The Buzz
All Buzz Articles
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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.
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A turtle with a muddy shell sitting on a log in the water.
Nature curiosity: Why and how do turtles breathe with their butts?
2/2/2024Read moreHow do turtles breathe while they are underwater all winter? Through their butts, so to speak.
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A groundhog in the grass.
Five things to know about groundhogs, an animal for all seasons
2/2/2024Read moreGroundhogs get a lot of attention on Feb. 2, but there's a lot more to these critters than the silly notion that they can predict when winter will end.
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The setting sun can be seen through the bare trees in a forest.
It's leap year, so you get an extra day to savor this month
2/1/2024Read moreFebruary may be our shortest month, but we will have 1,440 more minutes (or 86,400 more seconds) to savor this year because it's a leap year.
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Two birds eating from a bird feeder.
How to keep the birds visiting your yard all winter long
1/31/2024Read moreThe days have become noticeably colder and shorter, and food supplies have become more scarce for many birds. But you can keep birds visiting your yard all year long by providing the right foods.
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A person standing in front of a map display in a museum.
Meet a Naturalist: Amy McNeil, a lifelong history buff
1/29/2024Read moreMeet Amy McNeil, a program coordinator at Isle a la Cache Museum.
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A pair of bald eagles on their nest.
Nature curiosity: Why do eagles lay their eggs in winter?
1/19/2024Read moreWinter might seem like an odd time for laying eggs, but it's the perfect timeline for bald eagles.
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A cicada and two cicada exoskeletons on grass.
Have you heard the buzz? This summer will be a cicada summer
1/12/2024Read moreGet ready for cicada summer. It's been 17 years since periodical cicadas last emerged in northern Illinois, and it's once again their time to shine.
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A view of a bridge over a frozen creek
Beat cabin fever with a winter walk at these all-seasons preserves
1/11/2024Read moreTrying to beat the winter blues? Check out these preserves for a hike that will help you embrace the season.
Current Headlines
Visitor centers to close for Easter holiday
In observance of the Easter holiday, all Forest Preserve visitor centers, including Monee Reservoir Visitor Center concessions, will be closed on Friday, March 29, and Sunday, March 31. Preserves, trails and dog parks will remain open.
Celebrate Earth Day month with a Forest Preserve program
The Forest Preserve District will offer a variety of Earth Day month programs that are focused on clean-ups, recycling, upcycling and invasive species control.