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
2/7/2024Read 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 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.
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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
12/22/2023Read moreNot 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
11/28/2023Read moreMeet Heather Van Zyl, an interpretive naturalist at Plum Creek Nature Center.
Current Headlines
Start your autumn with family-friendly fun at Fall on the Farm event on Sept. 14
Fall on the Farm is set for Saturday, Sept. 14, at Riverview Farmstead Preserve. Attendees can explore the 19th-century buildings, visit a petting zoo, try their hand at farm chores, view antique tractors and enjoy live bluegrass music.
Visitor centers to close on Labor Day, bait shops will be open
Forest Preserve visitor centers will be closed on Monday, Sept. 2, for the Labor Day holiday, but concession stands will be open at Monee Reservoir in Monee Township and Hidden Lakes Trout Farm at Hidden Oaks Preserve in Bolingbrook.