Some people attract wildlife to their yards by hanging up birdhouses. But this weekend, I’m putting up a bee house. That’s right. Bees. Those insects which are, for the most part, peaceable and mild, yet have an undeserved reputation for being cantankerous and hostile. The ones that supposedly sting every chance they get, but in
Bees, Bug, Insect
I ran into a gypsy again the other day, and I wasn’t happy about it. Don’t get me wrong—human gypsies seem pretty cool, and I really wouldn’t mind meeting one of them. The gypsy I’m talking about, though, is Lymantria dispar, the gypsy moth, an imported insect with a penchant for feasting on forests. I
Gypsy, Insect, Moth
Judging by the comments last week’s crane fly column generated, folks in the TriCities don’t particularly care to read about “larvae” over breakfast, nor “maggots” during lunch. And I apparently misjudged people’s appreciation for flies in general. So, this week, let’s take a look at the other end of the food chain—creatures that eat flies,
Bird, Fly, Nighthawk
You just gotta love a coot. An American coot, that is. American coots are water birds that many folks would classify as ducks. After all, they do look like dark-colored ducks—from a distance. But if you take the time to observe more closely, you’ll notice that the bill is a) white, with a dark vertical
Bird, Coots, Rail
This time of year there’s lots to see in Bobolink Field, a natural area just west of the Illinois Youth Center in St. Charles. Managed by the St. Charles Park District, the gently rolling field features many species of native grasses and forbs, plus mammals, birds, herps (reptiles and amphibians) and insects galore. In fact,
Bird, Bobolink, Fly
Seeing as it’s June, the most popular month for weddings, it only seems fitting that we talk about…underwing moths. I’m sure you’re probably thinking, “Moths? Eww. Aren’t they the critters that eat my wool sweaters and hatch out of my birdseed?” Well, yes, but that’s a topic for a whole different column. Many other fine
Bug, Insect, Moth, Underwings
What’s black and white and red all over, in nature? Here in the TriCities’ corner of the natural world, not a lot. But the red-headed woodpecker is one notable exception. In our area, four woodpeckers are commonly seen: the tiny downy; its larger cousin the hairy; the red-bellied; and the northern flicker. Springtime brings brief
Bird, Red-Headed Woodpecker, Woodpecker
I got an email the other day from my friend Scott, a great guy and recent graduate of our Kane County Certified Naturalist program. In it he detailed a trip to Starved Rock State Park and, best of all, included pictures of his adventure. I suppose some might say, though, that they were pictures only
Reptile, Snakes, Water Snake
