Heron Pond – Little Black Slough Nature Preserve facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Heron Pond – Little Black Slough Nature Preserve |
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Heron Pond
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 Heron Pond – Little Black Slough Nature Preserve
Location in Illinois
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| Location | Johnson County, Illinois |
| Nearest city | Vienna |
| Area | 1,861 acres (753 ha) |
| Designated: | 1972 |
| Official name: Cache River and Cypress Creek Wetlands | |
| Designated: | 1 November 1994 |
| Reference #: | 711 |
The Heron Pond – Little Black Slough Nature Preserve is a special protected area in Johnson County, Illinois. It's about 5 miles (8 km) southwest of a town called Vienna. This preserve is a very important wetland area.
In 1972, it was named a National Natural Landmark. This means it's a place with unique natural features. It's also part of the Cache River area. Because of this, it's recognized as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. This is an agreement to protect important wetlands around the world.
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Exploring the Preserve's Nature
The Heron Pond – Little Black Slough Nature Preserve protects a large part of the Cache River area. It includes different types of land. You can find tall limestone cliffs called Wildcat Bluff. There's also the flat land near the Cache River, which is called a floodplain. And there's a slightly drier forest area known as Boss Island.
Amazing Plants and Trees
The wet parts of this Nature Preserve are home to some very old and special trees. You can see ancient bald cypress trees here. There are also old water tupelo trees. These trees are very important for the wetland ecosystem.
Wildlife and Animals
The preserve is full of interesting animals. A heron rookery (a place where many herons nest) has been seen here. The Wildcat Bluff area might be named after the bobcat, which is a wild cat that lives here. You can also spot river otters playing in the water.
Birdwatchers love to visit Heron Pond – Little Black Slough. They come to see many different raptors, which are birds that hunt for food. These include the black vulture, the red-shouldered hawk, and the barred owl. You can also hear and see many colorful songbirds. Some of these are the Kentucky warbler and the yellow-throated warbler.
Visiting the Preserve Today
The Heron Pond – Little Black Slough Nature Preserve is a very large area. It covers about 1,861 acres (753 hectares) of land. You can get to it easily from U.S. Highway 45.
This preserve is the biggest natural area in Illinois that is owned and managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. They work to keep it safe and healthy.
The nearby town of Cypress, Illinois, got its name from the many cypress trees in this area. These are the same beautiful trees that are now protected within the Heron Pond – Little Black Slough Nature Preserve.
