The buzz
All Buzz Articles
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A person standing next to a bridge on a trail.
Preserves We Love: McKinley Woods, because there's something for everyone
8/14/2023Guest services associate Kylee Beckwith tells us why she loves McKinley Woods — Frederick's Grove.
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An American coot standing on a log over the water.
Odd duck out: Coots share space with ducks, but aren't closely related
8/8/2023Is that a funny-looking duck or a chicken you saw by the water? It might be neither. American coots are a common sight by our waterways during breeding season, but they might have you doing a double take.
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A person standing along a dirt trail in a forest.
Preserves We Love: Raccoon Grove, for its fairy-tale feel
8/3/2023Interpretive naturalist Heather Van Zyl tells us why she loves Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve.
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A woman standing on a roof deck overlooking a forest.
Meet a Naturalist: Suzy Lyttle, a childhood dream fulfilled
7/28/2023Meet Suzy Lyttle, the program coordinator at Hidden Oaks Nature Center.
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Sunlight shining through the canopies in a line of trees.
Burning questions about the sun? Check out these five facts
7/26/2023We have the sun to thank for all life on Earth, but how much do you really know about the star at the center of our world?
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A frog emerging its head from water covered in duckweed.
Duckweed is world's smallest flowering plant
7/24/2023Want to see the world's smallest flowering plant? Look no farther than your local pond.
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A woman standing on a trail along a wooded creek.
Preserves We Love: Forked Creek, for its subtle solitude
7/20/2023Real estate manager Sara Wittchen tells us why she loves spending time at Forked Creek Preserve.
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A northern saw-whet owl perched on a broken branch.
Think you know owls? Northern saw-whet owls defy our expectations
7/13/2023Northern saw-whet owls are a little different than the prototypical owl. For starters, they're only about the size of a robin, making them one of the smallest owl species in the world.
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A woman poses with her dog at a park.
Preserves We Love: Hammel Woods Dog Park, for its golden memories
7/13/2023Public information officer Cindy Cain tells us why she loves spending time at Hammel Woods Dog Park.
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A cicada on a leaf.
What's the difference?: cicada vs. locust
7/10/2023We often call cicadas locusts, but they are not even closely related insects. Learn the differences between them and why we never see locusts in Illinois or anywhere else in the United States.
Current Headlines
Music by land or sea? You choose at Surf-N-Turf Concert
Monee Reservoir will host its annual 'Surf-N-Turf Concert' from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday, July 12. Visitors can listen to the music from the lake or the lawn. Kayak and canoe rentals will be available, and food trucks will be serving tasty treats.
Hybrid turtle 'Theodorable' serves as warning: Don’t dump pets in preserves
A hybrid box turtle was removed from a Will County preserve to protect a threatened species. Now living at Isle a la Cache Museum, he serves as an ambassador to educate the public about the dangers of releasing pet turtles into the wild.