The buzz
All Buzz Articles
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A hand drips water onto a plant.
Five ways to conserve water around your home
3/22/2023Read moreWater isn't an unlimited resource. As water scarcity increasingly becomes a problem across the globe, efforts to conserve it become more crucial.
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A Canada goose standing on one leg in shallow water.
Nature curiosity: Why do birds stand on one leg?
3/10/2023Read moreBirds stand on one leg for one simple reason: to help them stay warm.
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A peregrine falcon diving in flight.
What you need to know about our fierce, high-flying falcons
3/3/2023Read moreIf you think about large, imposing birds that we see soaring above or perched on high while scanning for a meal, raptors like hawks and eagles probably come to mind. Maybe even owls. But there's another kind of raptor we see that can be just as imposing — falcons, three species of which can be seen in Illinois.
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A side-by-side comparison of a turkey vulture and black vulture
What's the difference?: turkey vulture vs. black vulture
3/2/2023Read moreWe usually only have one vulture species in town, but in places where their ranges overlap, turkey vultures and black vultures can be difficult to distinguish from one another.
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A robin standing in grass.
Five fast facts about our most familiar bird, the American robin
2/15/2023Read moreRobins are among our most common and familiar birds, known to almost all even at a young age. But there's more to them than meets the eye.
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Two clusters of zebra mussels on a rock in the water.
What's the difference?: Non-native vs. invasive species
2/7/2023Read moreNot all the plants and animals that grow and thrive in their ecosystems belong there. Some are non-native, and among those are some that are considered invasive.
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A red fox standing on a large rock in the dark.
Nature curiosity: Why are some animals nocturnal?
1/27/2023Read moreWhy do some animals prowl around under the cover of darkness? Because it helps them survive and thrive.
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A snowy owl with wings outstretched on the snowy ground.
Five fast facts about stunning snowy owls
1/20/2023Read moreHave you ever been lucky enough to spot a snowy owl? Learn what makes these owls such a prized find.
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A side-by-side comparison of a gray squirrel and a fox squirrel.
What's the difference: Eastern fox squirrel vs. eastern gray squirrel
1/11/2023Read moreThe sight of a squirrel zipping up, down and all around our trees and forests is a familiar one to most people, but the zany antics of these critters can be the work of one of two species: fox squirrels or gray squirrels. Learn the difference between them.
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A white-tailed deer in the snow.
Feeding deer in winter: You're doing more harm than good
1/9/2023Read moreThink you're doing the deer a favor by feeding them in winter? You're actually doing them much more harm than good.
Current Headlines
Joliet Junction Trail section to close in December for Interstate 80 work
A section of the Joliet Junction Trail is scheduled to be closed for several days in December due to an Interstate 80 improvement project. The trail will be closed from McDonough Street to Moen Avenue.
Healing With Nature: Crete man battling cancer finds health and hope on paths at Goodenow Grove
Tom Scott of Crete is giving thanks this year for the people in his life who pushed him to start walking at Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve as he was recovering from cancer. The daily hikes have given him better health, hope for the future and a new appreciation of nature.