I don’t know how you spent your Friday morning, but I spent mine stalking redheads. No, I wasn’t camped out in front of Conan O’Brien’s place, nor was I trying to catch a glimpse of the little bit of red Ron Howard has left. Nope, I was lurking along the banks of the Fox River
Bird, Fly, Redhead Ducks
So, what’s on your to-do list this weekend? Me? I’m driving to Galena with two tortoises and an iguana. I suppose I could just leave it at that. But I’d imagine that little statement might raise more questions than it answers. Plus, it probably leaves the impression that I, and therefore all naturalists are, to
Critters, Reptile, Rescue
A week ago, when the weather forecasters first gave us details of the winter storm to come, they supplemented their predictions with plentiful advice. You know, sensible stuff like having flashlights and blankets ready in case the power goes out, and stocking up on nonperishable food items. I couldn’t help but think of this as
Blizzard, Storm, Winter
Anyone who has ever packed a suitcase can relate to the adage, “When in doubt, leave it out.” In fact, an experienced traveler once told me that, when packing for an extended trip, she lays out everything she thinks she’ll need, then goes back and removes one of everything—one less skirt, one less pair of
Naturalists, Nature Department, Packing
If you’ve been to a Chinese restaurant lately, or keep a Chinese calendar handy, you might have noticed that 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit. Hungry for more information, you might have delved deeper and consulted a widely recognized reference, the paper placemat, and learned that people born in a rabbit year are affectionate,
Cottontails, Critters, RabbitPam’s Perspective Pam Otto is the Manager of Nature Programs and Interpretive Services for the St. Charles Park District Years ago a thoughtful naturalist, or perhaps a naturalist with too much time on his or her hands, compiled a list of traits that typify us nature nerds. In the style of Jeff Foxworthy’s “You might
Christmas, Naturalist, Winter
Well, there’s no doubt, winter is here. And I’ll bet, if you’re a bird lover, your feeders are hung by the chimney, or wherever, with care. But when was the last time you filled your birdbath? Even though snow blankets the ground right now, and snow, after all, is just fluffy, flaky water, finding a
Season, Water, Winter
Poor Sam Peabody… Peabody… Peabody. I don’t know Mr. Peabody, and have no idea of what events may have led to his present condition of “poor” (or, according to some, “old”) but one thing’s for sure. This guy is The Man, at least as far as talk among the white-throated sparrows is concerned. Bird vocalizations
Bird, Fly, White Throated Sparrow
Pam’s Perspective Pam Otto is the Manager of Nature Programs and Interpretive Services for the St. Charles Park District When you hear the phrase “little kings,” what image comes to mind? An array of 7-oz. bottles of beer, served, as all fine beverages are, in a bucket? If so, maybe you spent too much time
Bird, Fly, Golden Crown Kinglet