Sounds of Insects Night Hike
August 9, 2026 | 7:30 P.M TO 9:30 P.M
Venture out on the trail at Thorn Creek Woods at dusk listening for the chorus of nocturnal insects.
Headlines
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Creature feature: The clever green heron
May 18, 2020 | Nature and wildlifeThe green heron isn't as well known or as frequently seen as the great blue heron, but these birds are interesting in their own right.
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Things we love: Those teeny, tiny microarthropods
May 14, 2020 | Nature and wildlifeTiny but mighty microarthropods are tiny bugs that do a lot of good despite their small size.
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What's the difference?: Ducks vs. geese
May 12, 2020 | Nature and wildlifeMost people can identify a mallard duck and a Canada goose, but do you know the difference between ducks and geese?
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Clever or cruel? Brown-headed cowbirds make other birds do all the work of raising their young
May 8, 2020 | Nature and wildlifeBrown-headed cowbirds lay their eggs in other birds' nests, outsourcing incubation and newborn care entirely to other birds. This may not win them any mother-of-the-year awards, but it is the only way they know.
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Things we love: Those human-friendly cellar spiders
May 7, 2020 | Nature and wildlifeCellar spiders love to live in human habitats, but they're beneficial to us to.
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Myth buster: Mother birds won't reject their babies if you touch them
May 6, 2020 | Nature and wildlifeA mother won't reject her babies if you touch them, but most young birds don't need your help.
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Dog poop vs. wildlife poop: Not all animal excrement is equal
May 4, 2020 | Nature and wildlifeWhen it comes to animal poop, it's not all the same. Dog poop can be harmful to the environment if left behind, but that's not true of wildlife waste. That's why it's important to always pick up after your dog, no matter where you are.
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Things we love: Those layabout woodchucks
May 1, 2020 | Nature and wildlifePhotographing wildlife can be an adventure, but the woodchuck is an easy subject.
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Five reasons to plant natives
April 30, 2020 | Nature and wildlifeNot all plants sold at local garden centers and home improvement stores are native; in fact, many are not.
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When it comes to our lawns, many of us are keeping up with the Joneses
April 28, 2020 | Nature and wildlifeThe need to have a perfect lawn has to do with peer pressure, according to a recent study. But doing so isn't really good for the environment.
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Things we love: Those exquisite common grackles
April 27, 2020 | Nature and wildlifeCommon grackles might seem ordinary, their name even implies it. But while these birds may be common, there is something quite special about them.
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Creature feature: The ubiquitous garter snake
April 26, 2020 | Nature and wildlifeThe garter snake is the most common snake in the United States, living from coast to coast. But these snakes are still interesting creatures, despite being ubiquitous.
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Nature curiosity: Where does fog come from?
April 21, 2020 | Nature and wildlifeYou woke up to a blanket of fog covering the neighborhood, but where did it come from?
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Things we love: Those rascally raccoons
April 16, 2020 | Nature and wildlifeRaccoons have a well-earned reputation for being trash bandits, but they deserve our respect too.
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Things we love: The aptly named bloodroot
April 13, 2020 | Nature and wildlifeSpring wildflowers are beautiful but fleeting. Keep your eyes trained to the ground when out for a walk to see if you can spot bloodroot, a fascinating ephemeral.
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Birds we love — and why
April 10, 2020 | Nature and wildlifeA look at some of the favorite species of Forest Preserve staff and volunteers.
-
Creature feature: The clever green heron
May 18, 2020 | Nature and wildlifeThe green heron isn't as well known or as frequently seen as the great blue heron, but these birds are interesting in their own right.
-
Things we love: Those teeny, tiny microarthropods
May 14, 2020 | Nature and wildlifeTiny but mighty microarthropods are tiny bugs that do a lot of good despite their small size.
-
What's the difference?: Ducks vs. geese
May 12, 2020 | Nature and wildlifeMost people can identify a mallard duck and a Canada goose, but do you know the difference between ducks and geese?
-
Clever or cruel? Brown-headed cowbirds make other birds do all the work of raising their young
May 8, 2020 | Nature and wildlifeBrown-headed cowbirds lay their eggs in other birds' nests, outsourcing incubation and newborn care entirely to other birds. This may not win them any mother-of-the-year awards, but it is the only way they know.
-
Things we love: Those human-friendly cellar spiders
May 7, 2020 | Nature and wildlifeCellar spiders love to live in human habitats, but they're beneficial to us to.
-
Myth buster: Mother birds won't reject their babies if you touch them
May 6, 2020 | Nature and wildlifeA mother won't reject her babies if you touch them, but most young birds don't need your help.
-
Dog poop vs. wildlife poop: Not all animal excrement is equal
May 4, 2020 | Nature and wildlifeWhen it comes to animal poop, it's not all the same. Dog poop can be harmful to the environment if left behind, but that's not true of wildlife waste. That's why it's important to always pick up after your dog, no matter where you are.
-
Things we love: Those layabout woodchucks
May 1, 2020 | Nature and wildlifePhotographing wildlife can be an adventure, but the woodchuck is an easy subject.
-
Five reasons to plant natives
April 30, 2020 | Nature and wildlifeNot all plants sold at local garden centers and home improvement stores are native; in fact, many are not.
-
When it comes to our lawns, many of us are keeping up with the Joneses
April 28, 2020 | Nature and wildlifeThe need to have a perfect lawn has to do with peer pressure, according to a recent study. But doing so isn't really good for the environment.
-
Things we love: Those exquisite common grackles
April 27, 2020 | Nature and wildlifeCommon grackles might seem ordinary, their name even implies it. But while these birds may be common, there is something quite special about them.
-
Creature feature: The ubiquitous garter snake
April 26, 2020 | Nature and wildlifeThe garter snake is the most common snake in the United States, living from coast to coast. But these snakes are still interesting creatures, despite being ubiquitous.
-
Nature curiosity: Where does fog come from?
April 21, 2020 | Nature and wildlifeYou woke up to a blanket of fog covering the neighborhood, but where did it come from?
-
Things we love: Those rascally raccoons
April 16, 2020 | Nature and wildlifeRaccoons have a well-earned reputation for being trash bandits, but they deserve our respect too.
-
Things we love: The aptly named bloodroot
April 13, 2020 | Nature and wildlifeSpring wildflowers are beautiful but fleeting. Keep your eyes trained to the ground when out for a walk to see if you can spot bloodroot, a fascinating ephemeral.
-
Birds we love — and why
April 10, 2020 | Nature and wildlifeA look at some of the favorite species of Forest Preserve staff and volunteers.
The Buzz
The monarchs you see at this time of year are special. Here's why
7/31/2026
The monarchs you see at this time of the year are special, part of a 'super generation' different than the three generations that preceded it.
Hummingbirds are already migrating, but it's not time to take down feeders yet
7/30/2026
Ruby-throated hummingbirds migrate in waves, and some have already departed. But we'll see the birds in Will County for weeks or even months, so keep filling your feeders.
Bees and wasps invading hummingbird feeders? Here's why — and how to fix it
7/23/2026
If you are seeing more bees than birds at your hummingbird feeders lately, you're not alone. Learn why we see them more at this time of year and how you might keep them away from your hummingbird feeders.