A horse and cart could be driven through
it.
In 1833, Hezekiah Dunklee came to this area from New
England. He selected a homestead site east of Salt Creek on
the northern edge of dense woods that came to be called
Dunklee's Grove. The woods were so dense that children would
only venture along the edge to pick berries. Hezekiah's
brother, Ebenezer brought apples to plant near here.
Illinois became a state in 1818, but it wasn't until
1833 that this area was opened up to white settlers. At that
time, the Potawatatomi Indians were forced to give up their
land and move west. What is left of Fischer Woods borders
Old Grand Avenue which was an old Indian trail. Arrowheads
have been found around the swamp near Church Road and Old
Grand Avenue.
Today, Fischer Woods is a 114.7 acre forest preserve.
It includes Kingery Woods - a 4.5 acre forest separated from
the main body of the preserve by Route 83; Fischer Prairie -
a 13.7 acre wet prairie that is slowly coming back to its
natural state after more than twenty years of clearing away such
non-native brush as buckthorn and multiflora rose; and
Dunklee's Grove - which currently covers 66 acres and is
the most valuable area in the preserve. Dunklee's Grove
was originally 200 acres.
MORE ABOUT DUNKLEE"S GROVE
Most of the information submitted here is from the
Natural Resource Management plan of the DuPage County Forest
Preserve. The management plan focuses on Dunklee's Grove
since it is the most valuable habitat in the Fischer Woods
Forest Preserve.
Dunklee's Grove contains several features that
contribute to its ecological value. The most important
feature is that it is a remnant natural area. Less than
one-tenth of one percent of Illinois' natural areas survived
relatively intact. Dunklee's Grove is one of thise
natural areas. Many of the flowers, trees, grasses and
shrubs have probably existed there for hundreds of years.
It is one of the few wet, upland forests in the DuPage
County Forest Preserve, and it is very ecologically diverse.
Several factors explain why this site is not as
degraded as other District woodlands. First, the grove is
a remnant natural area. It was probably grazed by farm
animals, but the soil was never disturbed by a plow.
As a result, the site's seed bank is relatively intact.
Second, wetland seed banks persist longer than dry habitat
seed banks. Third, the preserve's watershed is largely
self-contained. Therefore water pollution has not
degraded the grove as much as other natural areas.
The grove contains a wide variety of plant species,
including some that are of special concern and one that is
endangered/threatened. Trees include oak, basswood, white ash,
hickories, and sugar and silver maples. The most abundant
shrubs are gooseberries, currants, and hawthorns. As ecological
management continues, the shrubs will increase in abundance.
Over the past few years, hickory and some oak seedlings
begun to grow in the grove. Staff attribute this to the
increased amount of light reaching the ground, along with
less competition from non-native plants.
In the spring a carpet of wildflowers covers the
grove - red trillium, toothwort, Dutchman's breeches,
squirrel corn and Virginia waterleaf. Many District woodlands
are home to spring wildflowers, but their forest floors
are bare in summer and fall. However, one of the special
features of Dunklee's Grove is that it sports a strong
summer and fall flora. In summer, orange jewelweed and
smartweeds provide ground cover. There are also grasses,
sedges, and ferns. Twelve fern species have been recorded
in the woodland. This is a very high number, especially
for a small preserve. In the fall, asters, goldenrods,
and grasses provide ground cover and diversity.
The grove also contains several woodland ponds
and sloughs. They provide valuable, locally rare habitat
for wetland plants and amphibians. On both local
national levels, amphibian and reptile populations are
dramatically declining. These wet ponds, along with other
wetland areas in Fischer Woods are critical. Species such
as Western chorus frogs and Northern leopard frogs live
in these wet spots. Ponds that persist through July are
able to support amphibians that mate between April and
July. Therefore, the few persistent ponds in the grove
are especially valuable.
Several uncommon and rare bird species have been
observed at the preserve over the last fifteen years,
including two state threatened and watch list species.
The grove provides important habitat for red-bellied
woodpeckers, white-breasted nuthatches, and great horned
owls. The northeastern section of DuPage County is heavily
developed. Very few green spaces exist, and not many are
woodlands. Simply by virtue of its existence, Fischer Woods
is important to woodland birds. It gives them one of their
only homes in the northeastern part of the county.
Non-native brush has been mentioned several time.
Volunteers have been working to remove trees and bushes
that do not naturally occur in the forests and wetland.
In just the past two years, the woods have opened up. Over
three hundred plants grow here and the number is still
increasing - prairie trillium, buttercup, spring beauties,
and broadleaf pecune. After clearing th non-native brush
the land was getting full sun and the right environment,
so the prairie plants are blooming. The stewards and
volunteers did not plant those seeds. The seed bank was
already present and well preserved.
MORE ABOUT FISCHER PRAIRIE
Fischer Prairie borders the southeastern section
of Dunklee's Grove. One plant species of special concern
makes its home on the prairie. When ecological restoration
began at the site, the prairie was in much poorer health
than the woodland, and it still is. The prairie has been
more severely impacted and degraded than the woodland. At
the very least, it has been heavily grazed and the site
may also have been plowed. The main soil at the prairie
is wet and poorly drained. Ditches have been cut across
the prairie, significantly changing its hydrology and
wreaking havoc with the seed bank. When restoration began,
the prairie was almost completely covered by non-native
brush such as buckthorn, multiflora rose, and Tartarian
honeysuckle. After more than twenty years of management,
its floristic quality is steadily improving, and native
species are increasing their ground cover. Some of the
seed bank was present, but volunteers have also planted some
native species.
WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW?
Fischer Woods is bordered by homes on all sides.
To the south, Old Grand Avenue contains some retail
stores and businesses, as does the section of Church
Road along the southeastern boundary. A few neighbors
on the north-eastern, northwestern, and western
boundaries of the preserve have encroached on it.
There have been construction of illegal footpaths,
cutting of trees, and dumping of yard waste. Some
citizens also ride off-trail vehicles through the
preserve, destroying the flora and wildlife habitat.
In the spring of 1996, a great horned owl had
babies. Also, a couple red foxes, and some possum and
raccoons have been sighted. White tail deer can be seen
early in the morning or evening. In 1998, a forest
steward saw a coyote.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
A volunteer steward supervises the restoration
management of Fischer Woods. Volunteers show up as they
wish to help with seed collecting and brush cutting. You
can call Frank Keller at 630 663-0992.
This is a great idea for Scouting badges or
conservation service hours. Younger scouts can also do
litter patrol or nature hikes. Leaders should call
Portia Blume at 630 876-5920.
