The buzz
All Buzz Articles
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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
4/23/2024The 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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Earth as seen from space.
Five must-know facts about our home planet Earth
4/17/2024You 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
4/16/2024Gardening with your kids can be a great way to make them good stewards of the environment.
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A male cardinal singing while perched on a branch.
Nature curiosity: Why do birds sing in the morning?
4/8/2024Are the birds waking you up before dawn? There's a good reason for their morning concert.
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A person posing for a photo with a forest as the backdrop.
Meet a Naturalist: Michelle Cipiti, fulfilling a dream
3/26/2024Meet Michelle Cipiti, an interpretive naturalist at Hidden Oaks Nature Center.
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A northern flicker standing in the grass.
Northern flickers buck some common woodpecker trends
3/20/2024Northern flickers look a little different than most of our local woodpecker species, and we see them on the ground much more than you might expect for a woodpecker.
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A red-winged blackbird on a cattail with its mouth open.
Two words perfectly describe red-winged blackbirds: Feisty and familiar
2/29/2024Several birds are known for their aggressive behavior, but perhaps none as much as the red-winged blackbird, a bird that isn't afraid to pick on creatures much larger than itself.
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A person standing in front of a forest.
Meet a Naturalist: Jess McQuown, an inquisitive mind
2/26/2024Meet Jess McQuown, a program coordinator at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center.
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A vole on the ground surrounded by dried and green grasses.
Five fast facts about little-known voles
2/22/2024Among rodents, mice, rats, squirrels and chipmunks are all well known. Voles, however, often fly under the radar, either because they aren't known or because they are confused with another species.
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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?
2/9/2024Those long, thin clouds trailing behind airplanes are called contrails, and here's a look at the science behind them.
Current Headlines
Half-price dog park permits go on sale July 1
Half-price dog park permits will be available for purchase starting July 1 online and at Sugar Creek Administration Center in Joliet. The permits can be used at all six Forest Preserve dog parks through the end of 2025.
Volunteer opportunities abound in the preserves this summer
The Forest Preserve District is offering a variety of short-term volunteer opportunities this summer, from hands-on habitat restoration to helping at public programs and events. With limited space and high demand, early registration is encouraged.