AMBOY – A rare and fragile northern Illinois ecosystem, including some endangered turtles, now is protected by the Illinois Audubon Society.

The nonprofit organization on Tuesday announced its acquisition of the Amboy Marsh, a 272-acre wetland complex near the intersection of U.S. Route 52 and Morman Road about 3 miles south of Amboy.

The complex, interspersed with black oak savannas, sedge meadows and sand prairie, has unique natural features that are home to one of the largest populations of nesting Blanding’s turtles in the state, said Tom Clay, executive director of the Audubon Society.