DuPage Forest Blog

Scientists Search for Clues to Grassland Bird Habitats

on 10/17/19 11:11 AM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Natural resources Community partnership Plants Wildlife Conservation Nature native plant

More than a dozen ecologists from local conservation agencies toured the 1,800-acre Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve in Naperville recently to explore and learn more about the high-quality grassland habitat that has been transformed into a birder’s paradise by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County.

Great Horned Owl Returned to its Home at Kline Creek Farm

on 10/9/19 2:37 PM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Volunteer Wildlife Conservation Nature Rehabilitation

Duane Marski was walking the grounds of Kline Creek Farm in West Chicago recently when he noticed a large bird walking on a back road near the orchards.

Enjoy Fall Colors on Tractor-Drawn Wagon Rides

on 9/23/19 12:51 PM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Locations Trails Recreation Take 5 Nature Group Danada Equestrian Center

Experience autumn in the preserves on a leisurely tractor-drawn wagon ride at Danada Equestrian Center and St. James Farm.

volunteer-natural-resources-woodland-volunteers

Lend a Hand at Volunteer Restoration Workdays

on 9/20/19 8:05 AM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Natural resources Community partnership Recreation Volunteer Take 5 Conservation Nature Group native plant

Want to give back to nature or earn community service hours? Help Mother Earth by lending a helping hand at our Volunteer Restoration Workdays. They’re a great way to make new friends, get some fresh air and exercise, and give back to nature.

Celebrate the Oak with Fun OAKtober Programs

on 9/16/19 8:56 AM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Natural resources Recreation Wildlife Conservation Nature

At the forest preserve, we love oaks. So we’re having a month-long celebration of oak trees and the things that make them great.

A Model of a Thriving 1920s Poultry Operation

on 9/13/19 11:31 AM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Recreation Volunteer Take 5

Millionaire coal baron Francis Stuyvesant Peabody is well known for his Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oak Brook, but few know that he also owned a farm on the sprawling grounds of the estate.

Connect to Nature through Mayslake Collage Classes

on 8/28/19 9:53 AM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Natural resources Recreation Take 5 Nature

A walk in nature and a mixed-media collage class may seem like they have nothing in common, but when the collage class is taught by “The Paper Alchemist,” aka Darien-based artist Laura Lein-Svencner, their similarities become abundantly clear.

Help Wanted: Pollen Patrol

on 8/21/19 9:23 AM By | Andres Ortega | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Natural resources Recreation Wildlife Conservation Nature

Summer is a busy time in DuPage County, but many of the area’s busiest residents are so small they almost go unnoticed, even though they’re performing one of the most important jobs on the planet.

Feeding Habits of Daring Dragonflies

on 8/12/19 2:24 PM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Natural resources Recreation Wildlife Conservation Nature

Dragonflies – while the origin of their name is a mystery, it is an appropriate description of these voracious predators. Both the aquatic nymphs and the flying adults are some of the largest and most aggressive insect hunters in the world.

Restoring More of the Great Prairie

on 8/5/19 10:57 AM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Natural resources Plants Conservation Nature native plant

The 358-acre West Chicago Prairie Forest Preserve in West Chicago is one of northeastern Illinois’ premier natural areas, containing more than 600 species of native plants and animals.

Start Your Day with Yoga on the Lawn

on 8/2/19 12:27 PM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Health and wellness Recreation Take 5 Nature

Yoga. It’s the oldest new thing around these days and for good reason.

Unexpected Garden Delights

on 7/30/19 1:39 PM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Plants Volunteer Group Danada Equestrian Center native plant

You expect to encounter native plants and wildlife when you visit DuPage forest preserves, but you don’t expect to find amazing gardens abloom in gorgeous flowers.

Birds of a Feather

on 7/24/19 8:42 AM By | Glenn Perricone | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Natural resources Wildlife Conservation Nature

While out birding at Blackwell Forest Preserve the other day, a very curious pair of trail users caught up to me and inquired about all the brown ducks on the water. What species were they? Where were all the mallards?

Help Wanted Spotting Rare Bumble Bee

on 7/19/19 8:20 AM By | Andres Ortega | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Natural resources Wildlife Conservation Nature

In ecology, timing is everything. While some organisms can be easily found through much of the growing season, others can only be seen for a short time and have peak viewing times of the year.

A Perfect Day in the Life of an Aquatic Biologist

on 7/17/19 11:02 AM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Natural resources Wildlife Conservation Nature

In early June three staff from the Forest Preserve District’s Urban Stream Research Center in Warrenville made an exciting discovery while preparing for a stream restoration project at Blackwell Forest Preserve.

A New Way to Help Patrol Preserves

on 7/9/19 1:19 PM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Trails

DuPage Forest Preserve Police have a new partner to help them patrol the preserves – an all-terrain vehicle.

A Fish Tale to Remember

on 7/1/19 12:33 PM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Wildlife Conservation Nature

By David Koldoff I’m a fisherman and I’m not lying when I tell you: There’s a 42-inch northern pike lurking in Silver Lake at Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville!

Taking Time to Remember our Wildlife

on 6/24/19 3:13 PM By | Krystle Piwowar | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Wildlife Nature

When you join the Willowbrook Wildlife Center family of staff and volunteers, you sign on to the commitment and service that goes with providing animal care to injured and orphaned native wildlife.

If Trees Could Talk

on 6/18/19 12:54 PM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Wildlife Nature

Think of your favorite wildlife — white-tailed deer, woodpeckers, white-footed mice, nuthatches, owls, squirrels. In one way or another they all depend on oak trees for food or shelter. That’s why oaks have been an important part of a decade-long look at the trees that live in DuPage County’s forest preserves.

Kids Catch Fun and Fish at Just for Kids Fishing Derby

on 6/13/19 1:32 PM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Locations Recreation Volunteer Take 5 Nature

Approximately 309 young anglers participated in the 33rd annual Just for Kids Fishing Derby at Blackwell Forest Preserve’s Silver Lake on June 9.

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Nature's Storytellers

A Blog About Nature in Our DuPage Forest Preserves