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Nature lovers gather for pollination fest
By Tony Sapochetti
tsapochetti@pantagraph.com
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FUNKS GROVE — People from all over Illinois came out Sunday to experience nature and learn more about everything that hums, buzzes and flutters.

A quick tractor ride down a scenic country road led people to the first Hummingbird Festival and Pollination Celebration at the Sugar Grove Nature Center.

Center director Angela Smith said the six months of preparation for the festival by Sugar Grove and the Illinois Audubon Society have paid off.

“It’s going great so far, and we are absolutely thrilled,” Smith said. “It seemed natural to have a hummingbird festival in conjunction with a pollination celebration so we can talk about some of the wonderful animals out there that help with pollination and so forth.”

A full lineup of free events related to bees, hummingbirds, butterflies and moths was set up between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Visitors could participate in animal seminars, bee tracking and honey extraction, and even a pollination puppet show for the kids. A banding event was scheduled for 3 p.m., giving visitors an up-close look at ruby-throated

hummingbirds, which will be used as research tools.

Aside from the events, several vendors showcased hummingbird feeders, nature photography, potted herbs and, of course, natural homemade honey.

Jeanine Morse, owner of Wild Birds Unlimited in Normal, set up shop to sell hummingbird feeders and hosted seminars, which she said were packed with people and filled with tips on how to attract wild hummingbirds into someone’s yard.

“Mainly you have to develop a good habitat with the right kind of shrubs, trees and flowers in your garden, and to provide enough water,” Morse said. “It’s also fun to put nectar feeders up.”

Hummingbirds’ peak months

Morse said August and September are peak months to see hummingbirds in Illinois, as new birds are being born and are getting ready to migrate south. She said the birds fly between 1,500 and 2,000 miles from North America to South America.

A combination of nature lovers and entire families were on hand for the inaugural festival, with some picnicking at one of the center’s nine gardens.

“My love for wonderful birds and flowers was what brought me out here today,” said Faith Mund of Pontiac. “It’s just a wonderful event.”

The public’s reaction had organizers buzzing.

“It’s good to see a lot of interest in nature with families ... and have them learn more about the pollinators in our area,” Morse said.

Adding the festival to the center’s calendar gives Sugar Grove a big event for almost every season, with the Maple Sirup Experience in February and the Birds & Blooms Festival in April.

Smith said she’d like to see the hummingbird and pollination festival become an annual event.

Take a look
What would you do if you planned a festival and guest of honor didn't show? Wing it. Lecturer and bird bander Vernon Kleen of Springfield explained why they band birds to a group during the Hummingbird Festival and Pollination Celebration at the Sugar Grove Nature Center Sunday afternoon. No hummingbirds were spotted. (Pantagraph/LORI ANN COOK) July, 29, 2007)
Mike Glennon of Normal uses the cold knife method to cut the wax from the honey comb to extract the honey by centrifical force at Sugar Grove Nature Center during the Hummingbird Festival and Pollination Celebration Sunday afternoon. (Pantagraph/LORI ANN COOK) July, 29, 2007)
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Reader comments on this story - 8 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Jimbo wrote on Jul 30, 2007 8:45 PM:

" poor yo.....I used to go there and no others do...waaa...waaa...lighten up...the staff there does a tremendous job of keeping nature the way it was and should be.....they do a excellent job of educating our youth one of whom may someday grow up to be a leading conservationist. Kudos to all the hard workers and volunteers who made my Sunday one of the most enjoyable I have had in a long time. Count me in as a fan and a soon to be financial supporter of this fine group and place. "

Rocky Racoon wrote on Jul 30, 2007 2:13 PM:

" Reporting Live from FUNKS GROVE! Somebody just shot me three times with a red ,white and blue Paint ball. "

Bigfoot? wrote on Jul 30, 2007 1:44 PM:

" Has Bigfoot returned to Funks Grove recently? "

LittleMac wrote on Jul 30, 2007 9:04 AM:

" I love Funk's Grove. And everyone should as well. Just remember: wear your respirator. There's a lot of 'baddies' floating around in the air. From all those adjacent farm fields. "

The Funk Brothers wrote on Jul 30, 2007 7:52 AM:

" Quoting...They are Motown's unsung heroes. Known as The Funk Brothers, the studio band put the backbeat into hits for Diana Ross & The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, etc. They played on more #1 records than The Beatles, Beach Boys, Rolling Stones and Elvis Presley combined, but no one knew their names.....By Harv Pauly.. Now you know the rest of the story..Good Day! "

I love Funks Grove wrote on Jul 30, 2007 7:27 AM:

" It's one of the most beautiful spots in the area. My kids love to go hiking to see what kinds of wild life they can spot. Birds, butterflies, foxes, snakes and deer. After a hike we go into the nature center to watch the birds feeding in the bird sancturary. This also a wonderful spot to explore in the fall with the maples all turning bright gold. "

yo wrote on Jul 30, 2007 6:49 AM:

" i spent many hours in funks grive over the years photographing birds, deer etc. now it is being distroyed by this nature center drawing more and more people into the area where animals, birds, etc roamed with out hundreds of people bugging them. people just can not leave a place alone with out messing things up for the wildlife. "

Just AWESOME.......... wrote on Jul 29, 2007 10:52 PM:

" I wish I could have been there for this event. I used to live at Funk's Grove and miss it so much. What a wonderful place to live and to visit! I miss the wildlife - deer coming up to the backdoor, birds of all kinds flying around, etc. An absolutely beautiful place!! "
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