The buzz

All Buzz Articles

• A thunderstorm over an open field with lightning striking the ground.

  Five things about those powerful, booming thunderstorms

  5/18/2023

  The crack of lightning and rumble of thunder can create awe and fear, and here are five things you should know about these forces of nature.

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• A man next to a bike standing along a trail that runs along a river with a bridge in the background.

  Preserves We Love: A connected group along the DuPage River Trail

  5/16/2023

  Executive Director Ralph Schultz tells us why he loves spending time along the DuPage River Trail. 

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• Two painted turtles on a log in a pond filled with duckweed and other vegetation.

  What's the difference?: Habitat vs. ecosystem

  5/15/2023

  We sometimes use the terms habitat and ecosystem interchangeably, but they are not one and the same.

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• An Osage orange tree with several of the large fruits hanging from its branches.

  A different kind of orange: Osage orange trees have long, storied history

  5/5/2023

  Orange trees do grow in Illinois, but our native Osage orange trees are nothing like the citrus trees you're thinking of.

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• Four balloons stuck in a tree.

  Throwing a party? Skip the balloons to help save wildlife

  5/4/2023

  Balloons can wreak havoc on wildlife and the environment if not used and disposed of properly, so think twice before including them in your party decor. 

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• An eastern bluebird perched on a bare tree branch.

  Bluebirds are back from the brink thanks to human interventions

  5/2/2023

  The eastern bluebird population was once in rapid decline because of a perfect storm of factors, but today their population has recovered well and these birds are a common sight once again.

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• The silhouette of a flock of birds in flight as the sun sets.

  Nature curiosity: Why do birds migrate at night?

  5/1/2023

  Not all birds migrate but the majority that do, travel by night. Researchers don't fully understand why, but nocturnal migration does provide some benefits.

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• (Photo via Shutterstock)

  Nature curiosity: How do trees clean the air?

  4/27/2023

  Trees serve as Earth's lungs, but how does their breathing help clean the air?

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• An American toad sitting on a rocky surface. (Photo via Shutterstock)

  Five things about toads, our frogs' lesser-known cousins

  4/20/2023

  What looks a lot like a frog but doesn't jump like a frog or eat like a frog? A toad. Learn what makes toads unique and what separates them from frogs. 

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• Duck eggs in a nest.

  Ducks know what they're doing; leave their nests alone

  4/17/2023

  That duck nest you think is in a bad spot probably isn't. The duck knew what she was doing when she built it, and moving it will cause more harm than good. It's also illegal.

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