16 THE” A OUD UB OOcNS Beer eka 
Elk Grove Forest Preserve 
By Puiuie N. STEFFEN 
THE ELK GROVE RESERVE is made up of woods and hidden swamps and 
fragments of virgin prairie — a unique remainder of the aboriginal 
America that has vanished. It is comprised of 1660 acres along Route 72 
(Higgins Road), 25 miles northwest of Chicago and % mile west of 
Arlington Heights Road. 
A recent action of the Cook County Board of Commissioners has ap- 
proved enlargement of Elk Grove Forest Preserve by 565 acres. Acquisi- 
tion of the land is expected to take about two years, and will extend the 
southern boundary of the preserve westward to Beisner Road, which will 
become the new western boundary. 
Part of the present area includes heavily timbered, unspoiled woods, 
with groves of white and black oak, hard maple, and mixed oak-maple 
forests. There is also a grove of pine trees on the northern edge of the 
preserve. In other areas are hidden swamps, largely overgrown with cat- 
tails, providing refuge for wild ducks, bitterns, rails, herons, pheasants, 
and muskrats. The reserve literally teems with bird life in season. 
I have recorded over 100 species of birds, both migratory and resident. 
The list includes woodcock, common snipe (jacksnipe), upland plover, blue- 
winged teal, red-shouldered hawk, red-tailed hawk, Baltimore oriole, scar- 
let tanager, cedar waxwing, many varieties of warblers, vireos, flycatchers 
and sparrows. The great blue heron and the American egret are found 
along Salt Creek during the late summer. 
In the northwest part of the Elk Grove tract is a secluded prairie, 
surrounded by woods, that is seldom visited. This wilderness shrine is 
often beautified by unusual birds and wildflowers. There is also a large 
prairie on the east end of the grove, about % mile north of Higgins Road, 
where I often find upland plover during the spring and summer. It is 
likely that they nest there. The grove produces an abundance of wild 
flowers; here one may still find the cardinal flower. 
To my mind, this’is one of the most interesting and primitive forest 
preserves 1 Cook County. 2135 Balmoral Avenue, Chicago 25, Illinois 
fl (s) FI 
Contributions Invited 
Articles, essays and stories dealing with bird life, nature study or cun- 
servation problems. are always welcome, and will be printed within the 
limits of the space available. Manuscripts should be typed double space 
on one side of letter-size paper. Members and friends of the Society are 
requested to send their communications to the Editor. 
Press of Physicians’ Record Co., Chicago 5 
