Fall 1999

Mound's elevation — 790 feet — makes it a great spot for birders

Lake County, Illinois

Throughout the ages, Johnson's Mound in Kane County has been a hot (and cold) spot of activity. The mound is a kame, an ice age land formation created by a river or depression in a glacier that deposited the accumulating sediment, thus forming a mound. Historically, this mound was the site of a treaty-signing between Native Americans and European settlers. The signatories to the treaty gathered under the famous Shabbona elm tree on the mound, which was named after a Potawatomi Indian chief and had been used for centuries by Native Americans as a meeting place. Hundreds of years old and measuring 36 feet in circumference, the tree unfortunately fell victim to Dutch elm disease in 1972.

This area was used by settlers for many years. In 1836, Martha Beeler, born on the mound, became the first white child born in Kane County. Today some of the descendants of these settlers still meet every year at the mound to commemorate those who came before them. A signboard at the preserve tells the story of the historic Shabbona elm tree and the various families that lived on the mound. Among them was the Johnson family, for whom the preserve was named and who were known to have hosted many famous guests at their home, including Abraham Lincoln.

The area's geological and natural importance was recognized early by conservationists, and it was the first parcel of land purchased by the Kane County Forest Preserve District in 1926. Part of the site consists of a woodland of bur and white oak, sugar and black maple, and hickory, blue ash, and alternate leaf dogwood. bur oak and white oak. But in other areas, Forest Preserve volunteers have been working to restore the rare prairie ecosystem to Johnson's Mound. Small relics of the once-thriving prairie located at the southwest corner of the preserve and on a separate field to the north of the mound testify to much of this work. Some plants, such as cup plant and big bluestem sown as seeds, are now thriving. Other restoration efforts are being geared toward removing problematic black locust and garlic mustard. Many species of woodland flowering plants can also be found in the preserve such as spring beauty, trout lily, wild bergamot, thimbleweed, celandine, Dutchman's breeches and false mermaid.

A variety of raptors nest at the site including Swainson's hawk, red-tailed hawk, and great horned owl. The high elevation — 790 feet! — makes Johnson's Mound an excellent stopping point during migration, allowing birders to observe and enjoy seasonal residents such as indigo buntings, various woodpeckers, and some warblers. Animals found at the preserve include red fox, coyote, chipmunk, white-tailed deer, among others.

The wide, paved trail that leads through the 185-acre preserve travels up to an open area near the top of the kame that has a pavilion, water fountain, and bathroom. The main trail branches off into other unpaved trails that wind through the preserve. This spot is sure to make an excellent spot for fall gatherings among the changing leaves.

— Amelia Taylor