The buzz
All Buzz Articles
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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.
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A squirrel on a tree branch.
Five fun facts about our squirrelly squirrels
1/3/2024Squirrels are common enough that they are just part of the background in nature, but they are pretty interesting creatures when you learn more about them.
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An eastern bluebird on a tree branch.
Not all blue birds are bluebirds: Learn the difference between our blue-hued birds
12/22/2023Not all blue birds are bluebirds. In our area, we see eastern bluebirds, blue jays and even indigo buntings sporting blue feathers. Learn the differences between these blue-hued birds.
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A woman standing in front of a tree along a trail.
Meet a Naturalist: Heather Van Zyl, always curious and always learning
11/28/2023Meet Heather Van Zyl, an interpretive naturalist at Plum Creek Nature Center.
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A crow on a branch.
Five things about misunderstood crows
11/22/2023Crows are highly sociable and among the most intelligent animals around, but they don't have the best reputation.
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The green glow of the northern lights in the night sky.
Nature curiosity: What are the northern lights?
11/17/2023The northern lights are always happening, but you have to be at the right place at the right time to view them.
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Side-by-side photos of a long-eared owl and a short-eared owl perched atop tree stumps.
What's the difference: long-eared owl vs. short-eared owl
11/13/2023Their so-called ears aren't the only difference between short-eared owls and long-eared owls.
Current Headlines
Be a Trailblazer turns outdoor fun into a family affair
Liz Lyons of New Lenox has turned the Forest Preserve District’s Be a Trailblazer challenge into a fun-filled family tradition. From dancing in the rain to spotting tiny critters on the trail, challenge missions have become cherished memories.
Wild Science: Rare mussel search in Will County aids DuPage restocking effort
Forest preserve staff from Will and DuPage counties recently searched a Will County creek for rare mussels to support a native species restoration project. The collaboration could help reintroduce the ellipse mussel to DuPage waterways, where it has disappeared.