A picture of a male Phengodes beetle on the Facebook page What’s Happening in St. Charles showed that this species is still alive and well…
Glowworms
Fireflies
For almost a week now-since 10:54 a.m. on Friday June 21– it’s officially been summer. Unofficially, it’s also firefly mating season, a last hurrah for…
Dobsonflies
I can still remember my first dobsonfly. The date was July of 2002. The place, Red Oak Nature Center in North Aurora. The insect was…
Male Fish Pitch In
This week, in honor of fathers everywhere, let’s take a look at some of the most devoted papas our area has to offer. A word…
American Robins
“Aw, crud.” Those were the words I uttered a few days ago when I stepped outside my office to take the picture for this week’s…
Grey Catbirds
“Mew.” The sound was soft and, at first, easy to overlook. But the longer I spent along the tree line, listening as I walked, the…
Baltimore Oriole
Do you remember the first time you saw a Baltimore oriole? For me the memory is clear as day. I was in the backyard of…
Furrow Spider
Typically, when one encounters a spider outside in springtime, the creature is teensy. Or, to use the technical term, itsy bitsy. Small spiders weaving small…
Fishing Line & Bird Nests
Growing up in a family that loved to fish, I’ve seen my share of bird’s nests. And not the good kind. In fishing parlance, a…
Eastern Phoebe
Throughout these many months of cold we have endured, I’ve tried to help my winter-weary friends stay positive. After every new dump of snow I’d…