The Burnham Pollinator Habitat

We’re revitalizing Burnham, IL with native pollinator habitats that will benefit the community, biodiversity, and the environment for years to come.

We are partnering with the Chicago Region Trees Initiative (“CRTI”) (The Morton Arboretum) and our restoration partner Woods to Wetlands to install and create this beautiful green space that will support a diverse range of native pollinator species essential to the Greater Chicago area’s ecosystem.

Beneficiaries include the endangered rusty-patched bumblebee (Bombus affinis), common eastern bumblebee (Bombus impatiens), green sweat bee (Agapostemon virescens), and mason bees (Osmia spp.), which play critical roles in pollinating native wildflowers and crops. Butterflies such as the monarch (Danaus plexippus), Eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus), and silver-spotted skipper (Epargyreus clarus) will find refuge in the habitat’s milkweed and prairie plants. Birds like the ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) and American goldfinch (Spinus tristis) will benefit from abundant nectar and seed sources. Additionally, hoverflies, flower beetles, and other essential insects will thrive in the restored environment, ensuring pollination for a wide array of native plants such as milkweed (Asclepias spp.), wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), and purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea). This habitat will not only preserve these pollinators but also bolster biodiversity in the region.

Pollinators like the endangered rusty-patched bumblebee and majestic monarch butterfly are disappearing, and with them, the vibrant ecosystems they sustain. With your help, the Burnham Pollinator Habitat can become a thriving sanctuary for these vital species in the Greater Chicago area. Every dollar you give plants native flowers, restores habitats, and safeguards the future of Illinois’s native bees, butterflies, and birds.

Your gift is an investment in biodiversity, food security, and the beauty of our natural world. Together, we can turn the Burnham Habitat into a haven for pollinators and a symbol of hope for future generations.

The Burnham Pollinator Habitat project improves habitat quality in a mixed-use suburban landscape with native plants. Our site, near Burnham Prairie, improves stepping stone habitat for declining plants, pollinators, and birds. Our project addresses invasive species removal and native tree and wildflowers plantings to bolster ecological function, ecosystem services, and neighborhood beautification.