The Legacy at Lye Creek
By Shari McCollough
The Lye Creek Prairie Burn, located in northeastern Montgomery County, is an 83-acre oasis with a host of habitat for migratory and nesting birds. It’s made up primarily of wetlands and native grasses, providing the perfect stopover where birds can forage, preen, bathe and get some much-needed rest before continuing on their journey.
The name “Lye Creek Burn” came from a farmer in April 1936 who raked his cornstalks in wind rows and set fire to them. The soil, which was defined as “muck” back then, is actually a peat deposit in a glacial depression. This soil caught fire and burned very slowly for two weeks before the rains came. The fire consumed nearly 30 acres to the depth of three feet, down to the blue shale which underlies our region. So, the property was nicknamed “The Burn” forever after.
Which brings me to Clint Murray, a Crawfordsville resident who discovered the land back in 2001 while backroads birding. To his surprise, the field was covered with a vast number of shorebirds. Clint became the owner and caretaker of this little slice of bird heaven in 2006 and he developed it into excellent habitat for the weary migrants, annual nesters and year-round resident bird species.
Sadly, Clint passed away on February 13, 2024 while I was putting together this article. I thought it would be an injustice to not talk more about this man who worked tirelessly to manage the property, including enrolling it in the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP). He would use management tactics like spraying invasive plants all summer and burning the prairie each spring. Every year, Clint would burn nearly 15 acres of foxtail in preparation for the species he was most proud of: the Smith’s Longspur. He’s had visitors from all over the world visit The Burn just to see this species!
Clint loved to share his favorite birding highlights over the years, too. He spoke fondly about the Yellow Rail, Hudsonian Godwit, Marbled Godwits, Swainson’s Hawk, Black-necked Stilt and most recently, a Cinnamon Teal. Last year, The Burn had both spring and fall nesting Sedge Wrens, which have only been documented twice on the property. Clint himself has documented 200 species at The Burn, all via eBird for public data. Since the start of the Lye Creek Prairie Burn, 234 species have been documented and recorded- what an incredible amount of birds visiting this property! I even found a Harris’s Sparrow this past November!
When I came across The Burn ten years ago and received a private tour from Clint, I never expected to learn so much. He was the very first person in my life who taught me not only about birds but the importance of conservation. He was not only a mentor to me but a very close friend. The Lye Creek Prairie Burn is a private property that has been actively managed by a passionate, dedicated man who leaves behind a lasting legacy. The Burn is Clint and Clint is The Burn. This article is a tribute to my birding buddy who worked tirelessly for the birds.
To donate in Clint’s honor, the family requests memorial donations be made to two organizations that were very dear to him: Indiana Audubon and Eagle Creek Park Foundation. I hope readers are able to bird The Burn and experience the magic of Clint’s legacy for themselves.
