The buzz
All Buzz Articles
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A person standing in front of a forest.
Meet a Naturalist: Jess McQuown, an inquisitive mind
2/26/2024Meet Jess McQuown, a program coordinator at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center.
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A block calendar showing the date changing to Feb. 29
Why do we have leap days? Get ready for a math lesson — and a history lesson
2/23/2024It's a leap year, and here's your chance to learn why we add an extra day every four years and why that day is on Feb. 29.
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A vole on the ground surrounded by dried and green grasses.
Five fast facts about little-known voles
2/22/2024Among rodents, mice, rats, squirrels and chipmunks are all well known. Voles, however, often fly under the radar, either because they aren't known or because they are confused with another species.
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Contrails criss-crossing the sky with thin, scattered clouds above them.
Nature curiosity: What are contrails and how do they form?
2/9/2024Those long, thin clouds trailing behind airplanes are called contrails, and here's a look at the science behind them.
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A male common goldeneye swimming in the water.
Watch out for goldeneyes on local lakes throughout winter
2/7/2024Common goldeneyes arrive in northern Illinois each winter. Look for them strutting their stuff on our local lakes.
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A turtle with a muddy shell sitting on a log in the water.
Nature curiosity: Why and how do turtles breathe with their butts?
2/2/2024How do turtles breathe while they are underwater all winter? Through their butts, so to speak.
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A groundhog in the grass.
Five things to know about groundhogs, an animal for all seasons
2/2/2024Groundhogs get a lot of attention on Feb. 2, but there's a lot more to these critters than the silly notion that they can predict when winter will end.
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Two birds eating from a bird feeder.
How to keep the birds visiting your yard all winter long
1/31/2024The days have become noticeably colder and shorter, and food supplies have become more scarce for many birds. But you can keep birds visiting your yard all year long by providing the right foods.
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A person standing in front of a map display in a museum.
Meet a Naturalist: Amy McNeil, a lifelong history buff
1/29/2024Meet Amy McNeil, a program coordinator at Isle a la Cache Museum.
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A pair of bald eagles on their nest.
Nature curiosity: Why do eagles lay their eggs in winter?
1/19/2024Winter might seem like an odd time for laying eggs, but it's the perfect timeline for bald eagles.
Current Headlines
Preserves, visitor centers to close for Christmas holiday
All forest preserve visitors centers will be closed after noon on Tuesday, Dec. 24, and all day on Wednesday, Dec. 25, for the Christmas holiday. Also, all preserves, including dog parks, will be closed on Dec. 25.
Mark your calendar for exciting 2025 events
The Forest Preserve District's 2025 calendar is chock full of exciting events and exhibitions ranging from Eagle Watch and a Smokey Bear art exhibition in January to Pelican Party and Woods Walk in the fall.