The Buzz

All Buzz Articles

  • A man standing in front of a courtyard full of hanging hummingbird feeders.

    Meet a Naturalist: Bob Bryerton, a naturalist from his earliest days

    8/28/2023

    Meet Bob Bryerton, the program coordinator at Plum Creek Nature Center and Monee Reservoir.

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  • A woman standing in a prairie

    Preserves We Love: Kankakee Sands, for its parallels to parenthood

    8/24/2023

    Restoration program coordinator Juli Mason tells us why she loves Kankakee Sands Preserve. 

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  • A differential grasshopper on a leaf.

    Hop to it with these five grasshopper facts

    8/22/2023

    Grasshoppers are one of our more familiar insects, and this is your chance to learn all about them.

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  • A reddish-pink water lily in bloom, next to a whitish-yellow American lotus in bloom.

    What's the difference?: Water lily vs. American lotus

    8/15/2023

    Not all those big green leaves growing on the water's surface are lily pads. American lotus can also be found in Illinois waterways. Learn to tell the difference between these two plants.

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  • A person standing next to a bridge on a trail.

    Preserves We Love: McKinley Woods, because there's something for everyone

    8/14/2023

    Guest services associate Kylee Beckwith tells us why she loves McKinley Woods — Frederick's Grove.

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  • An American coot standing on a log over the water.

    Odd duck out: Coots share space with ducks, but aren't closely related

    8/8/2023

    Is that a funny-looking duck or a chicken you saw by the water? It might be neither. American coots are a common sight by our waterways during breeding season, but they might have you doing a double take.

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  • A person standing along a dirt trail in a forest.

    Preserves We Love: Raccoon Grove, for its fairy-tale feel

    8/3/2023

    Interpretive naturalist Heather Van Zyl tells us why she loves Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve.

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  • A woman standing on a roof deck overlooking a forest.

    Meet a Naturalist: Suzy Lyttle, a childhood dream fulfilled

    7/28/2023

    Meet Suzy Lyttle, the program coordinator at Hidden Oaks Nature Center.

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  • A person standing on a bridge over a creek in the woods.

    Preserves We Love: Messenger Woods, for making history

    7/27/2023

    Real estate record specialist Megan Raimbault tells us why she loves Messenger Woods Nature Preserve.

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  • Sunlight shining through the canopies in a line of trees.

    Burning questions about the sun? Check out these five facts

    7/26/2023

    We have the sun to thank for all life on Earth, but how much do you really know about the star at the center of our world?

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Current Headlines

New all-terrain wheelchair available for public use at Four Rivers

4/16/2024

An adaptive all-terrain wheelchair is now available for public use at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon. The GRIT Freedom Chair – Spartan Model can be used by people of all ages and abilities. 

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Bald eagle nesting update: We have confirmed six eaglets in three nests

4/15/2024

The bald eagle population has been booming in Will County in recent years, and we're monitoring four active nests. 

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