DuPage Forest Blog | Natural resources

Be-leaf-ing

on 11/20/19 12:31 PM By | Dave Andrusyk | 0 Comments | Insider Natural resources Plants Wildlife Conservation Nature native plant

Autumn is a time to enjoy the crispness of the weather and the colors of the trees. The yellow, red and orange colors of the oaks, maples and hickories paint a beautiful landscape, making this time of year an experience in art.

Sandhill Cranes Overhead!

on 11/15/19 3:46 PM By | Keriann Dubina | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Natural resources Wildlife Conservation Nature

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

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.

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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.

Bald Eagle Reunited with its Family

on 9/9/19 2:36 PM By | Stephanie Touzalin | 0 Comments | Insider Natural resources Community partnership Wildlife Conservation Nature Rehabilitation

A female bald eagle was returned to her home and family after 21 days of TLC at the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County’s Willowbrook Wildlife Center.

Blanding's Hatchlings Raised by Shedd Aquarium Released in DuPage Preserves

on 9/6/19 9:59 AM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Natural resources Wildlife Conservation Nature

Like proud new parents, staff from the Shedd Aquarium released 23 Blanding’s turtle hatchlings in DuPage forest preserves this week.

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.

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.

Citizen Scientists Wanted to Help Track Water Levels at Four Preserve Lakes

on 6/12/19 11:29 AM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Natural resources Community partnership Volunteer Conservation Nature

We need your help! Our ecology staff is looking for citizen scientists to help track water levels at several DuPage forest preserve lakes as part of the international Lake Observations by Citizen Scientists & Satellites.

Enlisting Crayfish to Help the Hine's Emerald Dragonfly

on 5/29/19 1:17 PM By | Tom Velat | 0 Comments | Insider Natural resources Wildlife Conservation Nature

Whenever we tell stories about nature, they can be very interesting but can get quite complex when you look at how many of the pieces are interconnected. This is what happens when we tell the story of the federally endangered Hine’s Emerald dragonfly, its habitat, and ways we’ve tried to create more habitat for them in DuPage forest preserves. As you’ll see, the story is at times interesting, complex, tragic, and exciting.

It Takes Heart to Save a Blanding's Turtle

on 2/25/19 2:45 PM By | Dan Thompson | 0 Comments | Insider Natural resources Community partnership Wildlife Conservation Nature

This past Valentine’s Day started out unexpectedly for some zookeepers at Wheaton Park District’s Cosley Zoo when they found a small Blanding’s turtle unconscious in one of the rearing tubs.

A Special Role for a Special Blanding's Turtle

on 2/8/19 3:13 PM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Natural resources Community partnership Wildlife Conservation Nature

Meet Shirlee, a rare yellow-colored or “xanthic” Blanding’s turtle now on public display to help spread the word about the plight of the state-endangered Blanding’s turtle. She’s also a great example of how it takes a village to help save these creatures.

Feathered Friends Feel the Freeze: How to Help Birds Survive Winter

on 12/12/18 10:03 AM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Natural resources Wildlife Conservation Nature

Although the ground is cold (and possibly covered in snow), winter doesn’t mean hibernation and hiding for all wild animals, especially for some of the more common creatures you’ll see this time of year: the birds.

Tracking the Origins of Invasive Zebra Mussels

on 11/29/18 9:09 AM By | Dan Grigas | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Natural resources Conservation Nature Invasive

Visiting a beautiful lake or pond surrounded by mixed woodlands or sprawling prairie is one of the most serene and relaxing things I can think of doing on any given day. Nothing beats hearing the hum and buzz of surrounding wildlife, feeling the gentle breeze on my face, and looking down upon the refreshing clear water. Wait, what? Pool-clear lake water? That’s not right. Healthy lakes and ponds typically have a slight greenish/brown hue to them, an indication they contain an ample amount of phytoplankton, the base of the food chain. Being too clear is often a sign that something is afoot in that aquatic ecosystem.

Nature's Storytellers

A Blog About Nature in Our DuPage Forest Preserves