Nature's Storytellers

A Blog About Nature in Our DuPage Forest Preserves

Keriann Dubina

Keriann Dubina is an environmental interpreter with the Forest Preserve District. She received a B.S. in zoology and an M.S. in ornithology, both from Western Illinois University. She is a Certified Interpretive Guide by the National Association for Interpreters. She enjoys teaching about freshwater biology, animal behavior, ecology, and native gardening and design. She has more than 75 native plants in her yard along with birdbaths and native bee houses as she works to transform her yard into a hot spot for native wildlife.

Recent Posts

Mysterious Moths

on 7/7/21 10:32 AM By | Keriann Dubina | 0 Comments | Insider Wildlife Conservation Nature
Moths sometimes seem like the forgotten cousins of butterflies. While butterflies may be some of the most well-known insects in the world, there are many more species of moths. In fact, there are "only" 17,500 known species of butterflies compared to almost 160,000 species of moths. Nearly 11,000 of those can be found in the United States. With moths as numerous as they are, why do they seem so mysterious? Let's explore.
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Bird of the Year: the Pileated Woodpecker

on 1/28/21 12:07 PM By | Keriann Dubina | 0 Comments | Natural resources Wildlife Conservation Nature
They are master excavators, noisy borers and the basis for a cartoon character. And now the pileated woodpecker has been chosen as the 2021 bird of the year by the American Birding Association.
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It's for the Birds

on 9/24/20 8:36 AM By | Keriann Dubina | 0 Comments | Insider Recreation Take 5 Wildlife Nature
Do you like birds and wish you knew more about them? There are a few simple steps you can take to welcome birds in to your backyard and begin to identify them.
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Bee Informed About Native Bees

on 9/9/20 1:16 PM By | Keriann Dubina | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Wildlife Conservation Nature native plant
Did you know Illinois is home to more than 500 species of native bees?
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High-Flying Chimney Swifts

on 8/13/20 11:59 AM By | Keriann Dubina | 0 Comments | Natural resources Wildlife Conservation Nature
Have you ever seen something fluttering in the air that looks like a cigar with wings? Is it a bat? Is it a bird? It’s likely a chimney swift.
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Get Hooked on Fishing

A lot of people are looking for fun things to do outdoors close to home. If you haven’t already, why not try fishing?
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Spawning Time for Sunfish

on 7/1/20 3:52 PM By | Keriann Dubina | 0 Comments | Insider Wildlife Nature fish
Much like birds, sunfish like bluegill and bass are busy building nests in DuPage forest lakes in preparation for their growing families.
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Best Native Shrubs for Your Yard

With winter slowly fading and signs of spring arriving daily, gardeners are getting the itch.
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Slow Down on Spring Cleaning in Your Garden

With the recent warm weather and native plants starting to emerge from their winter slumber, folks may be eager to do some spring cleaning in their gardens.
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Sandhill Cranes Overhead!

What is that loud, bugling call high in the sky? It's sandhill cranes (Antigone canadensis) on their fall migration!
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Attracting Wildlife to Your Backyard

When people ask me how to attract birds, bees and butterflies to their backyard, my answer always begins with planting native plants. What do I mean by native plants? A plant is considered native if it has existed in an area or habitat and was not introduced by humans. Native plants have formed symbiotic relationships with native wildlife for thousands of years and, in turn, offer the best habitat. Adding native plants can help make your yard a great place for wildlife!
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