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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.