2021 Map of Birds

About this map

Birds and Pinkstaff anchor this 2021 study of the southeastern Illinois landscape, where the rural topography is defined by the wandering course of the Embarras River and its accompanying Old Channel Embarras River. The terrain transitions from the river bottomlands in the southwest to the upland agricultural fields of the north, punctuated by a remarkable density of family and community burial grounds. Genealogists will find significant value in the documentation of numerous small cemeteries, including Nuttle Cem, Conover Cem, Mickey Cem, and Dollahan Cem, which are scattered across the quadrangle near the boundary of Crawford and Lawrence counties. Smaller settlements like Oil Grove and Riddleville sit among the headwaters of Brushy Creek, reflecting the traditional crossroads development of this region.