The buzz
All Buzz Articles
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A cicada on a wall molts from its shell.
Quiz: Test your cicada IQ
5/9/2024Read moreHow much do you know about cicadas? Test your knowledge on this 10-question quiz.
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A side-by-side comparison of a European robin and an American robin both perched on tree branches.
What's the difference?: American robin vs. European robin
5/3/2024Read moreThe robins we are so familiar with are called robins because they reminded early European settlers of the robins they were familiar with from their home countries.
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A cicada on a green leaf.
If you can't beat 'em, eat 'em: How to cook with cicadas
4/29/2024Read moreBillions or even trillions of cicadas are about to emerge after about 17 years underground, and you may be wondering what will happen to the bounty of bugs. Many animals will feast on the bugs, and you can safely sample them too.
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A person standing against a wooden fence with trees in the background.
Meet the recreation coordinator: Em Wilcher wants to help you connect with nature
4/27/2024Read moreMeet Em Wilcher, the Forest Preserve District's recreation coordinator.
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Can you identify these 15 birds? Take the test to find out
4/26/2024Read moreBirding can be a rewarding experience, but it can also be tricky to get those identifications right.
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A yellow-bellied sapsucker on a tree full of sap wells.
Holey moley: Yellow-bellied sapsuckers leave distinct clues of their presence
4/23/2024Read moreThe yellow-bellied sapsucker is the only woodpecker in the eastern United States that is fully migratory, so their time in northern Illinois can be fleeting. Look for them in the spring and fall as they migrate through our area.
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A periodical cicada on a tree branch.
Brooding about cicadas? Here's the reason for all the hype this year
4/22/2024Read moreTo not have heard the buzz about this year's cicada emergence you would have to have been where the cicadas themselves are right now — underground. Why all the hype? This year is the first time since 1803 that two broods of cicadas will have emerged in Illinois at the same time.
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Earth as seen from space.
Five must-know facts about our home planet Earth
4/17/2024Read moreYou can define Earth in many ways, but above all else it is home. Here is your chance to learn all about our home planet.
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(Photo via Shutterstock)
Want your kids to respect nature? Get your garden growing with them
4/16/2024Read moreGardening with your kids can be a great way to make them good stewards of the environment.
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A ruby-throated hummingbird perched on the tip of a branch.
Migration watch: Hummingbirds have landed in Will County
4/15/2024Read moreFor those of you eagerly anticipating the arrival of ruby-throated hummingbirds, it won't be long now. The tiny birds have been spotted in Will County and elsewhere in Illinois.
Current Headlines
McKinley Woods – Kerry Sheridan Grove, Four Rivers scheduled to be closed Aug. 5-6 for sealcoating
McKinley Woods – Kerry Sheridan Grove and Four Rivers Environmental Education Center are scheduled to be closed Aug. 5 and Aug. 6 for sealcoating. The schedule could change due to weather or other factors. Updates will be posted online.
OPRT remains closed as storm cleanup work continues
Old Plank Road Trail remains closed from Pfeiffer Road to Harlem Avenue as tree removal work continues after a recent, severe storm. Due to the number of downed trees and cracked overhead branches, cleanup work may continue through Tuesday, July 30.