Skip to content →

Mackinaw and East Bay Study Areas

The Mackinaw and East Bay study areas (ca. 175 m above mean sea level) are forested tracts approximately 20 km north of Illinois State University. There are 700 nestboxes of the type depicted on the link below on the Mackinaw study area and 120 nestboxes on the nearby East Bay site (see maps below). House wrens (Troglodytes aedon) are dependent on naturally occurring cavities for nest sites. Our nestboxes provide high-quality, roomy nest sites, which the wrens prefer over natural cavities, so 90-95% of the nests built on the study area are built in the boxes.  Each year a total of 600-900 nests are available for study. Click here for details on nestboxes.

The Mackinaw River bisects the Mackinaw Study Area
Photograph by Christine Poppe, spring 2021

Marsh Marigolds in Hill Country, Mackinaw Study Area
Photograph by Scott Sakaluk, ca. 2018
Nestboxes
Bluebells in Old ParkLands, Mackinaw Study Area
Photograph by Greg Simpson, 2018
Aerial Photograph of the Mackinaw Study Area
Aerial Photograph of the Mackinaw Study Area

Maps of Mackinaw and East Bay Study Areas

Mackinaw Study Area 2004-present
Mackinaw Study Area 1982-2003
East Bay Study Area 2008-present
East Bay Study Area 2004-2007
East Bay Study Area, 1981-2003
Skip to toolbar