Teamwork restores prairie habitat on Indiana's public lands
By Rob Seilheimer
Some places leave a mark. For me, it's the public land prairies and uplands of Indiana.
At first glance, they may seem ordinary. But walk through one once, and something stays with you.
The hum of bumblebees on wildflowers. The distant crow of a rooster tucked into the tallgrass. Quiet expanses where wildflowers bloom. The clear whistle of a bobwhite quail ringing out across the landscape.
These aren't just outdoor moments. They become part of you, part of your story.
That's why restoring prairie pollinator habitat here matters. A single prairie might hold your first hunt or your bird dog's last, a child's first monarch tagging, or a quiet hour when the wind reminds you to breathe.
These moments take root. Over time, the land shapes us just as we work to conserve it.
It's remarkable how a patch of ground can be overlooked by one person yet mean everything to someone else. Chances are, you have a place like that in your own story. Maybe it is where you flushed your first pheasant or watched a covey rise behind a steady pointing dog.
These places connect us to the land and remind us why conservation matters. They are not just coordinates on a map. They are memory, meaning and legacy. By conserving, restoring and keeping them open to all, we ensure future generations can write their own stories in that same soil.
Pollinators and Upland Birds: A Shared Habitat
Native pollinator habitat is more than a haven for bees and butterflies; it plays a vital role in upland bird conservation. Insects drawn to wildflowers provide essential protein for quail, pheasants and other ground-dwelling birds, especially during the early weeks when chicks rely almost entirely on protein-rich insect nutrition to survive.
Where pollinators thrive, birds benefit too. A diverse mix of native wildflowers boosts biodiversity and creates mosaic landscapes that support healthy brood-rearing habitat and vibrant wildlife communities.
Restoration Through Partnership
Pollinator habitat on Indiana's public lands is being restored acre by acre, thanks to a strong coalition of partners including Monarch Joint Venture, Pheasants Forever, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and many others.
These partnerships bring together a wide range of knowledge, resources and perspectives, allowing for more innovative and resilient conservation strategies. Partnerships amplify funding opportunities and help scale up habitat work in ways no single group could accomplish alone.
When conservation is collaborative, it grows beyond a single project. It becomes a movement rooted in shared purpose and driven by a deep commitment to the land.
"Working with these partners is a perfect example of how we can really move the needle and make a long-term impact for monarchs, other pollinators, upland birds, and biodiversity as a whole," says Jake Koenig, Midwest Habitat Program Manager for the Monarch Joint Venture.
quote left icon All the partners involved in these projects are invested in healthier ecosystem functions that benefit well beyond a single flagship species that might show up on a logo. quote right icon
Jake Koenig, Midwest Habitat Program Manager for the Monarch Joint Venture
He adds, "Being able to lean on a variety of funding sources and partners is pivotal to increasing high-quality habitat at a landscape scale and making these projects come to fruition."
In Indiana, that movement is visible in the habitat coming back to life. Through joint efforts, chapters and partners are pooling resources, aligning goals, and restoring habitat in ways that make a lasting impact.
Each acre is a testament to what's possible when conservationists, corporations, agencies, and nonprofits work together.
The Power of Local Chapters
A powerful model sets Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever apart in the conservation world. Through a unique chapter structure, local volunteers raise funds in their own communities and keep full control over how those dollars are spent. That means decisions are made by the people who live on the land, hunt the fields, and understand the habitat needs firsthand.
"Like many states, Indiana continues to lose valuable habitat to development each year," says Amanda Atkinson, President of the Central Indiana Chapter of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. "Here in Central Indiana, our PFQF chapter members witness that loss firsthand."
quote left icon That's why we're deeply committed to using the funds we raise to create the greatest possible impact for habitat restoration across the state. Seeing the results of our efforts, walking the land, hunting on it, and knowing we helped bring it back, is not just rewarding. It is essential to our mission. quote right icon
Amanda Atkinson, President of the Central Indiana Chapter of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever
Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever use a state account program that combines and leverages chapter contributions into a larger funding source available for habitat projects as well as land acquisition across the state. By combining chapter funds with grants, PF & QF expands habitat restoration across priority landscapes.
This collaborative model strengthens partnerships and ensures chapter dollars deliver measurable results statewide. Indiana's PF&QF State Coordinator John Kinney works closely with state and federal partners on strategic use of these funds.
Whether it's establishing habitat on public ground or improving access programs on private property, chapters invest in the projects that matter most to their region. This grassroots approach is driven by local passion, knowledge and commitment. It's conservation with ownership, and the results speak for themselves: thriving habitat, stronger wildlife populations, and communities that rally around the land they love.
Restoration Where It Counts: On Public Land for All
What makes this effort even more impactful is where it's happening: on public land that is open to everyone. These restored habitats aren't tucked away behind fences or no trespassing signs. They are part of Indiana's multiuse public lands. Whether you are hunting, fishing, birding, photographing wildlife or simply hiking through the prairie with the wind at your back, these spaces are meant to be experienced.
In the past two years alone, over 400 acres of pollinator habitat have been restored across a range of public sites, including:
- Cedar Swamp Wetland Conservation Area
- Deer Creek Fish & Wildlife Area
- Hovey Lake Fish & Wildlife Area
- Mississinewa Lake
- Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge
- Pisgah Marsh Wildlife Management Area
- Reynolds Creek Gamebird Area
- Tri-County Fish & Wildlife Area
- Willow Slough Fish & Wildlife Area
At Mississinewa Lake, 90 acres have been brought back to life through dormant seeding, a method that allows native plants to establish during the colder months. Managed by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, the property is showing signs of a strong ecological comeback.
quote left icon Finding dedicated partners who share our goals and passion for natural resources is what helps us take the next step in wildlife management. Establishing 90 acres of diverse pollinator plantings was well beyond what we thought possible. But with the support of partners, it quickly became reality. Projects like this are a perfect fit for public lands focused on upland wildlife habitat. quote right icon
Aron Showalter, Indiana DNR wildlife biologist
Today, those seeded areas are thriving with wildflowers and warm-season grasses, creating ideal habitat for pollinators and upland wildlife. Quail brood numbers are increasing, and pollinator activity has noticeably risen. These are clear indicators that the restoration is working.
Conservation through Collaboration
These acres of restored pollinator habitat across Indiana's public lands are more than just numbers on a map. They represent a growing movement rooted in access, biodiversity, and the shared joy of outdoor recreation. From Cedar Swamp to Willow Slough, each project reflects what's possible when conservation is driven by purpose.
But this work doesn't happen in isolation. It thrives through partnerships between federal and state agencies, local communities, corporations, conservation organizations like PF & QF, volunteers, and everyday outdoor enthusiasts.
Whether you are a hunter, birder, angler or advocate for native pollinators, your voice and support matter.
Now is the time to lean in. Support your favorite conservation organizations and chapters. Champion public land access. Form diverse partnerships that bring new energy and perspectives to habitat restoration.
The future of our uplands depends on what we do today. Wildlife like pheasants, quail and monarch butterflies rely on these landscapes, and so does the legacy we pass on to the next generation of conservation champions.
Rob Seilheimer, a longtime Pheasants Forever member, serves as Development Manager for Monarch Joint Venture, a key PF partner in habitat restoration and conservation. Each fall, Rob heads to the uplands with his Brittany Tag, and a crew of friends and bird dogs, chasing wild birds across wild places.
This story originally appeared in the Spring 2026 issue of Pheasants Forever Journal.