The Buzz
All Buzz Articles
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Two American woodcocks in the grass.
Happening now: Male woodcocks performing their elaborate courtship ritual
3/12/2024Read moreNow is the time to see woodcocks out in the preserves, and there's a lot to love about these birds — from the males' elaborate courtship ritual to their cute nicknames.
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A group of pelicans standing atop rocks in a river.
Happening now: Pelicans have returned to Will County
3/7/2024Read moreOne of the most anticipated events among birders each spring and fall is the arrival of the American white pelicans, and now is the time you'll once again start seeing these birds along waterways in the area.
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Two sandhill cranes flying overhead.
Migration watch: Sandhill cranes are heading north, so keep your eyes and ears peeled
3/1/2024Read moreIt's peak migration season for sandhill cranes, so don't be surprised if you hear their loud, bugling call overhead.
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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
2/29/2024Read moreSeveral 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
2/26/2024Read moreMeet Jess McQuown, a program coordinator at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center.
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A block calendar showing the date changing to Feb. 29
Why do we have leap days? Get ready for a math lesson — and a history lesson
2/23/2024Read moreIt's a leap year, and here's your chance to learn why we add an extra day every four years and why that day is on Feb. 29.
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A vole on the ground surrounded by dried and green grasses.
Five fast facts about little-known voles
2/22/2024Read moreAmong 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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A skunk walking in the grass.
Love is in the air? It's just skunk mating season
2/11/2024Read moreIt's skunk mating season, and as male skunks are out and about searching for mates, we may have more close encounters with these animals, resulting in that telltale smell in the air.
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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?
2/9/2024Read moreThose long, thin clouds trailing behind airplanes are called contrails, and here's a look at the science behind them.
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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.
Current Headlines
Bald eagle nesting update: We have confirmed seven eaglets in four nests
The bald eagle population has been booming in Will County in recent years, and we're monitoring four active nests.
Bridge installed over I&M Canal as work continues on Lake Chaminwood trail connection project
Work on a trail extension project that will connect Lake Chaminwood Preserve to the I&M Canal Trail in Channahon jumped a big hurdle on April 19 when a bridge was installed over the canal. The project will continue through mid- to late June.