Lakewood Forest Preserve is a fairly large preserve and has a wide variety of habitats as well. Extensive grassland areas, which require walking off trail, are home to breeding Eastern Bluebird, Grasshopper Sparrow, Henslow’s Sparrow, Sedge Wren, Savannah Sparrow, and Orchard Oriole. During migration a Lark Sparrow is also possible, and Least Bitterns can sometimes be heard calling from the cattail marshes. During the winter, the extensive Pine plantings and wooded areas along Ivanhoe Rd. can house Red Crossbills, Yellow-rumped warblers, Red-breasted Nuthatches, and Barred Owls, as well as Pine Siskins, and Brown Creepers. Lakewood is also the only known breeding location for Clay-colored Sparrows in Lake County, at the far SE end of the Millenium trail in the extensive shrubland.

Bangs Lake is just a bit further down 176 to the west and is an excellent spot in the spring and fall for migrating waterfowl. An Eared Grebe was found here in April of 2011.

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