APPLE RIVER — On May 8, Terrence Ingram, President of the Eagle Nature Foundation (ENF) conducted a Spring Big Bird Day at Apple Creek Prairie, Arboretum and Woods. He started conducting this annual bird count in 2016 to document the loss of birds to the agricultural sprays and the devastation that these sprays have been causing to the bird life in the area, as well as the damage to the insect and plant life, which is the lifeblood for the birds. Each year he has been seeing fewer and fewer birds, both in numbers and varieties.

This year on Big Bird Day, Ingram recorded only 40 species of birds. This is two fewer species than he had documented last year. Many of the species were different from those seen last year. In fact, of the 40 species he did see all day, he only saw one bird of 17 of those species, and two birds of six species.

To help the Eagle Nature Foundation raise money for their efforts to save the bald eagle and other endangered wildlife, Ingram is asking for dollar pledges for how many species of birds he identified that day. So far, Mr. Ingram has received $6.50 for each species seen that day. So far, ENF has received donations of $650 not considering the per species pledges.

For more information contact: Terrence N. Ingram, Exec. Director, Eagle Nature Foundation, 300 East Hickory St., Apple River, IL 61001, or by phone at 815-594-2306.