The buzz
All Buzz Articles
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A person posing for a photo with a forest as the backdrop.
Meet a Naturalist: Michelle Cipiti, fulfilling a dream
3/26/2024Meet Michelle Cipiti, an interpretive naturalist at Hidden Oaks Nature Center.
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A northern flicker standing in the grass.
Northern flickers buck some common woodpecker trends
3/20/2024Northern flickers look a little different than most of our local woodpecker species, and we see them on the ground much more than you might expect for a woodpecker.
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A red-winged blackbird on a cattail with its mouth open.
Two words perfectly describe red-winged blackbirds: Feisty and familiar
2/29/2024Several birds are known for their aggressive behavior, but perhaps none as much as the red-winged blackbird, a bird that isn't afraid to pick on creatures much larger than itself.
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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 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 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.
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A snow-covered trail and trees.
Five freezing facts about snow to tide you over this winter
1/9/2024Love it or hate it, snow is as essential as rain. Learn to appreciate it with these five fun facts.
Current Headlines
Visitor centers to close for Easter weekend
Forest Preserve visitor centers will be closed on Friday, April 18, and Easter Sunday, April 20. Preserves, trails and dog parks will remain open. The Tackle Box bait shop at Hidden Oaks Preserve will be open on Friday but closed Sunday.
'Contagious passion' earns Fuqua Volunteer of the Year Award
John Fuqua received the Forest Preserve District of Will County's Volunteer of the Year Award and Don and Espie Nelson were given a Lifetime Achievement Award during the annual volunteer banquet.