The Buzz
All Buzz Articles
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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?
2/9/2024Read moreThose 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
2/7/2024Read moreCommon 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?
2/2/2024Read moreHow 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
2/2/2024Read moreGroundhogs 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
1/31/2024Read moreThe 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
1/29/2024Read moreMeet 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?
1/19/2024Read moreWinter might seem like an odd time for laying eggs, but it's the perfect timeline for bald eagles.
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A cicada and two cicada exoskeletons on grass.
Have you heard the buzz? This summer will be a cicada summer
1/12/2024Read moreGet ready for cicada summer. It's been 17 years since periodical cicadas last emerged in northern Illinois, and it's once again their time to shine.
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A snow-covered trail and trees.
Five freezing facts about snow to tide you over this winter
1/9/2024Read moreLove 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
1/3/2024Read moreSquirrels 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.
Current Headlines
Nature Foundation's first in-person plant sale set for May 18-19 at Isle a la Cache
The Nature Foundation of Will County's first in-person plant sale of the season will be held on May 18 and 19 at Isle a la Cache preserve in Romeoville. More sales are scheduled throughout the summer and a native plant garden tour is set for July 13.
All-terrain wheelchair opens 'a whole new world' for nature exploration
The first person to test the new GRIT Freedom Chair at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center said she loved that she could travel over grass, roots and mud and feel secure while doing so. The wheelchair is available for public use at no cost.