The buzz

All Buzz Articles

  • A man stands in the woods.

    Preserves We Love: McKinley Woods, for its restoration successes

    6/28/2023

    Land management program coordinator Floyd Catchpole tells us why he loves McKinley Woods — Frederick's Grove.

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  • A bat hanging from a tree.

    Five need-to-know facts about bats

    6/22/2023

    Think you know bats? There's probably plenty you don't know about these unique mammals. 

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  • A person standing on a metal bridge with trees in the background.

    Preserves We Love: Hickory Creek, for becoming immersed in nature

    6/22/2023

    Program coordinator Suzy Lyttle tells us why she loves Hickory Creek Preserve.

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  • A Halloween pennant dragonfly perched atop vegetation.

    Five things about those water-loving dragonflies

    6/21/2023

    Spend any time near the water in summer and you're almost guaranteed to see a dragonfly. Take some time to learn more about these fast-flying insects.

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  • Birds splashing in the water in a birdbath.

    How to take care of a birdbath to keep birds visiting all year

    6/15/2023

    Once you decide to add a birdbath to your yard, you need to commit to maintaining it to make it safe and healthy for visiting birds.

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  • A man stands with a camera with a lake in the background.

    Preserves We Love: Lake Renwick, because it always delivers

    6/14/2023

    Digital communications manager Chad Merda tells us why he loves spending time at Lake Renwick Preserve.

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  • A differential grasshopper. (Photo by Anthony Schalk)

    What's the difference?: grasshopper vs. katydid vs. cricket

    6/13/2023

    Can you tell a cricket from a grasshopper? How about a grasshopper from a katydid? Learn what separates these related insects that are noted both for their jumping ability and the sounds they make.

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  • The bubbles from a spittlebug on a plant stem along a trail.

    That's not spit: Spittlebug nymphs make their homes in frothy bubbles

    6/9/2023

    Those globs of spit you see on plants aren't spit at all. They are the safe and comfortable homes of spittlebug nymphs.

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  • A woman standing on a path in a forest.

    Preserves We Love: Goodenow Grove, a hidden gem

    6/8/2023

    Facility office manager Marissa Jones tells us why she loves spending time at Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve.

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  • Phragmites stand tall along a trail, with blue sky in the background.

    More than meets the eye: Phragmites a threat to wetland habitats

    6/7/2023

    The tall grasses that surround many of our wetland areas may seem like a pretty addition to the scenery, but in reality they are destroying these vital habitats.

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Current Headlines

Start your autumn with family-friendly fun at Fall on the Farm event on Sept. 14

8/31/2024

Fall on the Farm is set for Saturday, Sept. 14, at Riverview Farmstead Preserve. Attendees can explore the 19th-century buildings, visit a petting zoo, try their hand at farm chores, view antique tractors and enjoy live bluegrass music. 

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Visitor centers to close on Labor Day, bait shops will be open

8/30/2024

Forest Preserve visitor centers will be closed on Monday, Sept. 2, for the Labor Day holiday, but concession stands will be open at Monee Reservoir in Monee Township and Hidden Lakes Trout Farm at Hidden Oaks Preserve in Bolingbrook.

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